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Defective Reproductive Organ Morphology and Function in Domestic Rooster Embryonically Exposed to o,p'-DDT or Ethynylestradiol¹

Department of Anatomy and Physiology,³ Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Centre for Reproductive Biology in Uppsala (CRU), 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden Department of Environmental Toxicology,⁴ Uppsala University, Centre for Reproductive Biology in Uppsala (CRU), 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden

ABSTRACT

Environmental pollutants with estrogenic activity have a potential to disrupt estrogen-dependent developmental processes. The objective of this study was to investigate if embryonic exposure to the environmental estrogens o,p'-DDT (1-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane; 37, 75, 150 or 300 µg/g egg) and EE₂ (17alpha-ethynyl estradiol; 60 ng/g egg) affects the reproductive system in domestic roosters. Following egg injection on Embryonic Day 4, the newly hatched chicks were sexed by cloacal inspection. A skewed phenotypic sex ratio with overrepresentation of chicks deemed as females was observed in the groups exposed to the three highest doses of o,p'-DDT but not in the EE₂-exposed group. Normal sex ratios were observed in all groups at adulthood. However, a cloacal deformation seemed to remain in the adult roosters, causing an abnormal semen flow upon semen collection. Semen yield was significantly reduced in both o,p'-DDT-exposed and EE₂- exposed birds, whereas semen quality was unaffected. When killed, deformations of the left testis were found in all treatment groups. Image analysis revealed a reduced seminiferous tubular area in the roosters exposed to the two highest doses of o,p'-DDT. Embryonic exposure to o,p'-DDT caused decreased comb weight and right-spur diameter, while EE₂ only affected right-spur diameter. In conclusion, this study shows that embryonic exposure to estrogenic compounds can induce permanent effects in male birds. The effects of the two studied compounds were partly similar but o,p'-DDT also induced alterations not seen in the EE₂-treated birds.

embryo, epididymis, estradiol, testis, toxicology

² Correspondence: A. Blomqvist, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7011, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden. FAX: 46 0 18 672111; alexandra.blomqvist{at}afys.slu.se

¹ Supported by the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences, and Spatial Planning.

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