title: A critical review: 2,3,7,8 -tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) effects on gonad development in bivalve mollusks.
abstract: Bivalve mollusks are equally sensitive to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin's (2,3,7,8-TCDD) effect on gonad development, embryonic development, and epithelial lesion occurrence as higher vertebrates. 2,3,7,8-TCDD alters normal development of reproductive organs and early development in bivalve mollusks at 2 to 20 pg/g wet weight. In both Crassostria virginica and Mya arenaria, 2,3,7,8-TCDD preferentially accumulates into the gonads. The sensitivity of gonad maturation is likely due to disruption of cross-talk between highly conserved steroid, insulin, and metabolic pathways involved in gonad differentiation. The altered gonad development and decreased veliger larval survival can partially explain the lack of self-sustaining bivalve populations in 2,3,7,8-TCDD contaminated estuaries.
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. cooper@aesop.rutgers.edu
authors: Keith R
authors: KR
authors: Cooper
authors: Margy
authors: M
authors: Wintermyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049896:Crassostrea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006066:Gonads / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D049892:Mya / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins