Mammalian glucocorticoid metabolites act as androgenic endocrine disruptors in the medaka (Oryzias latipes).
Glucocorticoid metabolites enter the aquatic environment via mammalian excrements. Molecular structures of their C19O3 metabolites strongly resemble the major fish androgen 11-ketotestosterone. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the cortisol metabolite 5alpha-androstan-3,11,17-trione acts similarly to 11-ketotestosterone by employing a fish screening assay for endocrine-active substances. After 21 d, both 11-oxygenated compounds had masculinized sex characteristics of the anal fin in female medaka in a dose-dependent manner.
Grillitsch
Britta
B
Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria. britta.grillitsch@vetmeduni.ac.at
Altmann
Dominik
D
Schabuss
Michael
M
Zornig
Horst
H
Sommerfeld-Stur
Irene
I
Möstl
Erich
E
D000728:Androgens / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D009990:Oryzias / Q000502:physiology*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D000728:Androgens; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical