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(18-26) Morphologically intermediate papilla syndrome (MIPS) in UK populations of sand goby: Endocrine Disruption? Kirby, M.F.*,1, Dyer, R.A.1, Matthiessen, P.1, Feist, S.W.1, Bignell, J.P.1, Jones, G.J.1, Craft, J.A.1, Brown, E.1, Robinson, C.1, 1 CEFAS Burnham Laboratory, Burnham-on-Crouch, United Kingdom ABSTRACT- The sand goby (Pomatoschistus sp.) is a small fish ubiquitous to UK estuarine/ coastal environments. Abundance and life history characteristics have lead to its adoption as a key species in the investigation of endocrine disruption as part of the UK Endocrine Disrupters in the Marine Environment (EDMAR) programme. Two closely related species P. minutus and P. lozanoi were sampled from estuarine sites, some of which receive inputs of oestrogenically active effluents. Markers of oestrogenic exposure measured were hepatic levels of vitellogenin (VTG), zona radiata protein (ZRP) mRNA and the occurrence of ovotestis. A morphological marker of feminisation was also assessed in the sexually dimorphic uro-genital papilla (UGP), an organ used in sperm deposition and oviposition. Laboratory exposures of sand gobies to ethynyl estradiol and 17 Key words: sand goby, endocrine disruption, morphologically intermediate papilla syndrome (MIPS), oestrogens |
-oestradiol were conducted to ascertain dose responses for VTG and ZRP mRNA induction and UGP morphological changes. No wild caught male gobies showed evidence of ovotestis or VTG/ZRP mRNA even though laboratory exposures suggested that sensitivity using these markers was similar to that in flounder. Inspection of the UGP in wild specimens revealed the development of terminal villi (normally associated with females) on male papillae. This condition was denoted morphologically intermediate papilla syndrome (MIPS) and was more prevalent (>50%) in areas of known oestrogenic contamination (i.e. Tees, Mersey and Clyde estuaries). A proportion of juvenile P. minutus experimentally exposed to 17