Screening the foods of an endangered parrot, the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), for oestrogenic activity using a recombinant yeast bioassay.
In recent years the possibility of environmental oestrogens affecting the reproduction of vertebrates has become an issue of both public and scientific interest. Although the significance of such chemicals remains controversial there is clear evidence that, in some contexts, environmental oestrogens can influence the fertility of vertebrates. Highly endangered species represent a situation in which even modest reductions in the fertility of key individuals may have implications for the survival of the entire species. This paper reports the screening of both natural and supplementary foods of the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), a critically endangered New Zealand nocturnal parrot, for oestrogenic activity using a recombinant yeast based bioassay. Low levels of oestrogenic activity were detected in one of the 'chick-raising' foods, but no oestrogenic activity was detected in the adult supplementary foods. The oestrogenicity of a range of phytochemicals possibly associated with the kakapo natural diet was also examined. Two such phytochemicals, podocarpic acid and its reduced derivative podocarpinol, showed weak oestrogenic activity (approximately 10(-6) and 10(-4) of the activity of 17-beta-oestradiol, respectively).
Fidler
A E
AE
Wallaceville Animal Research Centre, Ward Street, Upper Hutt, New Zealand. fidler@erl.ornithol.mpg.de
Zwart
S
S
Pharis
R P
RP
Weston
R J
RJ
Lawrence
S B
SB
Jansen
P
P
Elliott
G
G
Merton
D V
DV
D045784:Abietanes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007529:Isoflavones; D010311:Parrots / Q000502:physiology; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D045784:Abietanes; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D007529:Isoflavones; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C493681:podocarpinol; C002470:podocarpic acid