Burger Joanna, Fossi Cristina, McClellan-Green Patricia, Orlando Edward F
Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854P-8082, USA.
Environ Res. 2007 May;104(1):135-52. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2006.08.002. Epub 2007 Jan 4.
Male and female organisms may have significant differences in their exposure, toxicokinetics, and response to chemicals, but gender effects have received relatively little attention, often viewed as a confounder rather than of primary importance. In this paper, we examine some of the key issues and methodologies for incorporating gender in studies of the effects of chemicals on wildlife, and explore bioindicators and biomarkers of gender effects. Examining gender-related differences in response to chemicals is complicated in wildlife because of the vast array of species, and differences in niches, lifespans, reproductive cycles and modes, and population dynamics. Further, organisms are more at risk in some ecosystems than others, which may increase the magnitude of effects. Only by studying wild animals, especially native species, can we truly understand the potential impact of gender-specific effects of chemical exposure on populations. Several factors affect gender-related differences in responses to chemicals, including exposure, age, size, seasonality, and genetic and phenotypic variation. There are clear examples where gender-related differences have had significant effects on reproductive success and population stability, including destabilization of gamete release in invertebrates, and alterations of endocrine and neuroendocrine system functioning in vertebrates. A wide range of new technologies and methods are available for examining gender-related differences in responses to chemicals. We provide examples that show that there are gender-related differences in responses to chemicals that have significant biological effects, and these gender-related differences should be taken into account by scientists, regulators, and policy makers, as well as the public.
雄性和雌性生物体在接触化学物质、毒代动力学以及对化学物质的反应方面可能存在显著差异，但性别效应受到的关注相对较少，通常被视为一个混杂因素而非至关重要的因素。在本文中，我们研究了将性别因素纳入化学物质对野生动物影响研究的一些关键问题和方法，并探索了性别效应的生物指示物和生物标志物。由于物种种类繁多，以及生态位、寿命、繁殖周期和方式以及种群动态存在差异，研究野生动物对化学物质反应中的性别相关差异很复杂。此外，某些生态系统中的生物体比其他生态系统中的生物体面临更大风险，这可能会增加影响的程度。只有通过研究野生动物，尤其是本地物种，我们才能真正了解化学物质暴露的性别特异性效应对种群的潜在影响。有几个因素会影响对化学物质反应中的性别相关差异，包括接触、年龄、体型、季节性以及遗传和表型变异。有明显的例子表明，性别相关差异对繁殖成功率和种群稳定性产生了重大影响，包括无脊椎动物配子释放的不稳定，以及脊椎动物内分泌和神经内分泌系统功能的改变。有一系列新技术和方法可用于研究对化学物质反应中的性别相关差异。我们提供的例子表明，对化学物质的反应存在具有显著生物学效应的性别相关差异，科学家、监管机构、政策制定者以及公众都应考虑这些性别相关差异。
