Estrogenic chemical effects are independent from the degree of sex role reversal in pipefish.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been reported to disturb several ecological relevant endpoints. Surprisingly, EDC-induced effects on fish sexual behaviour have been poorly studied despite the fact that even subtle alterations might contribute to a disruption of sexual interactions, thus negatively impacting reproduction. As the few assessments on sexual behaviour have been conducted in species with orthodox sex roles, it might be argued that sex-role reversed species might provide a potentially complementary system to further explore the effects of EDCs on reproduction. In the present study, two pipefish species with distinct degrees of sex-role reversal were selected to further elucidate the impact of chronic EE2 exposure on sexual behaviour and reproduction-related endpoints. The obtained results indicate that, independently of the degree of sex role reversal, courtship behaviour seems to resist oestrogenic chemical exposure. However, exposure to environmentally relevant EE2 levels did induce a complete absence of pregnancies at 18 ng/L. Even though pregnancies were observed at intermediate concentrations, the percentage of non-transferred or misplaced oocytes increased and a dose-dependent decrease of oocyte volume was observed. Imbalances in the oogenesis process, induction of vitellogenin in males and the absence of pregnancies highlight that environmental relevant concentrations of EE2 have the potential to negatively affect pipefish populations, most of them inhabiting coastal areas where oestrogenic contamination is more prevalent.
CIMAR/CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Universityof Porto, Rua dos Bragas 177, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; FCUP - Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade doPorto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
Marisa P
MP
Sárria
Miguel M
MM
Santos
L Filipe C
LF
Castro
Natividade M
NM
Vieira
Nuno M
NM
Monteiro
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000737:chemistry; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004967:Estrogens / Q000737:chemistry*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D048788:Growth and Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004967:Estrogens; D014819:Vitellogenins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol
Endocrine disruption; Ethinylestradiol; Reproductive behaviour; Syngnathidae; Vitellogenin