Impact of butyl benzyl phthalate on development of the reproductive system of European pikeperch, Sander lucioperca (L.)

Abstract

The effect of butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) on the sex differentiation process of fish is practically unknown. The experimental material of this study was juvenile European pikeperch [Sander lucioperca (L.)], which is gonochoristic, undergoes immediate sex differentiation, and has a fixed gonad differentiation period. The fish were fed a diet supplemented with BBP (during the sex differentiation phase: age 61-96 days post hatch) in the following quantities: 1.0; 2.0; 4.0; 8.0; 16.0 g BBP kg -1 feed. The control feed was a xenobiotic-free base feed. In the present experiment lasting 10 weeks, the survival and growth of fish, the histopathological changes of the fish gonads and the sex ratio were evaluated. After administration of the two highest doses of BBP, growth inhibition of the fish was observed. BBP also seriously disturbed the gonadal differentiation process of pikeperch. All analysed concentrations of BBP delayed testicular development and, at concentrations of 4.0, 8.0 and 16.0 g BBP kg -1 , induction of the feminisation process was observed. The sex ratio was distinctly disrupted in groups receiving 8.0 and 16.0 g BBP kg -1 .

Genotoxicity of sub-lethal di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) / Genotoksičnost subletalne koncentracije di-n-butil ftalata (DBP-a) u nilskoj tilapiji (Oreochromis niloticus)

“…DBP as an environmental contaminant and its exposure from food containers is of concern as it represents a risk to reproductive and developmental toxicity (23,24).…”

Impact of sublethal di-n-butyl phthalate on the aquaculture fish species Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus ): histopathology and oxidative stress assessment

“…Male zebrafish exposed to 100 or 500 lg L À1 DBP, alone or together with 17a-ethynylestradiol for 21 days showed delayed gametogenesis, impaired reproductive capability; irreversible gill and liver damage were reported (Xu, Chen, Liu, Zeng, Zhou & Li 2014). Butyl benzyl phthalate was shown to delay testicular development, disrupt gonadal differentiation, induction of feminization, affect sex ratio in a feeding study using Sander lucioperca (European pikeperch, a gonochoristic fish (Jarmolowicz, Demska-Zakes & Zakes 2014). Cyprinus carpio (carp) exposed to 1.63, 3.26 and 8.15 mg L À1 DBP for 9 days strongly induced antioxidant enzyme activities and MDA levels in liver (Zhao, Gao & Qi 2014).…”