Plasma sex steroid and thyroid hormones profile in male water frogs of the Rana esculenta complex from agricultural and pristine areas. 2005

G Mosconi, and I Di Rosa, and S Bucci, and L Morosi, and M F Franzoni, and A M Polzonetti-Magni, and R Pascolini
Dipartimento di Scienze Morfologiche e Biochimiche Comparate, Università di Camerino, Italy. gilberto.mosconi@unicam.it

Some chemical compounds used in intensive agriculture have been found to induce estrogenic effects; therefore a histological analysis of the testes and an evaluation of plasma levels of sex steroid, thyroid hormones, and vitellogenin were carried out in adult male water frogs of two coexisting taxa (Rana lessonae and the hemiclonal hybrid Rana esculenta) sampled in agricultural and pristine areas. Differences in seasonal profiles of hormones were found in water frogs living in the agricultural area where the presence of endocrine disrupting compounds was suspected on the basis of a previous study. In R. esculenta, sampled in the pristine area, high androgen levels were found in May; the opposite trend was found for R. esculenta sampled in agricultural areas in which the highest androgen levels were found in September, significantly lower compared with those found in R. esculenta sampled in the pristine area. Low androgen levels were also recorded in R. lessonae males sampled both in pristine and agricultural areas, while the highest levels were found in September. Regarding the trend of estradiol-17beta, an increase of this hormone was found in July both in esculenta and lessonae sampled in the agricultural area, and in the same month an estradiol-17beta peak, even though lower, was also found both in esculenta and lessonae males captured in the pristine area; detectable vitellogenin was found neither in males captured in the agricultural area, nor in those sampled in the pristine one. Moreover, while no significant changes of thyroid hormones were found either in the esculenta or lessonae males sampled in the pristine area, increased T3 and T4 titers were found in July in both esculenta and lessonae captured in the agricultural area. Morphological differences of the testes in males of parental species captured in the agricultural area were also observed. These findings indicate alterations in endocrine and reproductive function in frogs in the agricultural area, that could suggest the presence of endocrine disrupting compounds.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007558 Italy A country in southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia. The capital is Rome. Sardinia
D008297 Male Males
D011893 Rana esculenta An edible species of the family Ranidae, occurring in Europe and used extensively in biomedical research. Commonly referred to as "edible frog". Pelophylax esculentus
D004958 Estradiol The 17-beta-isomer of estradiol, an aromatized C18 steroid with hydroxyl group at 3-beta- and 17-beta-position. Estradiol-17-beta is the most potent form of mammalian estrogenic steroids. 17 beta-Estradiol,Estradiol-17 beta,Oestradiol,17 beta-Oestradiol,Aerodiol,Delestrogen,Estrace,Estraderm TTS,Estradiol Anhydrous,Estradiol Hemihydrate,Estradiol Hemihydrate, (17 alpha)-Isomer,Estradiol Monohydrate,Estradiol Valerate,Estradiol Valeriante,Estradiol, (+-)-Isomer,Estradiol, (-)-Isomer,Estradiol, (16 alpha,17 alpha)-Isomer,Estradiol, (16 alpha,17 beta)-Isomer,Estradiol, (17-alpha)-Isomer,Estradiol, (8 alpha,17 beta)-(+-)-Isomer,Estradiol, (8 alpha,17 beta)-Isomer,Estradiol, (9 beta,17 alpha)-Isomer,Estradiol, (9 beta,17 beta)-Isomer,Estradiol, Monosodium Salt,Estradiol, Sodium Salt,Estradiol-17 alpha,Estradiol-17beta,Ovocyclin,Progynon-Depot,Progynova,Vivelle,17 beta Estradiol,17 beta Oestradiol,Estradiol 17 alpha,Estradiol 17 beta,Estradiol 17beta,Progynon Depot
D006651 Histocytochemistry Study of intracellular distribution of chemicals, reaction sites, enzymes, etc., by means of staining reactions, radioactive isotope uptake, selective metal distribution in electron microscopy, or other methods. Cytochemistry
D000383 Agriculture The science, art or practice of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock. Agronomy,Agricultural Development,Farming,Agronomies,Development, Agricultural
D000728 Androgens Compounds that interact with ANDROGEN RECEPTORS in target tissues to bring about the effects similar to those of TESTOSTERONE. Depending on the target tissues, androgenic effects can be on SEX DIFFERENTIATION; male reproductive organs, SPERMATOGENESIS; secondary male SEX CHARACTERISTICS; LIBIDO; development of muscle mass, strength, and power. Androgen,Androgen Receptor Agonist,Androgen Effect,Androgen Effects,Androgen Receptor Agonists,Androgenic Agents,Androgenic Compounds,Agents, Androgenic,Agonist, Androgen Receptor,Agonists, Androgen Receptor,Compounds, Androgenic,Effect, Androgen,Effects, Androgen,Receptor Agonist, Androgen,Receptor Agonists, Androgen
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012739 Gonadal Steroid Hormones Steroid hormones produced by the GONADS. They stimulate reproductive organs, germ cell maturation, and the secondary sex characteristics in the males and the females. The major sex steroid hormones include ESTRADIOL; PROGESTERONE; and TESTOSTERONE. Gonadal Steroid Hormone,Sex Hormone,Sex Steroid Hormone,Sex Steroid Hormones,Sex Hormones,Hormone, Gonadal Steroid,Hormone, Sex,Hormone, Sex Steroid,Hormones, Gonadal Steroid,Hormones, Sex Steroid,Steroid Hormone, Gonadal,Steroid Hormone, Sex,Steroid Hormones, Gonadal,Steroid Hormones, Sex
D013737 Testis The male gonad containing two functional parts: the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES for the production and transport of male germ cells (SPERMATOGENESIS) and the interstitial compartment containing LEYDIG CELLS that produce ANDROGENS. Testicles,Testes,Testicle

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