- Published:
Effects of tributyltin (TBT) and testosterone on the female genital system in the mesogastropodLittorina littorea (Prosobranchia)
Helgoländer Meeresuntersuchungen volume 50, pages 105–115 (1996)
Abstract
Experiments were performed with the mesogastropodLittorina littorea on Helgoland, in Roscoff, and in the laboratory in order to evaluate the reaction of the female genital system to TBT, an environmental toxicant. The snails were either injected with 50 or 100 ng tributyltin (TBT) soluted in ethanol or exposed to artificial sea water treated with 5, 50, 100, and 200 ng TBT/l, and 33 ng testosterone/l. The duration of the experiments was either four or eight weeks. None of the analysed femaleL. littorea showed signs of imposex. Compared to results for the control groups, the size of the female glandular complex was significantly reduced if the pre-experimental toxication was already high, as is the case in snails collected around Helgoland. TBT-related gland complex reduction occurs also in femaleL. littorea from other sampling sites. In addition, injection of ethanol also causes a decrease in gland size. The experimental results demonstrate that the distal female genital system responds with significantly lower sensitivity to TBT than that of other prosobranchs. This behaviour is ascribed to the lack of an androgen receptor at the ovipositor. The results further strengthen the case of the extreme rarity of imposex described for femaleL. littorea in natural habitats. However, strong TBT-toxication may affectL. littorea populations significantly because of increasing masculinization of the females, which reduces reproduction ability.
Literature Cited
Blaber, S. J. M., 1970. The occurrence of a penis-like outgrowth behind the right tentacle in spent females ofNucella lapillus (L.). — Proc. malacol. Soc. Lond.39, 231–233.
Bryan, G. W., Gibbs, P. E., Hummerstone, L. G. & Burt, G. R., 1986. The decline of the gastropodNucella lapillus around south-west England: evidence for the effects of tributyltin from antifouling paints. — J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K.66, 611–640.
Deutsch, U. & Brick, M., 1992. The fine structure of the penis-epithelium ofLittorina littorea (Gastropoda; Prosobranch) — No effects of tributyltin. In: Abstracts of the 11th International Malacological Congress, Siena 1992. Ed. by F. Giusti & G. Manganelli. Univ. of Siena, Siena, 410–411.
Deutsch, U. & Brick, M., 1993. Morphological effects of tributyltin (TBT) in vitro on the genital system ofLittorina littorea (Prosobranchia). — Helgoländer Meeresunters.47, 49–60.
Deutsch, U., Oehlmann, J. & Stroben, E., 1994. Morphological effects of tributyltin (TBT) on the genital system of the mesogastropodLittorina littorea (L.) (Prosobranchia) in vitro. — Malacol. Rev.6, 143–148.
Fioroni, P., Oehlmann, J. & Stroben, E., 1991. The pseudohermaphroditism of prosobranchs; morphological aspects. — Zool. Anz.226, 1–26.
Matthiessen, P., Waldock, R., Thain, J. E., Milton, S. & Scrope-Howe, S., 1991. Change in periwinkle (Littorina littorea) populations following the ban on TBT-based antifoulings on small boats. —C.M./ICESE5, 1–15.
Oehlmann, J., Stroben, E. & Fioroni, P., 1992. The rough tingleOcenebra erinacea (Gastropoda: Muricidae): an exhibitor of imposex in comparison toNucella lapillus. — Helgoländer Meeresunters.46, 311–328.
Oehlmann, J., Stroben, E., Bettin, C. & Fioroni, P., 1993a. TBT-induzierter Imposex und seine physiologischen Ursachen bei marinen Vorderkiemenschnecken. In: SDN-Kolloquium Antifouling im Meer — Gefahren durch Schiffsanstriche. Emden 21. Januar 1993. Schutzgemeinschaft Deutsche Nordseeküste, Wilhelmshaven, 58–72.
Oehlmann, J., Stroben, E. & Fioroni, P., 1993b. Fréquence et degré d'expression du pseudohermaphrodisme chez quelques Prosobranches Sténoglosses des côtes françaises (surtout de la baie de Morlaix et de la Manche). 2. Situation jusqu'au printemps de 1992. — Cah. Biol. mar.34, 343–362.
Smith, B. S., 1971. Sexuality in the american mud snail,Nassarius obsoletus Say. — Proc. malacol. Soc. Lond.39, 377–378.
Stroben, E., Oehlmann, J. & Bettin, C., 1991. TBT-induced imposex and the role of steroids in marine snails. In: Proceedings of the 10th World Meeting of ORTEP Association (Berlin 26./27. Sept. 1991). ORTEP Association, The Hague, 68–73.
Stroben, E., Brömmel, C., Oehlmann, J. & Fioroni, P., 1992a. The genital system ofTrivia arctica andTrivia monacha (Prosobranchia: Mesogastropoda) and tributyltin-induced imposex. — Zool. Beitr.34, 349–373.
Stroben, E., Oehlmann, J. & Fioroni, P., 1992b. The morphological expression of imposex inHinia reticulata (Gastropoda: Buccinidae), a potential biological indicator of tributyltin pollution. —Mar. Biol.113, 625–636.
Stroben, E., Oehlmann, J. & Fioroni, P., 1992c.Hinia reticulata andNucella lapillus: a comparison of two gastropod tributyltin bioindicators. — Mar. Biol.114, 289–296.
Weber, E. 1972. Grundriß der biologischen Statistik. Fischer, Stuttgart, 706 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Deutsch, U., Fioroni, P. Effects of tributyltin (TBT) and testosterone on the female genital system in the mesogastropodLittorina littorea (Prosobranchia). Helgolander Meeresunters 50, 105–115 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02367139
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02367139