Kloas Werner, Urbatzka Ralph, Opitz Robert, Würtz Sven, Behrends Thomas, Hermelink Björn, Hofmann Frauke, Jagnytsch Oana, Kroupova Hana, Lorenz Claudia, Neumann Nadja, Pietsch Constanze, Trubiroha Achim, Van Ballegooy Christoph, Wiedemann Caterina, Lutz Ilka
Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009 Apr;1163:187-200. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04453.x.
Environmental compounds can interfere with endocrine systems of wildlife and humans. The main sink of such substances, called endocrine disrupters (ED), are surface waters. Thus, aquatic vertebrates, such as fish and amphibians, are most endangered. ED can adversely affect reproductive biology and the thyroid system. ED act by (anti)estrogenic and (anti)androgenic modes of action, resulting in abnormal sexual differentiation and impaired reproduction. These effects are mainly driven by direct interferences of ED with sex steroid receptors rather than indirectly by impacting synthesis and bioavailability of sex steroids, which in turn might affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Recent findings reveal that, in addition to the human-produced waste of ED, natural sources, such as parasites and decomposition of leaves, also might act as ED, markedly affecting sexual differentiation and reproduction in fish and amphibians. Although the thyroid system has essential functions in both fish and amphibians, amphibian metamorphosis has been introduced as the most sensitive model to detect thyroidal ED; no suitable fish model exists. Whereas ED may act primarily on only one specific endocrine target, all endocrine systems will eventually be deregulated as they are intimately connected to each other. The recent ecotoxicological issue of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) present in the aquatic environment indicates a high potential for further endocrine modes of action on aquatic vertebrates by ED derived from PhACs, such as glucocorticoids, progestins, and beta-agonists.
环境化合物会干扰野生动物和人类的内分泌系统。这类被称为内分泌干扰物（ED）的物质的主要归宿是地表水。因此，水生脊椎动物，如鱼类和两栖动物，受到的威胁最大。ED会对生殖生物学和甲状腺系统产生不利影响。ED通过（抗）雌激素和（抗）雄激素作用模式发挥作用，导致性分化异常和生殖功能受损。这些影响主要是由ED直接干扰性类固醇受体引起的，而不是通过影响性类固醇的合成和生物利用度间接导致的，性类固醇合成和生物利用度的改变进而可能影响下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴。最近的研究结果表明，除了人类产生的ED废物外，寄生虫和树叶分解等天然来源也可能充当ED，显著影响鱼类和两栖动物的性分化和繁殖。虽然甲状腺系统在鱼类和两栖动物中都具有重要功能，但两栖动物变态已被视为检测甲状腺ED的最敏感模型；目前还没有合适的鱼类模型。虽然ED可能主要作用于一个特定的内分泌靶点，但所有内分泌系统最终都会失调，因为它们彼此紧密相连。近期关于水环境中存在的药物活性化合物（PhACs）的生态毒理学问题表明，由PhACs衍生的ED，如糖皮质激素、孕激素和β-激动剂，对水生脊椎动物具有进一步产生内分泌作用模式的高潜力。
