title: Are in vitro methods for the detection of endocrine potentials in the aquatic environment predictive for in vivo effects? Outcomes of the Projects SchussenAktiv and SchussenAktivplus in the Lake Constance Area, Germany.
abstract: Many studies about endocrine pollution in the aquatic environment reveal changes in the reproduction system of biota. We analysed endocrine activities in two rivers in Southern Germany using three approaches: (1) chemical analyses, (2) in vitro bioassays, and (3) in vivo investigations in fish and snails. Chemical analyses were based on gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. For in vitro analyses of endocrine potentials in water, sediment, and waste water samples, we used the E-screen assay (human breast cancer cells MCF-7) and reporter gene assays (human cell line HeLa-9903 and MDA-kb2). In addition, we performed reproduction tests with the freshwater mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum to analyse water and sediment samples. We exposed juvenile brown trout (Salmo trutta f. fario) to water downstream of a wastewater outfall (Schussen River) or to water from a reference site (Argen River) to investigate the vitellogenin production. Furthermore, two feral fish species, chub (Leuciscus cephalus) and spirlin (Alburnoides bipunctatus), were caught in both rivers to determine their gonadal maturity and the gonadosomatic index. Chemical analyses provided only little information about endocrine active substances, whereas the in vitro assays revealed endocrine potentials in most of the samples. In addition to endocrine potentials, we also observed toxic potentials (E-screen/reproduction test) in waste water samples, which could interfere with and camouflage endocrine effects. The results of our in vivo tests were mostly in line with the results of the in vitro assays and revealed a consistent reproduction-disrupting (reproduction tests) and an occasional endocrine action (vitellogenin levels) in both investigated rivers, with more pronounced effects for the Schussen river (e.g. a lower gonadosomatic index). We were able to show that biological in vitro assays for endocrine potentials in natural stream water reasonably reflect reproduction and endocrine disruption observed in snails and field-exposed fish, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Animal Physiological Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Henneberg
authors.affiliation: Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, University of Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, RECETOX, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ludek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blaha
authors.affiliation: Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, University of Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giebner
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Bertram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kuch
authors.affiliation: Animal Physiological Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinz-R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.affiliation: Animal Physiological Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.affiliation: Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, University of Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oehlmann
authors.affiliation: Water Technology Center Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.affiliation: Water Technology Center Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scheurer
authors.affiliation: Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, University of Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schulte-Oehlmann
authors.affiliation: Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, University of Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sieratowicz
authors.affiliation: Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, University of Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ziebart
authors.affiliation: Animal Physiological Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Triebskorn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D054750:Ecotoxicology / Q000379:methods*; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005399:Fishes; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012908:Snails; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D014819:Vitellogenins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical