Three-spined stickleback: an emerging model in environmental endocrine disruption.

The three-spined stickleback, a small teleost species with habitats that range from full marine to fresh water bodies across the whole Northern hemisphere, has a number of advantages for endocrine disruption research. It is the only teleost species with an unambiguous biomarker for androgens, the presence of the glue protein spiggin in the male kidney, which can be measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The androgen assay has been adopted to detect antiandrogens in two different ways and an homologous ELISA for stickleback vitellogenin is also available. DNA markers for molecular sex determination are available; thus, sex ratios can also be used for in situ biomonitoring. In addition, the critical period of sexual differentiation has been determined and the occurrence of intersex fish has been reported several times. The species full genome sequence is almost complete. All aspects of stickleback biology (ecology, evolution, behavior, physiology, endocrinology) are well documented. In European waters, the stickleback is the only fish that can bring laboratory and field studies together and allow the true impact of endocrine disruptors on fish populations to be evaluated.     

Flow regime affects building behaviour and nest structure in sticklebacks

Animals usually build nests to provide protection, for themselves or their offspring, from adverse environmental conditions. However, different nest structures may be better at providing protection in different environments. The ability to adjust building behaviour and design of nests in response to variation in environmental conditions is therefore likely to be important in determining individual fitness. Here, we look at how the nests of three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) males differ between still and flowing water conditions. Within flowing water treatments, we find that males select nesting sites with lower than average flow. We also find that nests built in flowing water are smaller and more streamlined than those built in still water. Nests built in flowing water contain more spiggin—an endogenous glycoprotein secreted by nesting males—per gramme of nest material than still water nests, though the absolute spiggin content of nests did not vary with flow regime. These results suggest that male sticklebacks may adjust nest-site selection and nest structure to suit environmental conditions in which they are building. Because flow regime is a factor that is often altered by anthropogenic activities, such as impoundment, channelization and abstraction, this study may also have implications for the conservation of freshwater fish populations.     

苯并（a）芘对雄性罗非鱼肝脏Vtg mRNA表达的影响

卵黄蛋白原（Vitellogenin,Vtg）是检测环境雌激素的重要生物标志物,雄性鱼类VtgmRNA是检测环境雌激素的新兴生物标志物。为研究BaP是否具有环境雌激素效应,本试验对罗非鱼Oreochromis niloticus Vtg mRNA进行研究,用总RNA提取试剂盒提取得到雌鱼肝脏总RNA,以转录得到的cDNA为模板,以Primer设计得到的引物,得到422bp的罗非鱼卵黄蛋白原特异性eDNA扩增片段;采用荧光定量PCR法检测10、50Hg-L。的BaP暴露对罗非鱼肝脏Vtg基因表达的影响,结果发现4d、17d时雄性罗非鱼肝脏内VtgmRNA表达量与对照组无差异（P〉0．05）,10d时10、50ug·L-1 2个剂量组VtgmRNA表达量显著高于对照组（P〈0．01）,分别是对照组的113．18倍和121．79倍。结果意味着BaP可能具有环境雌激素效应。     

基于ELISA的受体竞争结合法检测环境雌激素(Competitive Estrogen Receptor Binding Based ELISA for Detection of Estrogen in Environment)

为建立环境雌激素的体外快速筛选方法,采用免疫测定介导受体竞争结合试验定量检测环境雌激素.将17β-雌二醇-BSA固定在微孔板上,环境雌激素与微孔板上的17β-雌二醇-BSA竞争性地与雌激素受体结合,与微孔板上17β-雌二醇-BSA结合的受体与雌激素受体的抗体、雌激素受体抗体的二抗形成一个三明治形式的复合物,通过显色剂显色,最后用比色法对试验结果进行定量.结果表明,环境雌激素的浓度与溶液吸光度值成负相关.定量研究可以得到环境雌激素剂量-效应关系曲线,在一定浓度范围内(10ng·L-1～100μg·L-1),溶液的吸光度值与环境雌激素的浓度直接呈现良好的线性关系(R2=0.9583).利用这种方法能检测到的标准品雌二醇的最低浓度为10ng·L-1.以上结果表明,本方法检测环境雌激素操作简便,具有广泛的应用前景.     

长江中下游环境激素效应的污染特征及生态风险

生活污水和养殖废水排放导致受纳水环境中激素类物质的污染,对水生生物产生不利影响。分别利用嵌入雌激素受体和雄激素受体的基因重组酵母菌测定了长江中下游流域不同时期水体和沉积物中4种环境激素效应,即雌激素效应、抗雌激素效应、雄激素效应和抗雄激素效应。结果表明,雌激素效应污染最为普遍,在地表水和沉积物中检出率均超过50%,水体和沉积物的最高浓度分别为2.05 ng·L~(-1)雌二醇当量(EEQ)和0.43 ng EEQ·g~(-1)。其他3种激素效应在水体和沉积物介质中的检出率均低于雌激素效应,按总体检出率来看:抗雄激素效应雄激素效应抗雌激素效应,3种激素效应在水体中最大检出浓度分别为144μg·L~(-1)氟他胺当量(FEQ)、37.9 ng·L~(-1)二氢睾酮当量(DEQ)和103μg·L~(-1)他莫西芬当量(TEQ),在沉积物中分别为53.6μg FEQ·g~(-1)、12.0 ng DEQ·g-1和51.5μg TEQ·g~(-1)。环境激素效应的浓度分布在水体中均呈现季节性的差异,雌激素效应的区域性高值位于武汉段、鄱阳湖口和芜湖-南京段,其他3种激素效应没有明显的高污染区域。环境激素效应与当地人口数量、有机质、氨氮等呈现一定相关性,表明环境激素效应与人类活动排放密切相关。雌激素效应仅在鄱阳湖口点位具有高风险,其他区域为中等风险,雄激素效应无高风险区域。研究结果有助于认识长江中下游区域的环境激素效应污染态势,为相关污染控制提供基础数据。     

The Ratio of Rubidium to Caesium in Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus Aculeatus), Benthic and Limnetic Sticklebacks (Gasterosteus), and Juvenile Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus Nerka)

The ratios of rubidium to caesium were investigated in juvenile sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and benthic and limnetic sticklebacks (Gasterosteus) as a means of separating zooplankton consumers from benthic prey consumers. Only benthic and limnetic sticklebacks had Rb to Cs ratios that were influenced by diet. Ratios were higher in limnetic stickleback whose diet consists mainly of zooplankton compared with benthic stickleback which consume benthic prey. Ratios in juvenile sockeye appeared to be influenced by the concentrations of rubidium and caesium in the egg yolk during the early period of growth. in three-spine stickleback that inhabited both the littoral and limnetic zone of the same lake, results suggested that fish must occupy each area for several months before rubidium to caesium ratios in tissues reflect concentrations in prey.     

Abnormal gonadal morphology in intersex,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Echinogammarus marinus</Emphasis> (Amphipoda): a possible cause of reduced fecundity?

Recent reports have demonstrated a cost associated with intersexuality in Amphipoda, including reduced fecundity and fertility. In this study, the gross morphology of the gonads in normal and intersex Echinogammarus marinus (Amphipoda) were compared to determine whether resource allocation to gonadal tissue accounted for this reduced fitness. Evidence for the presence of the male sex-determining hormone, androgenic gland hormone (AGH), was compared between sexual phenotypes using MALDI mass spectrometry. Two distinct intersex phenotypes (‘male’ intersex and ‘female’ intersex) were found, with variation in gonadal structure corresponding with external phenotype. Examination of male intersexes revealed normal testicular development (testes, seminal vesicles and vas deferens), but also revealed the formation of an oviduct. Ovaries of intersex females showed normal ovarian development, but were reduced in length by approximately 20% due to the presence of vas deferens. The number of vas deferens in intersex females was equal to the number (one or two) of genital papillae. We hypothesise that the reduced ovarian length observed in intersex females is a likely cause of the reduced brood size previously reported in intersex females of this species. Variation in the sexual phenotype corresponded both to development of the androgenic gland and to expression of a peptide fragment corresponding to the A chain of androgenic gland hormone (AGH). Androgenic glands and a putative AGH peptide were present in males. However, in both normal and intersex females, the androgenic glands were only present in a rudiment form and the peptide was not detected. Intersex males were found to possess abnormal glands that appeared hypertrophied. However, AGH peptides were not detected, supporting the suggestion that the intersex phenotype is manifested via perturbations of AGH.     

唐鱼卵黄蛋白原的诱导、纯化与鉴定

为探讨利用雄性唐鱼(Tanichthys albonubes)卵黄蛋白原(Vitellogenin,Vtg)作为生物标志物检测环境雌激素的可行性,采用浸浴法用50μg·L-117β-雌二醇(E2)对雄性唐鱼进行染毒,30d后将鱼体整体匀浆进行常规聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(Native-PAGE)以分析Vtg的产生;并采用Mg2+-EDTA选择性沉淀和Q Sepharose阴离子交换层析对Vtg进行分离纯化.结果表明,E2诱导下,雄性唐鱼产生了雌性特异蛋白Vtg,并且可在体内积累;利用Mg2+-EDTA选择性沉淀和Q Sepharose阴离子交换层析的两步纯化方法可分离纯化唐鱼整体匀浆Vtg;经Native-PAGE鉴定,确定唐鱼Vtg的分子量为440kDa.以上结果提示,雄性唐鱼Vtg可以作为环境雌激素监测的有效生物学标记物。     

Changes in gonadal development,androgenic gland cell structure,and hemolymph vitellogenin levels during male phase and sex change in laboratory-maintained protandric shrimp, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pandalus hypsinotus</Emphasis> (Crustacea: Caridea: Pandalidae)

Most pandalid shrimps show protandric hermaphroditism, and male sexual differentiation is considered to be controlled by the androgenic gland. In the present study, we examined the histology of gonadal development during the male phase and sex change and the involvement of the androgenic gland in regulating male reproduction in laboratory-maintained Pandalus hypsinotus. Juvenile shrimps developed testicular tissues in the peripheral part of gonads during the age of 16–31 months and produced spermatozoa between 34 and 36 months. After reaching sexual maturity, male shrimps exhibited seasonal testicular development: active production of spermatozoa (February–May), disappearance of spermatozoa (spent, April–June), increase of spermatocytes (May–November), appearance of spermatids and spermatozoa in the gonads (November–February). The androgenic gland cells became larger and the rough endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm developed at male sexual maturity. The cell structure shows that the androgenic gland hormone is a peptide. Furthermore, bilateral eyestalk ablation on immature male shrimps induced hypertrophy of the androgenic gland and acceleration of male sexual maturation. These results indicate the involvement of androgenic gland hormone and some eyestalk factor in regulating male sexual maturation. Over a 1-year laboratory-rearing period, some male shrimps (16.7%) changed sex. In transitional shrimps, testicular tissues in the gonads and androgenic glands degenerated; on the other hand, oocytes started yolk protein accumulation and hemolymph vitellogenin levels became high. These results suggest that androgenic gland degeneration is a trigger for sex change and that the vitellogenin level is a useful marker for sex change.     

不同强度冷刺激对大鼠心脏、大脑、睾丸和肺脏中CIRP表达的影响

采用Western blot和实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法,研究不同强度不同时间冷刺激后大鼠心脏、大脑、睾丸和肺脏中冷诱导RNA结合蛋白(CIRP)的表达情况.结果表明:常温(20℃±1℃)下大鼠4种组织中均存在一定的CIRP的表达;急性冷刺激组(-10℃±1℃、-4℃±1℃、0℃±1℃、4℃±1℃)心脏、大脑和睾丸中CIRP mRNA表达在冷刺激0～6 h呈上升趋势,6 h时达到最高值,随后呈下降趋势,肺脏中CIRP mRNA表达在0～6 h呈下降趋势,在6 h时达到最低值,随后呈上升趋势;慢性冷应激组(10℃±1℃)大鼠心脏、大脑和睾丸3种组织中CIRP mRNA在不同时间点(1周、2周、3 W周)的表达均高于正常对照组(P>0.05),肺脏CIRP mRNA表达均低于对照组(P>0.05),并且同一组织不同时间点之间差异不显著(P>0.05).可见冷刺激后CIRP的表达存在一定规律并且表现出组织特异性,可能与组织保护特异性有关.     

Abnormal gonadal morphology in intersex,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Echinogammarus marinus</Emphasis> (Amphipoda): a possible cause of reduced fecundity?

Recent reports have demonstrated a cost associated with intersexuality in Amphipoda, including reduced fecundity and fertility. In this study, the gross morphology of the gonads in normal and intersex Echinogammarus marinus (Amphipoda) were compared to determine whether resource allocation to gonadal tissue accounted for this reduced fitness. Evidence for the presence of the male sex-determining hormone, androgenic gland hormone (AGH), was compared between sexual phenotypes using MALDI mass spectrometry. Two distinct intersex phenotypes (male intersex and female intersex) were found, with variation in gonadal structure corresponding with external phenotype. Examination of male intersexes revealed normal testicular development (testes, seminal vesicles and vas deferens), but also revealed the formation of an oviduct. Ovaries of intersex females showed normal ovarian development, but were reduced in length by approximately 20% due to the presence of vas deferens. The number of vas deferens in intersex females was equal to the number (one or two) of genital papillae. We hypothesise that the reduced ovarian length observed in intersex females is a likely cause of the reduced brood size previously reported in intersex females of this species. Variation in the sexual phenotype corresponded both to development of the androgenic gland and to expression of a peptide fragment corresponding to the A chain of androgenic gland hormone (AGH). Androgenic glands and a putative AGH peptide were present in males. However, in both normal and intersex females, the androgenic glands were only present in a rudiment form and the peptide was not detected. Intersex males were found to possess abnormal glands that appeared hypertrophied. However, AGH peptides were not detected, supporting the suggestion that the intersex phenotype is manifested via perturbations of AGH.An erratum to this article can be found at Communicated by J.P. Thorpe, Port Erin     

Diversionary displays of paternal stickleback

Summary In Crystal Lake, British Columbia, male threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) perform a diversionary display that deters cannibalistic conspecifics from entering their territories and destroying their nests or consuming offspring. In this population, the display consists of males swimming directly out of their territories and rooting aggressively in the substratum, mimicking stickleback feeding on nests of others, or digging for nesting materials. The display is elicited solely by conspecifics, and usually by benthic foraging groups of 2–300 individuals. It usually is elicited when groups are approaching the territory directly. Otherwise the male typically joins the group or remains still in his territory until the group leaves. This observation suggests that males are capable of discriminating conditions under which the display is most likely to be successful. The display is absent in a population in Garden Bay Lake, British Columbia, in which benthic foraging groups are absent. In Crystal Lake the males themselves do not risk predation by the groups, and the tendency of males to perform the display does not change with reproductive condition. Comparison with diversionary displays performed in two additional allopatric populations suggests that diversionary displays in this species incorporate elements of other behavioral sequences displaced to the display, and that variation in the structure of the display exists among populations.     

Die externen Kosten der Stromerzeugung aus erneuerbaren Energien im Vergleich zur fossilen Stromerzeugung

Aim and Background

The supply and use of energy is related to environmental impacts, which cause significant economic damage. As these costs are not reflected in the price of energy, there is little incentive for the polluter to reduce the pressure on the environment. From an economic point of view, environmental resources and services are used beyond the optimal level. The quantification of external costs has been an area of intensive research, in particular within the series of ExternE projects funded by the European Commission. Although external cost estimates have been successfully used to support European environmental legislation, the assessment of external costs is still a matter of significant uncertainties — in particular in areas were potential large environmental impacts are expected. In spite of uncertainty and limited knowledge, policy needs to require guidelines for the evaluation of energy and environmental policy measures.

Main Features

Based on a critical review of the current literature, recommendations for the quantification of external costs from renewable electricity generation in comparison to fossil nuclear technologies are derived.

Results and Discussion

Current electricity market prices do not reflect the total costs of electricity generation. Quantifiable external costs from fossil electricity generation are in the same order as private generation costs. The internalisation of external costs will improve the competitiveness of renewable energy technologies. To avoid market distortion, policy shall implement framing conditions supporting the further internalisation of external costs.

Conclusions

Costs for supporting renewable energy via the German feed-in tariffs are compensated for by external costs avoided.

Perspectives

Fossil and nuclear energies are more expensive than is teflected by economical quantification. In contrast, the costs for renewable energies tell the truth even today. The sooner the external costs are integrated in the pricing, the sooner the relaunch of energy supply will attract interest, also from the economic point of view.     

北京市污水厂污泥中的内分泌干扰效应物质

采用重组基因酵母法检测了北京市16个污水处理厂污泥的雌激素、雄激素和孕激素效应.结果表明,各污水厂污泥中均可检测到雌激素受体诱导效应,范围在0.587～6.76ngEEQ·g-(1dw)之间.各水厂污泥均未检测出雄激素诱导效应和孕激素诱导效应,大部分污水厂污泥样品表现出较明显的雄激素抑制效应和较强的孕激素抑制效应.与国外相比,北京市污水厂污泥中的雌激素活性值相对较低.堆肥处理不能有效去除雌激素类物质和孕激素抑制物质,但对雄激素抑制物质的去除明显.     

多氯联苯对孔雀鱼卵黄蛋白原的诱导及检测

为探讨利用孔雀鱼(Poecilia reticulata)卵黄蛋白原(Vitellogenin,Vtg)作为生物标志物检测环境雌激素的可行性,采用浸浴法分别使用17β-雌二醇(E2)和多氯联苯(PCBs)对雄性孔雀鱼成鱼进行染毒,30d后测定其性腺系数(GSI)和肝指数(LSI),并将鱼体整体匀浆进行常规聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(Native-PAGE)及磷、脂和糖蛋白特异染色分析.结果表明,PCBs对雄性孔雀鱼具有雌激素效应,和E2均可以诱导雄性孔雀鱼体内产生Vtg,但诱导组雄鱼GSI及LSI与对照组比较均无显著性差异(p>0.05).Native-PAGE及磷、脂、糖蛋白特异性分析表明,孔雀鱼Vtg是一种富含磷、脂、糖的蛋白,具有VtgⅠ、VtgⅡ和VtgⅢ等3种形式,其分子量分别为642kDa、541kDa和441kDa.雄性孔雀鱼Vtg可作为环境雌激素监测的有效生物标记物.     

17α-甲基睾酮对稀有鮈鲫幼鱼性腺发育与血清卵黄蛋白原水平的影响

17α-甲基睾酮是一种人工合成雄激素,在水产养殖以及医药行业中广泛使用,其对鱼类的内分泌干扰效应研究工作相对较少.通过甲基睾酮对稀有鲫幼鱼的42天流水暴露,观察了其性腺发育和生物标记物变化.在500ng·L-1甲基睾酮暴露组中幼鱼生长受到抑制(p≤0.05),在50ng·L-1以上暴露组中性腺指数显著增加(p≤0.05),雄性个体比率明显升高.通过组织学观察发现,50ng·L-1以上浓度甲基睾酮暴露后卵巢组织切片中出现了精子细胞,且精子细胞数量随剂量的增加而增加.通过生物标记物卵黄蛋白原测定发现,在50ng·L-1以上浓度甲基睾酮暴露后,稀有鲫幼鱼血清中的卵黄蛋白原水平显著增加(p≤0.05).综合分析,17α-甲基睾酮主要表现出雄激素效应,而其在稀有鲫体内的代谢物则能够应激卵黄蛋白原,对稀有鲫幼鱼的最低可观察效应浓度(LOEC)为50ng·L-1.因此,仅依靠体内卵黄蛋白原应激单项指标不能准确判定化学品是否是环境类雌激素.     

Interaction of carbonaceous nanomaterials with wastewater biomass

Increasing production and use of carbonaceous nanomaterials (NMs) will increase their release to the sewer system and to municipal wastewater treatment plants. There is little quantitative knowledge on the removal of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), graphene oxide (GO), or few-layer graphene (FLG) from wastewater into the wastewater biomass. As such, we investigated the quantification of GO and MWCNTs by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and FLG using programmable thermal analysis (PTA), respectively. We further explored the removal of pristine and oxidized MWCNTs (O-MWCNTs), GO, and FLG in a biomass suspension. At least 96% of pristine and O-MWCNTs were removed from the water phase through aggregation and 30-min settling in presence or absence of biomass with an initial MWCNT concentration of 25 mg·L⁻¹. Only 65% of GO was removed with biomass concentration at or above 1,000 mg·L⁻¹ as total suspended solids (TSS) with the initial GO concentration of 25 mg·L⁻¹. As UV-Vis spectrophotometry does not work well on quantification of FLG, we studied the removal of FLG at a lower biomass concentration (50 mg TSS·L⁻¹) using PTA, which showed a 16% removal of FLG with an initial concentration of 1 mg·L⁻¹. The removal data for GO and FLG were fitted using the Freundlich equation (R² = 0.55, 0.94, respectively). The data presented in this study for carbonaceous NM removal from wastewater provides quantitative information for environmental exposure modeling and life cycle assessment.     

Observations on the geographic variation of the marine coastal fish Spinachia spinachia

Spinachia spinachia L., the fifteen-spined or sea stickleback, is a little known annual fish widely distributed throughout European coastal waters. Although known to be morphologically variable, no studies of the extent or patterns of population differentiation had as yet been undertaken. Investigation of over 30 well-scattered samples revealed meristic differences which correlate well with breeding season temperatures. This relationship is probably complex, for although temperature changes linearly, meristic counts showed evidence of a V-shaped (or curvilinear) pattern. Comparison with studies on other European stickleback species suggests that selection rather than phenetic induction has produced this trend in variation. Some information on the diet of this species is also presented.