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Detection of waterborne sex-hormone disrupters

Date: 1.1.1999-
Code: 8693
Department: Åbo Akademi University / Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MNF), Dept. of Biology
Address: BioCity, Artillerigatan 6, FIN-20520 Åbo
Phone +358-2-2154 265
Fax +358-2-2154 748
E-mail bisomaa@abo.fi
Project leader: FD Boris Isomaa, Överassistent, docent (1.1.1999-)
Researchers: Inga Christianson (1.1.1999-)
Type of research: 0 (0=Within duty, 1=Ordered research, 2=Co-operation)
- basic research 100 %
Finnish funding organizations: Svenska kulturfonden () FIM 50000
Man months: Totally: 18 months
Partners: professor Bjarne Holmbom, Åbo Akademi och docent Göran Bylund, Åbo Akademi
Keywords: fisk, miljöförorening, kala, ympäristön saastuminen, könshormonstörare, akvatisk toxikologi, vitellogenin, fisk, endocrine disrupter, exoestrogen, aquatic toxicology, vitellogenin, fish,

Many chemicals present in the environment are suspected to have endocrine disrupting effects both in humans and in wildlife.Recently there has been a growing concern regarding chemicals which may interact with the estrogen receptor, because such chemicals [referred to as exoestrogens] can adversely effect the endocrine and reproductive system leading to disturbances in reproductive fitness and in sexual differentiation.Irreversible and deleterious effects in the male and female reproductive tract have been reported in various vertebrates, and these defects have been linked to exposure to exoestrogens.The aim of our study is to evaluate the ability of an in vitro assay [vitellogenin synthesis] based on primary cultures of fish hepatocytes to predict estrogenic effects in vivo.We are going to compare the responses caused by suspected exoestrogens, known to be present in the aquatic environment,in the vitellogenin assay with effects caused by the compounds in fish upon prolonged exposure.The fish we are going to use in the in vivo studies is zebrafish [Brachydanio rerio] and the hepatocytes for the in vitro assays are also isolated from the same fish species.

Publication(s)

16.2.1996 / 28.10.1999