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(18-55) Early-life exposure to environmental levels of TBT masculinises fish and causes irreversible sperm damage. McAllister, Brian*,1, Kime, David1, 1 Dpertment of Animal and Plant Sciences, Sheffield, UK ABSTRACT- The study of endocrine disrupting chemicals has overwhelmingly concentrated on estrogen mimics for which simple screening tests are available, while other EDC's for which there are no such routine tests have been much neglected. To determine whether early life stage exposure to the aromatase inhibitor tributyltin (TBT) impaired reproductive function we exposed juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio) to environmentally realistic levels (<0.1ppb) of this compound for varying exposure periods post hatch. 2-4 months after cessation of exposure there was an increased proportion of males, which produced poorly motile sperm lacking flagella. These effects were apparent at <1ppb, the present limit of detection for TBT, which suggests that harmful effects may also occur in areas in which the pollutant has not been detected. Histology and steroid production were also examined. Our data suggest that the fertility of wild fish populations may be seriously affected in areas such as the North and Mediterranean, seas and that screening for aromatase inhibiting activity and assessment of its risks to human and wildlife fertility needs to be urgently addressed. Key words: Danio |
