CENTRE OF ECOTOXICOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
Endocrine disruption
A range of chemicals have been classified as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), e.g. nonyl phenols. These chemicals may affect hormone synthesis and functions in different ways. One very important group of hormones in crustaceans is the ecdysteroids. Ecdysteroids in general control and initiates moulting and reproduction in crustaceans, and because of its importance we have focused on exploring the link between expression of mRNAs involved in ecdysteroid turnover, ecdysteroid levels and reproduction. These mechanistic studies are aimed at understanding the modes of toxic action of possible EDCs on C. finmarchicus, and give important information about long-term effects of these chemicals.

In collaboration with Dr Magnus Breitholtz and Ulrika Dahl at the Department of Applied Environmental Science at Stockholm University, an assay for determination of ecdysteroid levels in C. finmarchicus have been established. Recently, we published a paper together where ecdysteroids along with several CYP-enzymes were analyzed in C. finmarchicus at different developmental stages:

Hansen, Bjørn Henrik; Altin, Dag; Hessen, Kristine Mordal; Dahl, Ulrika; Breitholtz, Magnus; Nordtug, Trond; Olsen, Anders J. 2008. Expression of ecdysteroids and cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in lipid turnover and reprodustion in Calanus finmarchicus (Crustacea: Copepoda). General and Comparative Endocrinology, 158, 115-121.

Published March 6, 2008

Calanus finmarchicus - a new and relevant test species for assessing effects of toxicants and climate changes in the marine environment.