Effects of tributyltin on metamorphosis and gonadal differentiation of Xenopus laevis at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Tributyltin (TBT), a well known endocrine disruptor, has high teratogenicity to embryos of amphibian (Xenopus tropicalis). An amphibian metamorphosis assay (AMA) and a complete AMA (CAMA) were conducted for TBT. In AMA, the body weight, the snout-to-vent length and the hind limb length of X. laevis tadpoles were decreased in tributyltin chloride (TBTCl; 12.5-200 ng/L) treatment groups after 7 days exposure. TBT greatly retarded the development of tadpoles, decreased the number of follicle and induced thyroid follicle cell hyperplasia after 19 days exposure. In CAMA, 10 and 100 ng/L TBTCl led to various malformations of gonad, including intersex, segmental aplasia and multiple ovary cavities of X. laevis following exposure from stages 46 to stage 66. The sex ratio was male-biased in TBT treatment groups. These results suggest that TBT delayed the metamorphosis, inhibited the growth of tadpoles and disrupted the gonadal differentiation of X. laevis at environmentally relevant concentrations.
1State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Huahong
H
Shi
Pan
P
Zhu
Suzhen
S
Guo
D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size / Q000187:drug effects; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006066:Gonads / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological / Q000187:drug effects*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C011559:tributyltin