Affiliations: School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen
361005, China | State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science,
Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
Abstract: Tributyltin (TBT), an organometal used as an antifouling biocide, has
been reported to induce masculinization of fish. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a
widespread carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, has been reported that
its microsomal metabolites can produce an estrogenic response when tested in
vitro. This study was therefore designed to examine the potential in vivo
influence of TBT, BaP and their mixture on sex hormone levels in serum of
Sebastiscus marmoratus, which were given 2 separate intraperitoneally(ip)
injections (a single injection every 7 d) of TBT (0.5, 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg),
BaP (0.5, 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg), or both in combination (0.5, 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg);
control fish received olive oil vehicle only. Six days after the 2nd injection,
serum samples were collected and analyzed for sex hormone levels and alkali
labile protein phosphorus (ALPP), which is related to the yolk precursor
protein vitellogenin. The pollutants at all doses significantly reduced serum
testosterone, estradiol and ALPP content after 2 injections compared with the
corresponding controls. The reduction of the estradiol levels should be
response for the decrease of the vitellogenin levels. The results in the
present study suggested that aromatase seems not the major target acted by TBT
and BaP in fish. This study demonstrated that TBT or BaP exposure both inhibit
the reproductive potential in female Sebastiscus marmoratus. Combined effect of
TBT and BaP on the serum testosterone, estradiol and ALPP was not antagonism
from the anticipation.
