title: Increased adrenal responsiveness and delayed hatching date in relation to polychlorinated biphenyl exposure in Arctic-breeding black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla).
abstract: High levels of environmental contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and mercury (Hg) have been reported in some Arctic top predators such as seabirds. Chronic exposure to these contaminants might alter the response to environmental changes through interference with the regulation of corticosterone (CORT), a glucocorticoid stress hormone released by the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Positive and negative relationships between CORT and environmental contaminants have been reported in polar seabirds. However, patterns appear inconclusive and it is difficult to attribute these relationships to a dysfunction of the HPA axis or to other confounding effects. In order to explore the relationships between the HPA axis activity and contaminants, we tested whether different aspects of the HPA axis of an Arctic seabird, the black-legged kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla, would be related to blood Hg, PCB and OCP concentrations. Male kittiwakes were caught during the incubation period in Svalbard and were subjected to different stress series: (1) a capture-restraint stress protocol, (2) an injection of dexamethasone (DEX) that enabled to test the efficacy of the HPA negative feedback and (3) an injection of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) that informed on the adrenal responsiveness. The HPA axis activity was unrelated to ΣOCPs and Hg. However, birds with high concentrations of ΣPCBs released more CORT after the ACTH injection. It is suggested that ΣPCBs may increase the number of ACTH-receptors on the adrenals. Additionally, hatching date was delayed in males with higher concentrations of ΣPCBs and ΣOCPs. This study gives new evidence that PCBs and adrenal activity may be related. Thus high PCB burden may make individuals more prone to other stressors such as ongoing climate change.
authors: Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372-ULR CNRS, F-79360, France. Electronic address: tartu.sabrina@gmail.com.
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Tartu
authors: Department of Evolutionary Zoology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
authors: Ádám Z
authors: ÁZ
authors: Lendvai
authors: Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372-ULR CNRS, F-79360, France.
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Blévin
authors: Norwegian Institute for Air Research, FRAM High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
authors: Dorte
authors: D
authors: Herzke
authors: Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-Université de la Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France.
authors: Paco
authors: P
authors: Bustamante
authors: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Postboks 5685 Sluppen, N-7485 Trondheim, Norway.
authors: Børge
authors: B
authors: Moe
authors: Norwegian Polar Institute, FRAM - High North Research Centre on Climate and the Environment, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
authors: Geir Wing
authors: GW
authors: Gabrielsen
authors: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, FRAM - High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
authors: Jan Ove
authors: JO
authors: Bustnes
authors: Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372-ULR CNRS, F-79360, France.
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Chastel
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D001947:Breeding; D046091:Charadriiformes / Q000097:blood*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D003345:Corticosterone
keywords: ACTH; Adrenal gland; Corticosterone; Dexamethasone; PCBs; Reproduction