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Tilapia Larvae Aroclor 1254 Exposure: Effects on Gonads and Circulating Thyroid Hormones During Adulthood

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Abstract

Aroclor 1254 a polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) mixture, when administrated through the diet, was previously found to inhibit adult tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reproduction. Since fish larvae can be more sensitive to contaminants, the objectives of this study were to evaluate in adults the impact in gonad development and in thyroid function of Aroclor 1254 administrated at larvae stages. Aroclor 1254 exposed tilapia presented both ovary and testicular alterations and a decline in T4 plasma concentration while T3 remained unaltered. This work shows exposure to Aroclor 1254 during tilapia early life stages causes a disruption of the reproductive axis that enables reproduction.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank C. Rosa for his technical assistance with the tilapia’s systems. This work was supported by FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia PhD grant SFRH/BD/5161/2001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Fisiologia Aplicada, ICBAS-UP Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto, Largo do Prof. Abel Salazar n°2, 4099-003, Porto, Portugal

    A. M. Coimbra & M. A. Reis-Henriques

  2. Laboratório de Toxicologia Ambiental, CIIMAR-UP Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental da Universiade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal

    A. M. Coimbra & M. A. Reis-Henriques

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  1. A. M. Coimbra
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  2. M. A. Reis-Henriques
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Correspondence to A. M. Coimbra.

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Coimbra, A.M., Reis-Henriques, M.A. Tilapia Larvae Aroclor 1254 Exposure: Effects on Gonads and Circulating Thyroid Hormones During Adulthood. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 79, 488–493 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-007-9288-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-007-9288-2

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