Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/5541
Title: Estrogenic activity of tropical fish food can alter baseline vitellogenin concentrations in male fathead minnow (Pimephales Promelas)
Authors: Beresford, NA
Brian, JV
Runnalls, TJ
Sumpter, JP
Jobling, S
Keywords: Vitellogenin;Fathead minnow;Fish diet;Estrogenic food;Pimephales promelas
Issue Date: 2011
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Citation: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 30(5): 1139 - 1145, May 2011
Abstract: Vitellogenin (VTG) is a precursor of egg-yolk protein and is therefore present at high concentrations in the plasma of female fish. In male fish, VTG concentrations are usually undetectable or low but can be induced upon exposure to estrogenic substances either via the water or the diet. This work was performed to determine the reason for the apparently elevated VTG concentrations in unexposed stock male fathead minnow maintained in our laboratory. The results showed clearly that some Of the food given to the fish was estrogenic and that replacement of this with nonestrogenic food led to a significant reduction in the basal VTG levels measured in male fish after a six-month period. This reduction in male VTG concentrations drastically increased the sensitivity of the VTG test in further studies carried out with these fish. Moreover, a review of published concentrations of VTG in unexposed male fathead minnow suggests that this problem may exist in other laboratories. The fathead minnow is a standard ecotoxicological fish test species, so these findings will be of interest to any laboratory carrying out fish tests on endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Description: The official published version can be obtained at the link below - copyright @ 2011 John Wiley and Sons
URI: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/5541
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/etc.479
ISSN: 0730-7268
Appears in Collections:Environment
Institute for the Environment

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