Evaluation of the fish short term reproduction assay for detecting endocrine disrupters

In a fish testing strategy, positive results of the fish short term reproduction assay (FSTR), often trigger a definitive test like the fish sexual development test (FSDT) or the fish full life cycle test (FFLC), entailing ethical and economic problems. This study analysed 137 studies encompassing 35 chemicals with different modes of actions (MOAs). Variability is quantified for MOA endpoints vitellogenin (VTG) and secondary sex characteristics (SSCs) as well as for apical endpoints. Two MOA endpoints could indicate estrogenic, anti-estrogenic, androgenic, anti-androgenic and steroidogenesis activities. Great variability, however, has been observed for chemicals with anti-androgenic and steroidogenesis activities, suggesting that TG229/230 may not be sensitive enough to detect these types of chemicals and may produce false negatives. Changes in apical endpoints like fecundity are not limited to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Non-EDCs could induce the similar effects on these apical endpoints. If elucidating MOA is needed, targeted in vitro MOA tests are suggested. Positive in vitro MOA results trigger a definitive test, which could be used for confirmation of the MOA in vivo and for deriving a no observed effect concentration (NOEC). Based on positive MOA results of TG229, a definitive test such as the FSDT or the FFLC is still needed, because the current TG229 has limitation on the derivation of a NOEC. An extended TG229 with more power to detect reproduction effects, as recently proposed in the OECD test guideline program, would improve the possibility to derive a NOEC and increase its usefulness in risk assessment.     

Sewage-induced alterations in the sex of Oreochromis mossambicus: A plausible cue of endocrine disruption

Oreochromis mossambicus collected from Koraiyar, a tributary of the river Cauvery exhibited variations in their external genital features such as enlarged male genital papilla among equal sized fish, branching or budding in existing male genitalia, development of imposex (male genital papilla in female fish) and increased gonado-somatic index (GSI) and elevated male sex ratio in the population. All these variations at different levels is observed in their external genitalia indicated that they were all prompted towards maleness. This ambiguous sexual characteristic might be caused by endocrine disrupting environmental androgenic or anti-estrogenic substances, perhaps, present in the agrochemicals and sewage-mixed Koraiyar water.     

水源水雄激素受体干扰效应及在水处理工艺中的变化

我国很多饮用水源水已检测出雌激素受体干扰效应,但是其他效应如雄激素受体干扰效应却罕见报道。为了弥补这方面资料的缺乏,应用雄激素受体双杂交酵母结合S9代谢方法评价了我国6大流域23个水源地水源水以及3个供水厂不同工艺出水样品的雄激素受体干扰效应。结果显示,所有水源水样品浓缩液均没有检测出雄激素受体直接或间接诱导效应,但都观察到了抑制效应,抑制效应以抑制剂氟他胺当量浓度进行表征:直接抑制效应在0.67~3.68μg·L-1之间,间接抑制效应在0.52~3.02μg·L-1之间;长江三角洲和淮河流域水源地的水源水雄激素抑制效应明显高于其他流域;经S9代谢后,有16个水源地的氟他胺当量比代谢前降低。3个饮用水厂处理工艺能够使源水的雄激素受体抑制效应降低19.1%~70.5%。研究表明,我国水源水中普遍含有雄激素受体干扰效应物质,目前水厂常规处理工艺对雄激素受体干扰效应有一定的去除效果,但不能完全去除。雄激素受体双杂交酵母测试能够快速、综合地对水体中的雄激素受体干扰效应进行评价,是饮用水安全评价的重要补充手段。     

Acute toxicity of industrial endocrine-disrupting chemicals,natural and synthetic sex hormones to the freshwater planarian,Dugesia japonica

Many chemicals commonly occurring in surface water are found to be hormonally active. Fourteen compounds including four sex hormones, three synthetic hormones, one non-steroidal anti-androgen, and six industrial endocrine-disrupting chemicals were selected to examine their acute toxicities on the freshwater planarian, Dugesia japonica. Among all test chemicals, diethylstilbestrol had the highest toxicity. Relatively, the toxicities of the synthetic hormones were higher than the natural ones. Among the six industrial endocrine-disrupting chemicals tested, bisphenol A was the most toxic, with a 48-h LC₅₀ of 8.3 mg L^?1. Overall, the natural or synthetic hormones, other than estrone and estriol, were more acutely toxic to planarians than the industrial endocrine disruptors tested. The acute toxicities of the test chemicals to Dugesia japonica were in the same order of magnitude as those to Daphnia magna based on available published data. Despite this study used non-environmentally relevant levels, such kinds of chemicals do not exist singly in the aquatic environment, but typically act in synergistic and/or additive ways in the complex environmental mixtures, and the total estrogen equivalents are much higher than a single chemical. This study stands as a starting point for other acute and chronic assays, namely using mixtures.     

Prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS)

Objective The aim of this study is to describe a fetus with androgen insensitivity syndrome diagnosed at mid-second trimester. Case and Methods Nuchal translucency was measured thick and double test was found higher. The patient referred to our center at 16^th weeks of gestation. Fetal ultrasound examination and amniocentesis was performed. Results The nuchal translucency (NT) of fetus in present pregnancy was measured approximately 10 mm at 13 weeks and Down syndrome risk was calculated 1 in 10 by double test. On ultrasound examination; thick nuchal fold (NF) and short fetal limbs were found, and the fetus was seen a female and amniocentesis was performed. Three weeks later the fetal karyotype was reported normal as 46,XY. Thereupon the fetus reexamined for 2D and 4D ultrasound, and confirmed previous findings. The fetus was terminated at 19^th weeks and seen a female phenotype. The fetal gonads removed in abdomen and testicles confirmed histopatologically. Conclusion In generally, diagnosis of AIS is most made postnatally. This is the second case in English literature, which diagnosed mid-second trimester. In this situation, the fetus with thick NT/NF and short limbs may be AIS, therefore appearance of fetal sex on ultrasound should be compared with genetic sex Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

中国南海流沙湾中雄激素、糖皮质激素和孕激素的污染特征及其生态风险评价

近年来,类固醇激素在淡水水体中不断被检出,但是其在海水中的污染特征研究相对较少.本文对中国南海流沙湾进行样品采集,通过高效液相色谱与质谱联用技术(UPLC-MS/MS),研究了33种类固醇激素的污染特征及空间分布.结果表明,在海水和沉积物中均检出7种类固醇激素,含量范围为0. 003(甲羟孕酮,MP)～9. 023(去氢孕酮,DGT) ng·L~(-1)和0. 017(1,4-雄烯二酮,ADD)～9. 281(雄烯二酮,AED) ng·g~(-1).在海水中,类固醇激素浓度高低顺序为合成类高于天然类,丰水期高于枯水期,养殖区高于非养殖区.在沉积物中,类固醇激素在时空分布上无明显差异.海洋环境中类固醇激素的主要来源为水产养殖人为饲料添加和废水排放.生态风险评价结果表明,AED处于低风险,其他类固醇激素处于无风险.相关性分析表明,海洋环境中类固醇激素的含量分布规律与盐度、水温、颗粒物(SS)和化学需氧量(COD)有关.本研究有助于认识流沙湾地区类固醇激素的污染特征,并为其生态风险评价和管控提供科学依据.     

Dioxin levels in the breast milk and estradiol and androgen levels in the saliva of Vietnamese primiparae

Human exposure to polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF), especially 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), was investigated in Vietnam since initial severe adverse health effects were reported in the late 1970s. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of dioxin exposure on steroid hormones of primiparae in an Agent Orange/dioxin hot-spot and a non-exposed area in Vietnam. Sixteen primiparae (8 at each site), all of whom were aged between 20 and 30 years with infants aged between 4 and 16 weeks, agreed to participate in this study. The mean dioxin levels in breast milk of primiparae from the hot-spot area, in terms of PCDD, PCDF, and PCDD?+?PCDF toxic equivalents (TEQ), were significantly higher than those for the non-exposed area. PCDD TEQ, PCDF TEQ, and PCDD?+?PCDF TEQ levels showed a significant correlation with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione (A-dione), and estradiol (E2) in the saliva of primiparae in a combination of hot-spot and non-exposed areas in Vietnam. The dose–response curve between salivary E2 or A-dione levels and dioxin levels was U-shaped in humans. This study provides an overview of studies regarding dioxin hot-spots and effects on human health and steroid hormone levels in particular, with a focus on the toxicity attributed to dioxins and furans. Furthermore, causal evidence regarding the effects of dioxins on endocrine disruption in humans is provided.