title: Concentrations of vitamin A, E, thyroid and testosterone hormones in blood plasma and tissues from emaciated adult male Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) dietary exposed to persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships and effects of oral POP exposure on retinol (vitamin A), α-tocopherol (vitamin E), thyroid hormones and testosterone in emaciated adult farmed Arctic foxes. Eight brother-pairs were exposed to either a diet containing naturally POP-contaminated minke whale blubber (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) (n=8), or a control diet containing pig (Sus scrofa) fat as the primary fat source (n=8) for 22 months. In the whale blubber containing feed the ∑POPs concentration was 802ng/g w.w. and it was 24ng/g w.w. in control feed. The liver mass was significantly higher and the ratio of FT4 (free thyroxine):FT3 (free triiodothyronine) was significantly lower in the POP exposed group as compared to the control group given feed with pig fat (both p<0.05). The exposed group revealed lower plasma and liver concentrations of α-tocopherol compared to the control group (both p<0.05). These results indicate that plasma FT4:FT3 ratio and plasma and liver α-tocopherol are valuable biomarker endpoints for chronic oral POP exposure in wild Arctic foxes. Based on this we suggest that plasma FT4:FT3 ratio and plasma and liver α-tocopherol are valuable biomarker endpoints for chronic POP exposure in wildlife Arctic foxes and that these perturbations may affect their health status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Tonje W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Rogstad
authors.affiliation: Aarhus University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. Electronic address: cs@bios.au.dk.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sonne
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway; Mental and Physical Health, Department of Child Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, 0473 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Gro D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Villanger
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, N-1432 Ås, Norway.
authors.forename: Øystein
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Ahlstøm
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Polar Institute, FRAM Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fuglei
authors.affiliation: National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada L7R 4A6.
authors.forename: Derek C G
authors.initials: DCG
authors.lastname: Muir
authors.affiliation: Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Even
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Bjørn Munro
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Jenssen
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000097:blood; D001110:Arctic Regions; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004614:Emaciation / Q000139:chemically induced; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005589:Foxes / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D013552:Swine; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*; D014907:Whales
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D013739:Testosterone; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Arctic, Endocrine disruption; Health effects, Oxidative stress; Pollution, Top predator