GONADAL STEROIDOGENESIS IN-VITRO FROM JUVENILE ALLIGATORS OBTAINED FROM CONTAMINATED OR CONTROL LAKES

The ubiquitous distribution of many contaminants and the nonlethal, mu ltigenerational effects of such contaminants on reproductive, endocrin e, and immune systems have led to concerns that wildlife worldwide are affected. Although the causal agents and effects are known for some s pecies, the underlying physiological mechanisms associated with contam inant-induced reproductive modifications are still poorly understood a nd require extensive research. We describe a study examining the stero idogenic activity of gonads removed from juvenile alligators (Alligato r mississippiensis) obtained from contaminated or control lakes in cen tral Florida. Synthesis of estradiol-17 beta (E(2)) was significantly different when ovaries from the contaminated and control lakes were co mpared in vitro. Additionally, testes from males obtained from the con taminated lake, Lake Apopka, synthesized significantly higher concentr ations of E(2) when compared to testes obtained from control males. In contrast, testosterone (T) synthesis from ail testes examined in this study displayed a normal pattern and produced concentrations greater than that observed from ovaries obtained from either lake. Interesting ly, the pattern of gonadal steroidogenesis differs from previously rep orted plasma concentrations of these hormones obtained from the same i ndividuals. We suggest that the differences between the in vivo and in vitro patterns are due to modifications in the hepatic degradation of plasma sex steroid hormones.