Effect of Perfluorooctanesulfonate Exposure on Steroid Hormone Levels and Steroidogenic Enzyme Activities in Juvenile Silurana Tropicalis
March 2019
in “
JAT. Journal of applied toxicology/Journal of applied toxicology
”
TLDR PFOS exposure disrupts hormone levels and enzyme activities in juvenile frogs, affecting males and females differently.
The study investigated the effects of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) on steroid hormone levels and steroidogenic enzyme activities in juvenile Silurana tropicalis. Juvenile frogs were exposed to various concentrations of PFOS from early embryo stages through 150 days post-metamorphosis. Results showed that PFOS exposure led to increased plasma dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and gonadal testosterone in males, while females exhibited decreased plasma estradiol and increased gonadal testosterone. Additionally, PFOS exposure caused a concentration-related decrease in aromatase activity in females and an increase in 5α-reductase activity in males. Both sexes showed increased CYP 17,20-lyase activity but not 17-hydroxylase activity. These findings indicated that PFOS could disrupt endocrine activity during sexual differentiation in S. tropicalis.
