title: Effects of short-term exposure to the model anti-androgen, flutamide on reproductive function based endpoints in female Murray rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis).
abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the responses of female Murray rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis) to the model anti-androgen, flutamide in a short-term exposure. Adult female Murray rainbowfish were exposed to nominal (measured) concentrations of 125 (104), 250 (163), 500 (378) and 1000 (769) µg/L of flutamide for seven days in a semi-static set-up. Plasma vitellogenin (VTG), 11-keto testosterone (11-KT) and 17β-estradiol (E2) concentrations, brain aromatase activity and ovarian histology were assessed following the exposure. No treatment-related mortality was found in rainbowfish and there was no effect of flutamide on the developmental stage of the ovaries. Histological investigation revealed absence of mature oocytes in flutamide-treated fish. In addition, a significant reduction in the sizes of the vitellogenic oocytes was found after treatment with 500 and 1000 µg/L flutamide. The circulating levels of VTG and the activity of aromatase in the brain were also significantly reduced in fish treated with 500 and 1000 µg/L flutamide. Treatment with higher concentrations of flutamide reduced the levels of 11-KT and E2 in plasma. The results from this study demonstrate that a short-term exposure to the model anti-androgen, flutamide can adversely affect the reproductive function based on end-points such as plasma VTG, 11-KT and E2; brain aromatase activity and sizes of the oocytes in female Murray rainbowfish. Further, a positive correlation between these experimental variables suggests hormonal imbalance.
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, PMB 1, The University of Adelaide, Australia; Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, CSIRO Land and Water, PMB 2, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia. Electronic address: harpreet.bhatia@csiro.au.
authors.forename: Harpreet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.affiliation: Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, CSIRO Land and Water, PMB 2, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
authors.forename: Anupama
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Office of Environment and Heritage, PMB 29, Lidcombe, NSW 1825, Australia.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, PMB 1, The University of Adelaide, Australia; Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, CSIRO Land and Water, PMB 2, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
authors.forename: Mike J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
mesh_terms: D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005485:Flutamide / Q000633:toxicity*; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000097:blood; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D014819:Vitellogenins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D005485:Flutamide; D001141:Aromatase; C003600:11-ketotestosterone
keywords: Aromatase; Flutamide; Histology; Oocyte development; Vitellogenin