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Anxiogenic behaviour induced by 17α-ethynylestradiol in male guppies (Poecilia reticulata)

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Abstract

Behaviour studies are used in toxicology research as they are excellent tools to measure physiological end-points caused by exogenous chemicals. In mammals both reproductive and non-reproductive behaviours have been used for a long period of time, whereas in teleost fishes non-reproductive behaviours have received little attention compared to reproductive behaviours. Recent advances in measuring stress related behaviours in zebrafish have provided additional tools to understand behaviour toxicology in fish. One species with well documented reproductive behaviour disturbed by different toxicants is the guppy, which is better suited than zebrafish for reproductive behaviour studies and therefore might be a better model organism for comparative behaviour studies in fish toxicology. Here we report new applications for non-reproductive behaviours in guppy and test these behaviours on males treated with the endocrine disruptor 17α-ethynylestradiol at environmentally relevant concentrations. 17α-ethynylestradiol increased freezing and bottom-dwelling when fish were placed in a non-familiar aquarium, but did not significantly affect shoaling behaviour. These results are similar to the anxiogenic behaviours seen in rats treated perinatally with 17α-ethynylestradiol and add more concern to the impacts of endocrine disruptors on aquatic wildlife.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the Swedish Baltic Sea Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, Södertörn University, 141 86, Huddinge, Sweden

    Stefan Hallgren, Kristina Volkova, Nasim Reyhanian, K. Håkan Olsén & Inger Porsch Hällström

  2. Örebro Life Science Center, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, 701 82, Örebro, Sweden

    Kristina Volkova & Nasim Reyhanian

Authors
  1. Stefan Hallgren
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  2. Kristina Volkova
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  3. Nasim Reyhanian
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  4. K. Håkan Olsén
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  5. Inger Porsch Hällström
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Correspondence to Stefan Hallgren.

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Hallgren, S., Volkova, K., Reyhanian, N. et al. Anxiogenic behaviour induced by 17α-ethynylestradiol in male guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Fish Physiol Biochem 37, 911–918 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-011-9488-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-011-9488-x

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