Steroid hormones in blood plasma from Greenland sledge dogs (Canis familiaris) dietary exposed to organohalogen polluted minke whale (Balaenoptera acuterostrata) blubber

作者：Sonne Christian^*; Dietz Rune; Letcher Robert J; Pedersen Kenneth Munk; Riget Frank F; Styrishave Bjarne

来源：Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry, 2014, 96(2): 273-286.

DOI：10.1080/02772248.2014.924195

• polar bear
• steroid hormones
• blood
• polychlorinated biphenyls
• polybrominated diphenyl ethers

Persistent organic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) are known to disrupt steroidogenesis and subsequent concentrations of circulating endogenous hormones. This is also suspected to occur in Arctic predatory species, such as polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and a study was therefore conducted in Greenland sledge dogs (Canis familiaris) as a sentinel species for adverse effects on steroid homeostasis. The control and exposed groups were composed of four sister-bitches all fed pork fat (Suis suis) and organohalogen contaminated minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) blubber, respectively, for 321-576 days. In the exposed group, this constituted a mean daily intake of 128 mu g Sigma PCBs (5 mu g/kg/day). At the end of the study, organohalogen contaminant (OHC) were measured in adipose tissue and hormone levels in blood of sledge dogs. The hormones included 11 products of the steroidogenesis, which were Sigma Androgen (dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, and dehydrotestosterone), Sigma Estrogen (estrone, 17 alpha-estradiol and 17 beta-estradiol), and Sigma Progestagen (pregnenolone, progesterone, 17-OH-pregnenolone, and 17-OH-progesterone) concentrations. This allowed us to study the mechanisms underlying possible disruption of blood steroid concentrations. Results showed that exposed bitches had significantly higher concentrations of all OHC compounds. Unexpectedly, Sigma Androgen, Sigma Estrogen and Sigma Progestagen concentrations were also significantly higher in exposed dogs. Data indicated that daily OHC contaminant exposure were concomitant with elevation in concentrations of steroid hormones in blood plasma of exposed sledge dogs. Based on these unexpected results, data suggest that more investigations should be focused on steroid endocrine disruption and potential health effects in Arctic top predators including domesticated dogs.

• 出版日期2014