Larval Development and Vitellin-like Protein Expression in Palaemon elegans Larvae Following Xeno-oestrogen Exposure.

Certain anthropogenic chemicals, most notably xeno-oestrogens, are known to have the potential to disrupt vertebrate endocrine systems. For example, induction of the female-specific protein, vitellogenin, in male fish is a well-known effect of exposure to xeno-oestrogens and serves as a biomarker of such exposure. There have been few comparable studies of putative biomarkers of endocrine disruption in invertebrates.

4-n-Nonylphenol and 17-beta estradiol may induce common DNA effects in developing barnacle larvae.

There is a growing concern over the potential effects of environmental endocrine disrupters on both human and wildlife populations. However, to date, minimal research has been conducted to determine the effect of estrogens and xenoestrogens at the DNA level. In this study, we used the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay to evaluate the effects on the genomic DNA of barnacle larvae that had been exposed to 17beta-estradiol (E2) and low concentrations of 4-n-nonylphenol (NP).