Estrogenicity determination in carp, Cyprinus carpio: a laboratory and field approach

In a laboratory experiment, adult male and female carp, Cyrpinus carpio, we re intraperitoneally injected with a single dose of 500 mug/kg of 17 alpha -ethynylestradiol (EE2) and eight days afterwards, vitellogenin levels were recorded in blood by Western blot analysis. Moreover, effects on the cytoc hrome P450 monooxygenase system, phase II and antioxidant defense enzymes o f the liver were measured. In a field approach, water and carp were simulta neously collected at the vicinity of two sewage treatment works (STWs) for determining the presence of estrogenic compounds such as nonylphenol (NP) a nd nonylphenol polyethoxylated compounds (NPEOs) as well as the occurrence of natural and sinthetic estrogens. The induction of vitellogenin on the ma le individuals was used as a reliable indicator of estrogenic exposure.