Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Experimental Designs to Assess Endocrine Disrupting Effects in Invertebrates A Review

  • Published:
Ecotoxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In order to gain basic understanding of the ecological effects of vertebrate Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs), many research groups are currently testing these chemicals using aquatic invertebrates. Small crustaceans, such as cladocerans and copepods, are of particular interest since they are ecologically important and their short life cycles allow obtaining information on demographic parameters. Despite the existence of diverse literature on the development, growth and reproductive effects of EDCs on these crustaceans, only a few studies have unambiguously assessed a truly endocrine disrupting effect. This review discusses new experimental designs to differentiate between endocrine disruption and other causes of reproductive and developmental impairment. Our findings clearly illustrate that many studies may have falsely concluded that chemicals have endocrine disrupting modes of action when in fact a much simpler explanation was not previously ruled out (e.g., egg mortality, feeding inhibition). This means that there is an urgent need for integration of toxic effects on energy intake to toxicity assessments. Such an approach would permit different ectotoxicological models of action, including endocrine disrupting effects, to be distinguished and their relative roles in the overall toxic response to be clarified.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andersen, H.R., Wollenberger, L., Halling-Sorensen, B. and Kusk, O.K. (2001). Development of copepod nauplii to copepodites-a parameter for chronic toxicity including endocrine disruption. Environ Toxicol Chem. 20, 2821–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM. (1995). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater 19th edn. Washington, DC: American Public Association/America Water Works Association/ Water Environment Federation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baird, D.J., Barber, I. and Calow, P. (1990). Clonal variation in general responses of Daphnia magna Straus to toxic stress. I. Chronic life history effects. Funct. Ecol. 4, 399–407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin, W.S., Bailey, R., Long, K.E. and Klaine, S. (2001). Incomplete ecdysis as an indicator of ecdysteroid exposure in Daphnia magna. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 20, 1564–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin, W.S., Graham, S.E., Shea, D. and LeBlanc, G.A (1997). Metabolic androgenization of female Daphnia magna by the xenostrogen 4-nonylphenol. Environ. Toxicol.Chem. 16, 1905–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin, W.S., Graham, S.E., Shea, D. and LeBlanc, G.A (1998). Altered metabolic elimination of testosterone and associated toxicity following exposure of Daphnia magna to nonylphenol polyethoxylate. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Safe. 39, 104–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin, W.S. and LeBlanc, G.A.(1994). In vivo biotransformation of testosterone by phase I and II detoxification enzymes and their modulation by 20-hydroxyecdysone in Daphnia magna. Aquat. Toxicol. 29, 103–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin, W.S., Milam, D.L. and LeBlanc, G.A. (1995). Physiological and biochemical perturbations of Daphnia magna following exposure to the model environmental estrogen Diethylstilbestrol. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 14, 945–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barata, C. and Baird, D.J. (1998). Phenotypic plasticity and constancy of life-history traits in laboratory clones of Daphnia magna Straus: effects of neonatal length. Funct.Ecol. 12, 412–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barata, C. and Baird, D.J. (2000). Determining the ecotoxicological mode of action of chemicals from measurements made on individuals: results from short-duration chronic tests with Daphnia magna Straus. Aquat. Toxicol. 48, 195–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barata, C., Baird, D.J., Medina, M., Albalat, A. and Soares, A.M.V.M. (2002a). Determining the ecotoxicological mode of action of toxic chemicals in meiobenthic marine organisms: stage-specific short tests with Tisbe battagliai. Mar.Ecol. Prog. Ser. 43, 373–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barata, C., Baird, D.J., Soares, A.M.V.M. and Guilhermino, L. (2001). Biochemical factors contributing toxicity differences among resistant and sensitiveclones of Daphnia magna Straus to ethyl parathion. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Safe. 49, 155–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barata, C., Baird, D.J. and Soares, A.M.V.M. (2002c). Food supply on density-dependent effects on demographic responses of the cladoceran Moinodaphnia macleayi to heavy metal exposure. Ecol. Appl. 12, 552–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barata, C., Medina, M., Telfer, T. and Baird, D.J. (2002b). Determining demographic effects of cypermethrin in the marine copepod Acartia tonsa: stage specific short tests versus life-table tests. Arch. Environ Contam Toxicol 43, 373–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bechmann, R.K. (1999). Effect of the endocrine disrupter nonylphenol on the marine copepod Tisbe battagliai. Sci. Tot.Environ. 233, 33–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang, E.S. and O'Connor, J.D. (1978). In vitro secretion and hydroxylation of a-ecdysone as a function of the crustacean molt cycle. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 36, 151–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Angelis, D.L. and Gross, L.J. (1990). Individual Based Models and Approaches in Ecology: Populations, Communities and Ecosystems. London, UK: Chapman & Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Depeldge, M.H. and Billinghurst, Z. (1999). Ecological signifi-cance of endocrine disruption in marine invertebrates. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 39, 32–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dinan, L., Bourne, P., Whiting, P., Dhadialla, E.S. and Hutchinson, T.H. (2001). Screening for environmental contaminants for ecdysteroid agonist and antagonist activity using the Drosophila melanogaster BII cell in vitro assay. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 20, 2038–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fingerman, M. (1997). Crustacea endocrinology: a retrospective, prospective, and introspective analysis. Physiol. Zool. 70, 257–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hertz, W.A. and Chang, E.S. (1986). Juvenile hormone effects on metamorphosis of lobster (Homarus americanus) larvae. Int. J. Invertebr. Reprod. Dev. 10, 71–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, T.H. (2002). Reproductive and development effects of endocrine disrupters in invertebrates: in vitro and in vivo approaches. Toxicol. Lett. 131, 75–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, T.H., Brown, R., Brugger, K.E., Campbell, P.M., Holt, M., Läge, R., McCahon, P., Tattresfield, L.J. and van Egmond, R. (2000). Ecological risk Assessment of endocrine disruptors. Environ. Health Perspect. 108, 1007–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, T.H., Pounds, N.A., Hampel, M. and Williams, T.D.(1999a). Life-cycle studies with marine copopods (Tisbe battagliai) exposed to 20-hydroxyecdysone and diethylstilbestrol. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 18, 2914–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, T.H., Pounds, N.A., Hampel, M. and Williams, T.D. (1999b). Impact of natural and synthetic steroids on the survival, development and reproduction of marine copepods (Tisbe battagliai). Sci. Tot. Environ. 233,167–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • LeBlanc, G.A. and McLachlan, J.B. (1999). Molt-independent growth inhibition of Daphnia magna by a vertebrate antiandrogen. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 18, 1450–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • LeBlanc, G.A. and McLachlan, J.B. (2000). Changes in the metabolic elimination profile of testosterone following exposure of the crustacean Daphnia magna to tributylin. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Safe. 45, 296–303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, S.E. (2000). Intersex and male development in Daphnia magna. Hydrobiologia. 442, 145–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mu, X. and LeBlanc, G.A. (2002). Developmental toxicity of testosterone in the crustacean Daphnia magna involves anti-ecdysteroidal ativity. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 129, 127–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oberdorster, E., Rittschof, D. and LeBlanc, G.A. (1998). Alteration of [14C]testosterone metabolism after chronic exposure of Daphnia magna to tributylin. Archiv. Environ.Contam. Toxicol. 34, 21-5.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD. (1997). Guideline for testing of chemicals no 202. Daphnia acute immobilisation and reproduction test. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and development, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oehlman, J., Schulte-Oehlman, U., Tillmann, M. and Markert, B. (2000). Effects of endocrine disruptors on prosobranch snails (Mollusca: Gasteropoda) in the laboratory. Part I: Bisphenol A and octylphenol as xeno-estrogen. Ecotoxicology 9, 383–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsmtead, A.W. and LeBlanc, G.A. (2000). Effects of endocrine-active chemicals on the development of sex characteristics of Daphnia magna. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 19, 2107–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parks, L.G. and LeBlanc, G.A. (1996). Reductions in steroid hormone biotransformation/ elimination as a biomarker of pentachlorophenol chronic toxicity. Aquat. Toxicol. 34, 291–303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, J.K., Kashian, D.R. and Dodson, S.I. (2001). Methroprene and 20-oh-ecdysone affect male production in Daphnia pulex. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 20, 582–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sibly, R.M. and Calow, P. (1986). Physiological Ecology of Animals. An Evolutionary Approach. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Scientific Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tillmann, M., Schulte-Oehlmann, U., Duft, M., Markert, B. and Oehlmann, J. (2001). Effects of endocrine disruptors on prosobranch snails (Mollusca: Gasteropoda) in the laboratory. Part III: cyproterone acetate and vinclozolin as antiandrogens. Ecotoxicology 10, 373–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, L. and Baer, K.N. (2000). The influence of feeding, photoperiod and selected solvents on the reproductive strategies of the water flea, Daphnia magna. Environ. Pollut. 110, 425–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zou, E. and Fingerman, M. (1997). Effects of estrogenic xenobiotics on molting of the water flea, Daphnia magna. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Safe 38, 281–5.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, INTEXTER-UPC, Carretera Nacional 140 Km. 14.5, Terrassa, 08220, Barcelona, Spain

    Carlos Barata

  2. Department of Environmental Chemistry, IIQAB-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18, Barcelona, 08034, Spain

    Carlos Barata & Cinta Porte

  3. Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4 LA, UK

    Donald J Baird

Authors
  1. Carlos Barata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cinta Porte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Donald J Baird
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Barata, C., Porte, C. & Baird, D.J. Experimental Designs to Assess Endocrine Disrupting Effects in Invertebrates A Review. Ecotoxicology 13, 511–517 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ECTX.0000037188.09072.de

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ECTX.0000037188.09072.de

Search

Navigation