Interactions of endocrine-disrupting chemicals with stress responses
in wildlife
T. G. Pottinger
NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Windermere,
The Ferry House, Far
Sawrey, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 0LP, UK
Abstract: The extent to which nonreproductive aspects of the
endocrine system are affected by environmental contaminants is to a
large extent unknown. However, an emerging body of data demonstrates
that the neuroendocrine stress response is a sensitive target for disruption
by a range of environmental contaminants, at a number of discrete loci.
Several mechanisms are responsible for generating and sustaining the
corticosteroid response to a stressor, including synthesis of the steroid,
negative feedback at the pituitary and hypothalamus, and clearance via
metabolism and conjugation in peripheral tissues and the liver. Laboratory
and field studies provide evidence that these elements of the stress
response are susceptible to interference by EAS. The functional significance
to the individual of interference with this important adaptive mechanism
remains to be established.
*Report from a SCOPE/IUPAC project: Implication of
Endocrine Active Substances for Human and Wildlife (J. Miyamoto and
J.Burger, editors). Other reports are published in this issue,
pp. 1617-2615.
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