First observation of intersex cyprinids in the Po River (Italy).
Barbel (Barbus plebejus, Cyprinidae) were captured in the Po River, upstream and downstream from the confluence of the Lambro River, a polluted tributary of the major Italian watercourse. The gonads of the two groups of barbel have been histologically examined, and only the downstream specimens showed histo-morphological alterations that can be related to the Lambro tributary as a source to the main river of endocrine disrupting chemicals, possibly with estrogenic effects. In fact, 50% of the barbel captured (8 of 16 fish) in the downstream reach showed intersex gonads.
Viganò
L
L
Istituto di Ricerca Sulle Acque, CNR, Brugherio (Milan), Italy. vigano@server-mi.irsa.rm.cnr.it
Arillo
A
A
Bottero
S
S
Massari
A
A
Mandich
A
A
D000818:Animals; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000662:veterinary; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006066:Gonads / Q000002:abnormalities*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014873:Water Pollutants