The organophosphorous pesticide, fenitrothion, acts as an anti-androgen and alters reproductive behavior of the male three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus

Abstract

Fenitrothion (FN) is a widely used organophosphorous pesticide that has structural similarities with the clinical anti-androgen flutamide. The potential for FN to act as an anti-androgen (at exposures of 1, 50, and 200 microg FN/l over a 26-day period) was assessed in male three-spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, by measuring kidney spiggin concentration, nest-building, and courtship behavior. Spiggin is the glue protein that male sticklebacks use to build their nests and is directly controlled by androgens. FN exposure significantly reduced spiggin production as well as nest-building activity. It also adversely affected courtship--especially the 'zigzag dance' and biting behavior of the males. FN thus appears to have anti-androgenic effects on both the physiology and behavior of the male stickleback.

Differential ligand selectivity of androgen receptors α and β from Murray–Darling rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis)

“…Contaminants with androgenic or anti-androgenic activity occur in aquatic environments impacted by human activity and can alter sexual dimorphism in fish. For example, male secondary sex characteristics can develop in female fish exposed to pulp mill effluent (Parks et al, 2001) or cattle feedlot runoff (Orlando et al, 2004), while male behavioural traits are attenuated in fish exposed to environmental anti-androgens such as some pesticides and fungicides (Aït-Aïssa et al, 2010;Bayley et al, 2002;Jolly et al, 2009;Sebire et al, 2009). Some agricultural fungicides such as vinclozolin (VIN) can competitively bind to ARs and inhibit receptor activation by natural androgens (Molina-Molina et al, 2006).…”

Biodegradability of 3-Methyl-4-Nitrophenol by 4-Nitrophenol-Degrading Bacteria

“…However, FNT is toxic to aquatic organisms (LC50 / 96 h of FNT = 2-12 mg kg -1 in fish) 15) . In addition, its structure is similar to the anti-androgen drug flutamide and, in fact, FNT does have anti-androgenic behavior 16) . FNT is degraded by a similar mechanism to that for 4NP degradation and forms 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (3M4NP) (Fig.…”

Pesticide Use in South Africa: One of the Largest Importers of Pesticides in Africa

“…O f t h e p y r e t h r o i d pesticides, permethrin, fenvalerate, and cypermetrhin have been reported to show (anti)oestrogenic and/or (anti)androgenic activity (Sun et al, 2007). Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) have been shown to have effects on the immune system of rodents (Galloway & Handy, 2003) as well as fish reproduction (Sebire et al, 2008). Blue death, a pesticide mixture consisting of carbaryl, carbufuran and camphechlor (although campechlor has been banned in South Africa since 1970) indicated a positive correlation with birth defects of the male reproductive structures of babies born from mothers from the Eastern Cape in South Africa (Heeren, 2003).…”