Unnoticed sex reversal in amphibians due to artificial estrogen from pills
Monday, April 4, 2016 - 09:01
in Biology & Nature
Hormonally active substances may contribute to global amphibian decline. Some compounds, for example from pharmaceuticals, occur in biologically relevant concentrations in freshwater ecosystems, and thus can affect the hormonal system and the sexual development of animals. Researchers have compared the effects of the pill estrogen ethinylestradiol (EE2) in three amphibian species. The study shows that EE2 can lead to a complete feminization of genetic males. Without molecular establishment of the genetic sex, this has remained partly unnoticed.