Aquatic Hypoxia Is an Endocrine Disruptor and Impairs Fish Reproduction

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• 作者：Rudolf S. S. Wu ; Bing Sheng Zhou ; David J. Randall ; Norman Y. S. Woo ; and Paul K. S. Lam
• 刊名：Environmental Science & Technology
• 出版年：2003
• 出版时间：March 15, 2003
• 年：2003
• 卷：37
• 期：6
• 页码：1137 - 1141
• 全文大小：109K
• 年卷期：v.37,no.6(March 15, 2003)
• ISSN：1520-5851

文摘

There is increasing concern that certain chemicals in theaquatic environment can disrupt endocrine systems,leading to reproductive impairment and threatening survivalof wild populations of invertebrates, fish, bird, reptiles,and wildlife. For the first time, we report that hypoxia isalso an endocrine disruptor and poses a significant threatto the reproduction and hence sustainability of fishpopulations. Serum levels of testosterone, estradiol, andtriiodothyronine significantly decreased in carp (Cyprinuscarpio) upon chronic exposure to hypoxia. These hormonalchanges were associated with retarded gonadal development in both male and female carp, reduced spawningsuccess, sperm motility, fertilization success, hatching rate,and larval survival, indicating that adverse effects ofhypoxia on reproductive performance resulted from endocrinedisruption. Since aquatic hypoxia commonly occurs overthousands of square kilometers in aquatic systems worldwide,our results imply that endocrine disruption and reproductiveimpairment in fish may be a widespread environmentalproblem.