Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2440/122552
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Type: Journal article
Title: Context-specific behavioural changes induced by exposure to an androgenic endocrine disruptor
Author: Bertram, M.G.
Martin, J.M.
Saaristo, M.
Ecker, T.E.
Michelangeli, M.
Deal, N.D.S.
Lim, S.L.
O'Bryan, M.K.
Wong, B.B.M.
Citation: Science of the Total Environment, 2019; 664:177-187
Publisher: Elsevier
Issue Date: 2019
ISSN: 0048-9697
1879-1026
Statement of
Responsibility: 
Michael G. Bertram, Jake M.Martin, Minna Saaristo, Tiarne E. Ecker, Marcus Michelangeli, Nicholas D.S. Deal, Shu Ly Lim, Moira K. O'Bryan, Bob B.M.Wong
Abstract: Pharmaceutical contaminants are being detected with increased frequency in organisms and ecosystems worldwide. This represents a major environmental concern given that various pharmaceuticals act on drug targets that are evolutionarily conserved across diverse taxa, are often persistent in the environment, and can bioconcentrate in organisms and bioaccumulate in food chains. Despite this, relatively little is known about the potential for pharmaceutical contaminants to affect animal behaviour, especially across multiple fitness-related contexts. Here, we investigated impacts of 21-day exposure of wild-caught male eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) to a field-realistic level of the veterinary pharmaceutical 17β-trenbolone-a growth-promoting steroid used extensively in beef production worldwide and a potent androgenic endocrine disruptor repeatedly detected in surface waters affected by livestock effluent run-off. First, we examined male boldness, activity, and exploratory behaviour in a novel environment (maze arena) and found no significant effect of 17β-trenbolone exposure. Second, the same males were tested in a reproductive assay for their tendency to associate with a stimulus (unexposed) female behind a partition. Exposed males exhibited reduced association behaviour, taking longer to first associate with, and spending less time within close proximity to, a female. Third, all males were assayed for sperm function (computer-assisted sperm analysis, sperm viability) or quantity (total sperm count) and, although no significant main effects of 17β-trenbolone were seen on sperm traits, exposure altered the relationship between male morphology and sperm function. Lastly, morphological traits were assessed and exposed males were found to have, on average, increased mass relative to length. In combination, these results demonstrate that exposure to a field-realistic level of 17β-trenbolone can produce subtle but important trait alterations in male fish-including context-specific behavioural changes, disruption of key sperm function trade-offs, and altered morphology-with potential impacts on exposed wildlife.
Keywords: Androgen; endocrine disrupting chemical; hormonal growth promotant; pharmaceutical pollution; sperm; trenbolone
Rights: © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.382
Grant ID: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP130100385
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP160100372
Published version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.382
Appears in Collections:Aurora harvest 4
Medicine publications

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