Meeting Abstract

92.5  Friday, Jan. 7  Reproductive consequences of exposure to waterborne phytoestrogens and ethinyl estradiol in male fighting fish Betta splendens CLOTFELTER, ED*; BROWN, AC; MONTGOMERY, TM; STEVENSON, LM; GENDELMAN, HK; OTA, M; Amherst College, Amherst MA; Amherst College and University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA; Amherst College, Amherst MA; Amherst College, Amherst MA; Amherst College, Amherst MA; Amherst College, Amherst MA edclotfelter@amherst.edu

We tested the effects of waterborne exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of the phytoestrogens genistein and β-sitosterol, as well as to the synthetic estrogen 17α-ethinyl estradiol, on reproductive endpoints in sexually mature fighting fish Betta splendens. Phytoestrogen exposure had relatively modest effects on circulating sex steroid levels, gonadosomatic index, and sperm quality (concentration and motility). Exposure to ethinyl estradiol, however, reduced sperm quality, male nest size, and slightly decreased male fertilization success after a 3-4 week exposure period. We will discuss these results, as well as ongoing studies of ethinyl estradiol’s effect on ATP reserves in fish sperm, which we postulate may be responsible for the reduced sperm motility we observed.