Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been emphasized due to their threats in fertility, intelligence, and survival. For the last decade, many researchers have investigated EDC-health outcome. However, EDC responses in human were not clearly clarified through experimental and epidemiological data. Therefore, considering particular status of EDC endpoints, we suggest that one of the best ways to prevent unknown health risks from EDCs is to perform exposure monitoring or to do surveillance for EDC release into the environment. For this purpose, this review considers exposure status of EDCs, and EDC-related health risks, focusing on the mainly highlighted EDCs, such as dioxins/PCBs, DDT/DDE, bisphenol A, phthalates, alkylphenols, and phytoestrogens. We also reviewed tobacco, a mixed source of EDC-related endocrine disorders.

Iridovirus is a causative agent of epizootics among cultured rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) in Korea. Here, we report the complete genomic sequence of rock bream iridovirus (RBIV). The genome of RBIV was 112080 bp long and contained at least 118 putative open reading frames (ORFs), and its genome organization was similar to that of infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV). Of the RBIV's 118 ORFs, 85 ORFs showed 60-99% amino acid identity to those of ISKNV. Phylogenetic analysis of major capsid protein (MCP), DNA repair protein RAD2, and DNA polymerase type-B family indicated that RBIV is closely related to red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV), Grouper sleepy disease iridovirus (GSDIV), Dwarf gourami iridovirus (DGIV), and ISKNV. The genome sequence provides useful information concerning the evolution and divergence of iridoviruses in cultured fish.

During a routine survey of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas in Tongyoung (previously Chungmu) on the southern coast of Korea, basophilic inclusions were observed in the gonadal tissues. They were detected from March to May at a prevalence rate of 3.3 to 7.1%. The inclusion bodies were Feulgen-positive and stained orange-red with phloxine tartrazine. Electron microscopic observation revealed non-enveloped, icosahedral particles 40 to 45 nm in diameter. These morphological characteristics resemble those of papova virus-like inclusions previously described from Pacific and eastern (American) oysters C. virginica in North America. Although many mitochondrial bodies and intact sperm cells were observed around the inclusion body, no host reaction, such as hemocytic infiltration, was detected. KEY WORDS: Pacific oyster · Crassostrea gigas · Viral gametocytic hypertrophy · Papova-like virus · Seminal glandResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher embedding and cut into 4 µm thick sections. Some sections were stained with Harris's hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), some with Feulgen stain and some with phloxine tartrazine, for bright field light microscopy (Olympus Vanox AHBS3) examination.Ultrastructural examination. Samples showing inclusion bodies within the gonadal epithelia were selected for processing for transmission electron microscopy. Tissue specimens from the same oysters, preserved in Carson's fixative solution were rinsed in 0.2 M cacodylate buffer at pH 7.2 for 48 h at 4°C before post-fixing in 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution, and 1% osmium tetroxide. After dehydration through graded alcohols, the tissues were embedded in Epon resin compound (Ouken, Japan). Hardening was carried out at 35°C for 12 h, 45°C for 12 h, and 60°C for 48 h. Semi-thin sections (200 nm) were stained with toluidine blue, and ultra-thin sections (60 nm) were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. Ultra-thin sections were examined with a JEOL 1200 EX-2 transmission electron microscope (TEM) at 80 kV. RESULTSBasophilic inclusions in gonoducts were observed in specimens from all sites except Stn 4. Infections were observed from March to May at prevalences of 3.3 to 7.1%. Prevalence at Stn 3 was higher than at the other sites ( Table 1). The heaviest infection included 62 inclusion bodies in a single tissue section; however, no host reaction was observed. The longest axis of the inclusion bodies varied from 15 to 60 µm, and the shape was oval to spherical. Some inclusion bodies had dense staining margins (Figs. 2 & 3). Feulgen staining confirmed the presence of dense nucleic acid (Fig. 4), and orange-red staining with phloxine tartrazine (Fig. 5) demonstrated a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) composition. Advanced infections led to disruption of the nuclear membrane and putative release of the viral particles (Fig. 4, arrowhead).Non-enveloped, icosahedral viral particles, 40 to 45 nm in diameter, filled the inclusion bodies (Figs. 6 & 7). These morphological characteristics resemble those of Pa...

The reproductive cycle and batch fecundity of yellow croaker Larimichthys polyactis were examined in 981 specimens (286 males, 695 females) caught from waters around Mokpo, Busan, and Jeju-do (Korea) between February 2008 and January 2009. Males and females with ripe-stage gonads were collected between April and June, at which time the mean gonadosomatic indices were also high, indicating that the spawning season of yellow croaker around the waters off southern Korea occurs from April to June. Degenerating postovulatory follicles as well as oocytes in the migratory-nucleus stage or hydrated stage were found in ripe-stage gonads, suggesting that this species can spawn repeatedly in a season. Batch fecundity in 45 females with migratory-nucleus or hydrated oocytes ranged from 19,396 to 106,311 eggs in fish varying from 20.0 to 26.7 cm in total length and was found to be positively related to total length and body weight. Our findings should assist in implementing a proper stock assessment of yellow croaker around the waters off Korea.

Antifouling biocides such as organotin compounds and their alternatives are potent toxicants in marine ecosystems. In this study, we employed several molecular and biochemical response systems of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas to understand a potential mode of action of antifouling biocides (i.e. tributyltin (TBT), diuron and irgarol) after exposure to different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, and 1 μg L-1) for 96 h. As a result, all the three antifouling biocides strongly induced the antioxidant defense system. TBT reduced both enzymatic activity and mRNA expression of Na+/K+-ATPase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Lower levels of both Na+/K+-ATPase activity and AChE mRNA expression were observed in the diuron-exposed oysters compared to the control, while the irgarol treatment reduced only the transcriptional expression of AChE gene. We also analyzed transcript profile of heat shock protein (Hsp) superfamily in same experimental conditions. All antifouling biocides tested in this study significantly modulated mRNA expression of Hsp superfamily with strong induction of Hsp70 family. Taken together, overall results indicate that representative organotin TBT and alternatives have potential hazardous effects on the gill of C. gigas within relatively short time period. Our results also suggest that analyzing a series of molecular and biochemical parameters can be a way of understanding and uncovering the mode of action of emerging antifouling biocides. In particular, it was revealed that Pacific oysters have different sensitivities depend on the antifouling biocides.