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dc.contributor.authorNash, Jon P.en_GB
dc.contributor.authorKime, David E.en_GB
dc.contributor.authorVan der Ven, Leo T. M.en_GB
dc.contributor.authorWester, Piet W.en_GB
dc.contributor.authorBrion, Françoisen_GB
dc.contributor.authorMaack, Gerden_GB
dc.contributor.authorStahlschmidt-Allner, Petraen_GB
dc.contributor.authorTyler, Charles R.en_GB
dc.date.accessioned2007-05-31T15:20:56Zen_GB
dc.date.accessioned2011-01-25T11:46:48Zen_GB
dc.date.accessioned2013-03-20T14:47:16Z
dc.date.issued2004-12en_GB
dc.description.abstractHeightened concern over endocrine-disrupting chemicals is driven by the hypothesis that they could reduce reproductive success and affect wildlife populations, but there is little evidence for this expectation. The pharmaceutical ethynylestradiol (EE2) is a potent endocrine modulator and is present in the aquatic environment at biologically active concentrations. To investigate impacts on reproductive success and mechanisms of disruption, we exposed breeding populations (n = 12) of zebrafish (Danio rerio) over multiple generations to environmentally relevant concentrations of EE2. Life-long exposure to 5 ng/L EE2 in the F1 generation caused a 56% reduction in fecundity and complete population failure with no fertilization. Conversely, the same level of exposure for up to 40 days in mature adults in the parental F0 generation had no impact on reproductive success. Infertility in the F1 generation after life-long exposure to 5 ng/L EE2 was due to disturbed sexual differentiation, with males having no functional testes and either undifferentiated or intersex gonads. These F1 males also showed a reduced vitellogenic response when compared with F0 males, indicating an acclimation to EE2 exposure. Depuration studies found only a partial recovery in reproductive capacity after 5 months. Significantly, even though the F1 males lacked functional testes, they showed male-pattern reproductive behavior, inducing the spawning act and competing with healthy males to disrupt fertilization. Endocrine disruption is therefore likely to affect breeding dynamics and reproductive success in group-spawning fish. Our findings raise major concerns about the population-level impacts for wildlife of long-term exposure to low concentrations of estrogenic endocrine disruptors.en_GB
dc.identifier.citationEnvironmental Health Perspectives, 2004, 112(17):1725-1733en_GB
dc.identifier.doi10.1289/ehp.7209en_GB
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10036/12237en_GB
dc.language.isoen_USen_GB
dc.rightsThis is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original DOI.en_GB
dc.titleLong-Term Exposure to Environmental Concentrations of the Pharmaceutical Ethynylestradiol Causes Reproductive Failure in Fishen_GB
dc.typeArticleen_GB
dc.date.available2004-12en_GB
dc.date.available2007-05-31T15:20:56Zen_GB
dc.date.available2011-01-25T11:46:48Zen_GB
dc.date.available2013-03-20T14:47:16Z
dc.identifier.issn0091-6765en_GB
dc.format.digYESen_GB
dc.identifier.journalEnvironmental Health Perspectivesen_GB
dc.identifier.pmcid1253666en_GB
dc.identifier.pmid15579420en_GB


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