根據(jù)一份報告,，全世界最常用的殺蟲劑阿特拉津（Atrazine）可能與兩棲類的內(nèi)分泌失調(diào)有關(guān)，而且可能對全世界兩棲類物種的衰退有貢獻(xiàn),。這種化學(xué)殺蟲劑在歐盟被禁用,，但是美國環(huán)保署在2006年得出結(jié)論說還沒有足夠的數(shù)據(jù)可以確定阿特拉津是否會影響到兩棲類的發(fā)育。
Tyrone Hayes及其同事檢查了接觸阿特拉津?qū)Ψ侵拮ν艿囊粋€全雄性種群的長期影響,。這組科學(xué)家比較了40只在遺傳上是雄性的對照組蛙和從孵化到完全性成熟階段在有阿特拉津的環(huán)境下培養(yǎng)的40只在遺傳上是雄性的蛙,，對于后者，阿特拉津的濃度處于在美國環(huán)保署規(guī)定的飲用水標(biāo)準(zhǔn)之下的地區(qū)這種動物全年遇到濃度范圍內(nèi),。所有的成年對照組蛙表現(xiàn)出了典型的雄性外部特征,，但是接觸阿特拉津的蛙的10%發(fā)育成了具有功能的雌性，后者成功地與未接觸阿特拉津的雄性交配,，并產(chǎn)出了可孵化的卵,。
這組作者說,，接觸阿特拉津的雄蛙遇到了睪丸激素水平的抑制，性腺尺寸減少,，雌性化的喉發(fā)育,，交配行為受到抑制，精液產(chǎn)量減少,，而且繁殖力下降,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
PNAS March 1, 2010, doi: 10.1073/pnas.0909519107
Atrazine induces complete feminization and chemical castration in male African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis)
Tyrone B. Hayesa,1, Vicky Khourya,2, Anne Narayana,2, Mariam Nazira,2, Andrew Parka,2, Travis Browna, Lillian Adamea, Elton Chana, Daniel Buchholzb, Theresa Stuevea, and Sherrie Gallipeaua
aLaboratory for Integrative Studies in Amphibian Biology, Department of Integrative Biology, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Energy and Resources Group, Group in Endocrinology, and Molecular Toxicology Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3140; and
bDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221
The herbicide atrazine is one of the most commonly applied pesticides in the world. As a result, atrazine is the most commonly detected pesticide contaminant of ground, surface, and drinking water. Atrazine is also a potent endocrine disruptor that is active at low, ecologically relevant concentrations. Previous studies showed that atrazine adversely affects amphibian larval development. The present study demonstrates the reproductive consequences of atrazine exposure in adult amphibians. Atrazine-exposed males were both demasculinized (chemically castrated) and completely feminized as adults. Ten percent of the exposed genetic males developed into functional females that copulated with unexposed males and produced viable eggs. Atrazine-exposed males suffered from depressed testosterone, decreased breeding gland size, demasculinized/feminized laryngeal development, suppressed mating behavior, reduced spermatogenesis, and decreased fertility. These data are consistent with effects of atrazine observed in other vertebrate classes. The present findings exemplify the role that atrazine and other endocrine-disrupting pesticides likely play in global amphibian declines.
