An amphibian model for studies of developmental reproductive toxicity.
The developmental programming of the reproductive system is vulnerable to chemical exposure. It is therefore important to evaluate long-term consequences of early life-stage exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. The African clawed frog Xenopus tropicalis has several characteristics which facilitates studies of developmental reproductive toxicity. Here, I present a X. tropicalis test protocol, including study design, exposure regime, and endpoints for chemical disruption of sex differentiation, reproductive organ development, the thyroxin-regulated metamorphosis, oestrogen synthesis (activity of the CYP19 aromatase enzyme), and fertility.
Department of Environmental Toxicology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. cecilia.berg@ebc.uu.se
Cecilia
C
Berg
D029845:Amphibian Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000737:chemistry; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity; D057075:Enzyme Assays / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D006066:Gonads / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological; D012107:Research Design; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods; D014981:Xenopus / Q000254:growth & development*
D029845:Amphibian Proteins; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D001141:Aromatase