Intersex in teleost fish: Are we distinguishing endocrine disruption from natural phenomena?

• Published in: General and comparative endocrinology Vol. 192; pp. 25 - 35
• Main Authors: Bahamonde, Paulina A, Munkittrick, Kelly R, Martyniuk, Christopher J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-10-2013
• Subjects: amphibians; Animals; data collection; Disorders of Sex Development - etiology; Endocrine disruption; Endocrine Disruptors - toxicity; endocrine-disrupting chemicals; Endocrinology & Metabolism; experimental design; Female; fish; Fishes; Gene expression; gonads; Gonads - drug effects; Intersex; laboratory animals; life history; Male; males; migratory behavior; pollution; reptiles; Sex differentiation; sex hormones; surveys; Teleost fish; transcriptomics; vitellogenin; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Wild fish population; Intersex; Endocrine disruption; Gene expression; Sex differentiation; Teleost fish; Wild fish population
• ISSN: 0016-6480; 1095-6840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2013.04.005

Highlights • There are reports that intersex is induced by aquatic pollutants and that it may also be natural. • Approximately 37 species of fish have been reported to exhibit some degree of intersex in the environment. • Evidence is not conclusive that changes in gonad size, plasma Vtg, and sex steroid hormones are correlated to intersex. • The relationship between molecular responses and intersex is not fully characterized. • Life history, sampling time, and reference site characterization will better resolve intersex prevalence.