Atrazine induces complete feminization and chemical castration in male African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis).

ABSTRACT: The herbicide atrazine is one of the most commonly applied pesticides in the world. As a result, atrazine is the most commonly detected pesticide contaminant of ground, surface, and drinking water. Atrazine is also a potent endocrine disruptor that is active at low, ecologically relevant concentrations. Previous studies showed that atrazine adversely affects amphibian larval development. The present study demonstrates the reproductive consequences of atrazine exposure in adult amphibians. Atrazine-exposed males were both demasculinized (chemically castrated) and completely feminized as adults. Ten percent of the exposed genetic males developed into functional females that copulated with unexposed males and produced viable eggs. Atrazine-exposed males suffered from depressed testosterone, d

SUBMITTER: Hayes TB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2842049 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature