Microarray analysis of di-n-butyl phthalate and 17α ethinyl-oestradiol responses in three-spined stickleback testes reveals novel candidate genes for endocrine disruption.

Phthalate esters are plasticizers frequently found in wastewater effluents. Previous studies on phthalates have reported anti-androgenic activity in mammals, causing concerns of their potential effects on the reproduction of aquatic organisms. Another group of environmental endocrine disrupters, steroidal estrogens, are known to inhibit steroid biosynthesis in the gonads, but the effects related to spermatogenesis are not well understood in fish.

Direct effects of heavy metal pollution on the immune function of a geometrid moth, Epirrita autumnata.

Previously, we found that Epirrita autumnata larvae, which were fed with leaves that came from a metal polluted area, had an enhanced immune function. To investigate further the cause of the enhanced immunity we examined experimentally the direct influence of the heavy metals, copper and nickel, on the immune function of the geometrid moth we artificially added the metals to the surface of birch leaves to examine their direct effects. As a measurement of the strength of immune function, we used encapsulation rate against a nylon monofilament.