Chemical fate and biological effects of several endocrine  disrupters compounds in two echinoderm species.
Two echinoderm species, the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus and the feather star Antedon mediterranea, were exposed for 28 days to several EDCs: three putative androgenic compounds, triphenyltin (TPT), fenarimol (FEN), methyltestosterone (MET), and two putative antiandrogenic compounds, p,p'-DDE (DDE) and cyproterone acetate (CPA). The exposure nominal concentrations were from 10 to 3000 ng L(-1), depending on the compound. This paper is an attempt to join three different aspects coming from our ecotoxicological tests: (1) the chemical behaviour inside the experimental system; (2) the measured toxicological endpoints; (3) the biochemical responses, to which the measured endpoints may depend. The chemical fate of the different compounds was enquired by a modelling approach throughout the application of the 'Aquarium model'. An estimation of the day-to-day concentration levels in water and biota were obtained together with the amount assumed each day by each animal (uptake in microg animal(-1) d(-1) or ng g-wet weight(-1) d(-1)). The toxicological endpoints investigated deal with the reproductive potential (gonad maturation stage, gonad index and oocyte diameter) and with the regenerative potential (growth and histology). Almost all the compounds exerted some kind of effect at the tested concentrations, however TPT was the most effective in altering both reproductive and regenerative parameters (also at the concentration of few ng L(-1)). The biochemical analyses of testosterone (T) and 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) also showed the ability of the selected compounds to significantly alter endogenous steroid concentrations.
Sugni
Michela
M
Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. michela.sugni@unimi.it
Tremolada
Paolo
P
Porte
Cinta
C
Barbaglio
Alice
A
Bonasoro
Francesco
F
Carnevali
M Daniela Candia
MD
D000818:Animals; D048429:Cell Size; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D004447:Echinodermata / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D006066:Gonads / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008777:Methyltestosterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009947:Organotin Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D047328:Paracentrotus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D009947:Organotin Compounds; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013256:Steroids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; C030665:triphenyltin; C033789:fenarimol; D008777:Methyltestosterone