Exposure of Japanese quail embryos to o,p′‐DDT has long‐term effects on reproductive behaviors, hematology, and feather morphology

Abstract

Japanese quail eggs were injected with 1-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane o,p'-DDT(1-10 mg),1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane p,p'-DDT (1-10 mg), or, in one study, 0.5 mg chlordecone dissolved in 50 microliters of corn oil on day 1 of incubation. Hatchability was not decreased by o,p'-DDT or p,p'-DDT, as compared to corn-oil-injected controls, but was reduced in progeny of parents injected in ovo with either isomer. Tremor was observed for up to 4 days posthatching only in birds injected with 1.75-10 mg p,p'-DDT or chlordecone. Survivability to 5 weeks posthatch was reduced (less than or equal to 50%) in birds injected in ovo with 6.25-7.5 mg, o,p'-DDT or 1.75-5 mg p,p'-DDT as compared to corn oil (96%). Reproductive behaviors were attenuated in birds injected during development with o,p'-DDT, both DDT isomers decreased the total number of ovipositions, and o,p'-DDT increased the total number of eggshell malformations. Neither body weights nor reproductive organ weights at 12 weeks were affected by injection of either isomer. Exposure to DDT did not affect acquisition of a matched-to-sample food-reinforced response or subsequent responding on a random interval schedule of reinforcement. In another experiment, total circulating erythrocyte numbers were reduced in females after injection in ovo with o,p'-DDT but not after injection with p,p'-DDT. A primary humoral immune response was not affected by in ovo exposure to either isomer of DDT. In ovo exposure to o,p'-DDT but not to p,p'-DDT had long-term and estrogen-like effects on behavior and hematology in Japanese quail. Posthatch primary feather morphology was also altered by embryonic exposure to o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDT, and chlordecone.

Embryonic exposure to oestrogen causes eggshell thinning and altered shell gland carbonic anhydrase expression in the domestic hen

“…To our knowledge, the present study is the first to show that eggshell thinning can be a developmentally induced effect. However, shell-less and soft-shelled eggs have been reported earlier in quail following embryonic exposure to 2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (o,p'-DDT) at a very high dose (about 400 mg/kg) that also reduced the number of ovipositions (Bryan et al 1989).…”

DDT reintroduction for malaria control: the cost-benefit debate for public health

“…It was formerly believed that DDT and its metabolites did not possess endocrine effects, but in the 1970s and 80s several studies 18,19 suggested that DDT mimics estrogens, i.e., possessing similar pharmacological properties to β-estradiol. This gave rise to extensive investigation on the possible hormonal effects of human exposure to DDT and it byproducts.…”

DDT (dicloro difenil tricloroetano): toxicidade e contaminação ambiental <FONT FACE=Symbol>-</FONT> uma revisão

“…Acreditava-se que o DDT e seus outros metabólitos não possuí-am efeitos endócrinos, mas no final dos anos 80 os estudos de Bryan et al 26 sugeriram que o DDT era um mimetizador de estrógenos, isto é, possuía propriedades farmacológicas semelhantes, e então começou-se a verificar o efeito hormonal da exposição ao DDT e seus derivados.…”