Age and seasonal variation in testis and baculum morphology in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in relation to high concentrations of persistent organic pollutants.

Autor: Spörndly-Nees E; Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7011, 75007, Sweden. Electronic address: Ellinor.Sporndly-Nees@slu.se., Holm L; Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7011, 75007, Sweden., van Beest FM; Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-400, Roskilde, Denmark., Fakhrzadeh A; Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IranDoc) Tehran Province, No. 1090, Enghelab, Tehran, Iran., Ekstedt E; Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7011, 75007, Sweden., Letcher R; Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Bldg. 33, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada., Magnusson U; Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Uppsala, Sweden., Desforges JP; Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-400, Roskilde, Denmark., Dietz R; Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-400, Roskilde, Denmark., Sonne C; Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-400, Roskilde, Denmark.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Environmental research [Environ Res] 2019 Jun; Vol. 173, pp. 246-254. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Mar 20.
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.03.036
Abstrakt: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are found in high concentrations in the Artic. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are one of the most exposed mammals in the Arctic and are thereby vulnerable to reproductive disruption. The aim of this study was to investigate male polar bear reproduction based on a detailed evaluation of testis histology and to assess possible effects of environmental chemicals on male polar bear reproduction. Reproductive groups that were identified based on histology were as follows: actively reproductive (REP), non-reproductive either with degenerated testes (DEG), undeveloped seminiferous tubules (UND), or morphology in-transition (INT). Categorization into these groups was supported by significant differences in testis and baculum measurements among REP, DEG, and UND, as well as differences in the area and diameter of seminiferous tubules among REP, DEG, and UND. These results show that it is possible to identify the reproductive stage in polar bears even if capture date and or age is lacking. Based on testis morphology we suggest that adult male polar bears from East Greenland have active spermatogenesis in February to June, and inactive degenerated testes in August to January. January to February was the main period of reproductive transition, characterised by a shift between inactive and active spermatogenesis. Baculum and testis size measurements decreased significantly with increasing concentrations of the chlordane metabolite oxychlordane, suggesting a potential impact on male reproductive success. Half of the investigated polar bears in REP group displayed signs of disorganization of the spermatogenesis which might be a sign of disrupted reproduction. However, no correlations with levels of the investigated POPs were detected. Reproductive organ measurements in polar bears differed significantly between REP and DEG groups, which cannot be explained by age, and therefore should be considered when investigating the effect of POPs on male reproduction.
(Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: