|
(18-44) Elevated plasma vitellogenin concentrations and gonadal abnormalities in wild male chub (Leuciscus cephalus) in French rivers. François, Brion*,1,2, Patrice, Noury1, Xavier, Palazzi3, Marc, Babut1, Jeanne, Garric1, Charles, Tyler4, Patrick, Flammarion1, 1 Cemagref, 3 Bis quai chauveau CP220, 69336 Lyon cedex 09, France2 Ineris, BP 2, 60550 Verneuil-en-Hallatte, France3 ENVL, Marcy l'Etoile, France4 School of Biological Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK ABSTRACT- Estrogenic effluents are widespread throughout Europe. Studies showed in UK rivers a high incidence of intersex roach, and in the River Elbe, Germany, an altered endocrine status in bream. Both conditions have been associated with exposure to estrogenic effluents. However, little is known in Europe on the effects of estrogens in wild cyprinid fish. In a search for estrogenic disruption in resident population of fish in French rivers, we measured plasma vitellogenin (VTG) concentrations, a biomarker of exposure to estrogenic compounds, and assessed gonadal development (through histological studies) in wild male chub (Leuciscus cephalus, Cyprinidae). Fish were sampled from a wide range of stations of varying water quality located in the rivers Seine and Rhone during autumn in 1999 and 2000. Results showed that male chubs collected from the more polluted sites had significantly higher vitellogenin concentrations compared to those from the sites with lower levels of contamination. Histological analyses of the testes revealed the highest occurrence of intersex fish (defined by the simultaneous presence of both male and female gonadal characteristics) in the more polluted sites ( incidence comprised between 6 and 14%) compared with sites receiving lower levels of pollution (0-4%). These data strongly suggest that wild population of fish inhabiting the highly polluted sites on these Rivers are affected by estrogenic(s) contaminant(s). Key words: chub, endocrine disruption, vitellogenin, gonadal histology |
