title: Polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and corticosterone levels in seven polar seabird species.
abstract: The role of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on exposure-related endocrine effects has been poorly investigated in wild birds. This is the case for stress hormones including corticosterone (CORT). Some studies have suggested that environmental exposure to PCBs and altered CORT secretion might be associated. Here we investigated the relationships between blood PCB concentrations and circulating CORT levels in seven free-ranging polar seabird species occupying different trophic positions, and hence covering a wide range of PCB exposure. Blood ∑₇PCB concentrations (range: 61-115,632 ng/g lw) were positively associated to baseline or stress-induced CORT levels in three species and negatively associated to stress-induced CORT levels in one species. Global analysis suggests that in males, baseline CORT levels generally increase with increasing blood ∑₇PCB concentrations, whereas stress-induced CORT levels decrease when reaching high blood ∑₇PCB concentrations. This study suggests that the nature of the PCB-CORT relationships may depend on the level of PCB exposure.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'études biologiques de Chizé (CEBC) - UMR 7372 ULR CNRS, Villiers-en-bois, France. Electronic address: tartu.sabrina@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tartu
authors.affiliation: Centre d'études biologiques de Chizé (CEBC) - UMR 7372 ULR CNRS, Villiers-en-bois, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angelier
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, FRAM - High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Bustnes
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Postboks 5685 Sluppen, N-7485 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moe
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, FRAM - High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hanssen
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), FRAM - High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herzke
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Polar Institute, FRAM - High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Gabrielsen
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Polar Institute, FRAM - High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Verboven
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verreault
authors.affiliation: Université de Bordeaux, EPOC/LPTC, UMR 5805, F-33400 Talence, France; CNRS, EPOC/LPTC, UMR 5805, F-33400 Talence, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Labadie
authors.affiliation: Université de Bordeaux, EPOC/LPTC, UMR 5805, F-33400 Talence, France; CNRS, EPOC/LPTC, UMR 5805, F-33400 Talence, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Budzinski
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behaviour, University of California, Davis, USA.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wingfield
authors.affiliation: Centre d'études biologiques de Chizé (CEBC) - UMR 7372 ULR CNRS, Villiers-en-bois, France.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chastel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000097:blood*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D003345:Corticosterone
keywords: Antarctic; Arctic; Birds; Glucocorticoids; PCBs; Stress