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(T/EH052) Effects of xeno-hormones in gammarids: First preliminary results of the XEHOGAMM project - histopathological effects. Woitschella, Astrid1, Preuß, Thomas1, Köhler, Heinz-R.1, Nagel, Roland2, Triebskorn, Rita1,3, 1 2 3 ABSTRACT- During the last decade, the hypothesis that endocrine disruption may occur in vertebrate and invertebrate species as a result of exposure to environmental pollutants has become more evident, although causal relationships between exposure and effect are still scarce. The XEHOGAMM project, which is funded by the Umweltbundesamt, FKZ 29965221/05, aims to provide detailed information on possible endocrine effects in Gammarus fossarum naturally exposed to stream water containing a high percentage of wastewater. Further information about the project will be presented by Jungmann et al. as poster presentation. The present study focuses on histological effects in the gonads of G. fossarum and will present the histological methods and first preliminary results. Praecopulastages and individuals of three different size classes were collected at the four sample sites in May and in September 2000. Animals were fixed in buffered glutardialdehyde in the field and embedded in glycolmethacrylate in the laboratory. Wet weight, body length and body width of each animal were measured before embedding. Longitudinal sections of whole body samples were investigated by light microscopy: oocyte diameter, oocyte area and maturity index were determined in females, and the gonado-somatic index was calculated in males. Additionally, the sexratio at the four sample sites was determined for the three size classes of G. fossarum. Key words: endocrine disruption, gonad histology, Gammarus fossarum |
