PARENT SESSION
PT2 - Endocrine Disruption
Tuesday, 19 November 2002
8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Exhibit Hall

(P529) Characterization and manipulation of sex steriods and vitellogenin in freshwater mussels.

Kernaghan, Nicola¹, Monck, Eileen^*,1, Borgert, Christopher^1,2, Gross, Timothy^1,3, ¹ University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A.² Applied Pharmacology and Toxicology Inc., Alachua, Florida, U.S.A.³ USGS Florida Caribbean Science Center, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT- Considerable evidence has accumulated over the past several years that a variety of chemical compounds present in the environment can disrupt reproductive endocrine function in exposed wildlife populations. More recently, attention has been focused on a class of compounds known as Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PCPPs), which include synthetic hormones used in birth control pills and on animal feedlots. The current study investigates the effects of a synthetic hormone, 17-estradiol and two organochlorine pesticides, DDE and Dieldrin on the reproductive cycle of the freshwater mussel, Elliptio buckleyi . Mussels were exposed to exogenous estradiol, DDE and Dieldrin and tissues were analyzed for androgens, and estrogens by standard RIA procedures. Vitellogenin, an egg yolk protein produced under the influence of sex steroids, was determined using an indirect method developed by Blaise et. al. (1999). Sex steroid concentrations were found to be closely correlated to reproductive activities and spawning. Tissue concentrations of both vitellogenin and estrogen were significantly elevated following exposure to exogenous estradiol. The development of these procedures for use with freshwater mussel species will be critical to the elucidation of potential habitat and contaminant effects on reproductive function.

Key words: sex steroids, mussels, vitellogenin