Effect of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane on sex determination of the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina)

Citation
Mj. Portelli et al., Effect of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane on sex determination of the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina), ECOTOX ENV, 43(3), 1999, pp. 284-291
Citations number
36
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology,"Pharmacology & Toxicology
Journal title
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
ISSN journal
01476513 → ACNP
Volume
43
Issue
3
Year of publication
1999
Pages
284 - 291
Database
ISI
SICI code
0147-6513(199907)43:3<284:EODOSD>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
Recent evidence indicates that 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethan e (DT) and some of its metabolites alter reproductive and endocrine functio n in wildlife. Exposure to such endocrine-disrupting compounds during embry onic development can affect sexual differentiation. The authors tested the hypothesis that dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDE) causes feminizat ion of the common snapping turtle (Chelydra s. serpentina), a species with temperature-dependent sex determination, during embryonic development. Eggs from eight clutches (total eggs tested = 237) were incubated at a male-pro ducing temperature (26 degrees C). At stage 14 of embryonic development, p, p'-DDE was applied topically at four concentrations and estrogen (estradiol -17 beta) was applied as a positive control. Although application of estrog en did induce female development at this temperature, application of p,p'-D DE did not affect sex determination at the exposure levels used. Residue an alysis indicated that the amount of p,p'-DDE detected in the eggs 72 h afte r application was considerably less than the concentrations applied. Howeve r, the amounts that penetrated the shells mere comparable to levels which h ave been found in moderately contaminated sites in the Great Lakes. These r esults indicate that p,p'-DDE, at levels that exist in the environment in t he Great Lakes, does not cause the feminization of snapping turtles during embryonic development. (C) 1999 Academic Press.