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Detection of a synthetic sex steroid in the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus): Evidence for a novel environmental androgen
- Source :
- Chemosphere, vol.180, pp. 125-129, Kérwá, Universidad de Costa Rica, instacron:UCR
- Publication Year :
- 2017
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2017.
-
Abstract
- Endocrine-disrupting contaminants (EDC's) are well known to alter sexual differentiation among vertebrates via estrogenic effects during development, particularly in organisms characterized by temperature-dependent sex determination. However, substances producing androgenic effects typically lack potency when tested in laboratory settings and are virtually unstudied in field settings. Here, we assay levels of a synthetic androgen, 17a-methyltestosterone (MT), in a heavily male-biased population of American crocodiles in the Tempisque River Basin of Costa Rica based on the recent hypothesis that this chemical is an EDC in developing crocodilian embryos. The presence of MT was documented in all fieldcollected samples of egg yolk and in plasma of all age classes in among population of crocodiles. Hatchlings exhibited higher plasma MT concentrations (102.1 ± 82.8 ng/mL) than juveniles (33.8 ± 51.5) and adults (25.9 ± 20.8 ng/mL). Among populations, crocodiles captured in the Tempisque River (62.9 ± 73.7 ng/mL) were higher in MT concentration than those from Tarcoles (13.3 ± 11.4 ng/mL) and negative controls (0.001 ± 0.0002 ng/mL). A mechanism for the bio-transport of MT and its subsequent effects is proposed. Universidad de Costa Rica/[741-B5-270]/UCR/Costa Rica Organization for Tropical Studies/[OTS 507]/OTS/Costa Rica UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP) UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Microbiología
- Subjects :
- Male
0106 biological sciences
0301 basic medicine
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Endocrine Disruptors
Crocodile
01 natural sciences
Methyltestosterone
Gonadal Steroid Hormones
Alligators and Crocodiles
education.field_of_study
biology
General Medicine
Pollution
Environmental androgen
Androgens
Female
Steroids
Environmental Monitoring
Costa Rica
medicine.medical_specialty
Environmental Engineering
food.ingredient
597.987 286 Crocodilia (Cocodrilos)
medicine.drug_class
Population
Crocodylus acutus
Zoology
010603 evolutionary biology
Crocodylus
03 medical and health sciences
food
Rivers
biology.animal
Yolk
Internal medicine
medicine
Animals
Environmental Chemistry
education
Sexual differentiation
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Estrogens
General Chemistry
Androgen
biology.organism_classification
United States
030104 developmental biology
Endocrinology
Sex steroid
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Endocrine disrupting contaminants
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00456535
- Volume :
- 180
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Chemosphere
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....5b9870083610ffe74ae8e89b23958d19