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High estradiol exposure disrupts the reproductive cycle of the clam Ruditapes decussatus in a sex-specific way

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Abstract

Bivalve species may be susceptible to environmental estrogenic compounds including estradiol (E2). However, they are able to biotransform the hormone quite readily and inactivate its estrogenic action. To study the long-term effects of elevated free E2 tissue levels, we transiently exceeded the biotransformation capacity of the clam Ruditapes decussatus by exposing them with high E2 concentrations (400 ng/L) and subsequently study the consequences on gametogenesis during the following reproductive cycle. Exposure to 400 ngE2/L led to a significant increase in tissue free E2 levels, which reached 10–50 ng E2Eq/gww. No deleterious effect on gonado-somatic index (GSI), condition index (CI), or ability to respond to the stress on stress test could be detected after a month of exposure, suggesting the absence of negative effects on the clam’s health. However, a marked increase in gametogenesis could be observed in both sexes during the exposure. Subsequent transplantation of the clams in the field allowed the normal development of the male clams and maturation of the gonads without any detrimental effect observed after 4 months. In contrast, in early July, all female clams formerly exposed to E2 showed lower health status, and only ovaries with atretic oocytes while all control and indigenous females were normal and mature. These results show a sex-specific effect of high E2 exposure and suggest either a direct or indirect role for E2 in R. decussatus’ reproduction.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks are due to Kristell Kelner from the BioMEA research unit in Caen (France) for her valuable help in histological analyses. Christophe Minier was funded by the European Regional Development Fund in the framework of the INTERREG IV A France (Channel)—England program (DIESE project, #4040).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Marine and Environmental Toxicology, Sfax University, IPEIS, BP 1172, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia

    Sawssan Mezghani-Chaari, Monia Machreki-Ajimi & Amel Hamza-Chaffai

  2. Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, UMR-I 02 SEBIO, Normandie University, BP 540, 76058, Le Havre, France

    Sawssan Mezghani-Chaari & Christophe Minier

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  1. Sawssan Mezghani-Chaari
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  2. Monia Machreki-Ajimi
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  3. Amel Hamza-Chaffai
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  4. Christophe Minier
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Correspondence to Sawssan Mezghani-Chaari.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Highlights

• Exposure to high E2 concentration disrupts the clam’s ability to maintain the free E2 to low level.

• Exposure to high E2 concentration does not affect survival or CI during exposure of the clams.

• Transient exposure to high E2 concentration affects the reproductive cycle of female but not of male clams.

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Mezghani-Chaari, S., Machreki-Ajimi, M., Hamza-Chaffai, A. et al. High estradiol exposure disrupts the reproductive cycle of the clam Ruditapes decussatus in a sex-specific way. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 26670–26680 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0146-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0146-4

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