Assessment of gonadal and thyroid histology in Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) from Barataria Bay Louisiana one year after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

We examined gonads and thyroid glands of Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) 1yr after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. F. grandis were trapped from two impacted sites in Barataria Bay (Bayou St. Denis, Bay Jimmy) and an un-impacted site in East Texas (Sabine Pass). The greatest number of F. grandis were collected at Sabine Pass. F. grandis collected at Bayou St. Denis were smaller and had smaller Fulton condition factor scores than fish collected at Sabine Pass. Sex ratios were biased roughly 2:1 in favor of females at Sabine Pass and Bayou St. Denis. Gonad-somatic index (GSI) in males from Sabine Pass was double that of fish from Bay Jimmy while germinal epithelium thickness of the testes was 2.7 fold smaller in males from the impacted site. GSI and oocyte diameters in females from Bayou St. Denis were significantly smaller than females from Bay Jimmy or the reference site. There were no differences in thyroid follicle cell height. While total polyaromatic hydrocarbons at the impacted sites were no different from the reference site, the impacted sites did have greater concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene in sediment pore water. The finding of smaller GSI and testicular germinal epithelium in males from an impacted site suggest that exposure to a combination of oil and dispersants may adversely impact testicular function.

Accumulation of triclosan from diet and its neuroendocrine effects in Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) under two temperature Regimes.

Rising water temperatures due to climate change may increase the uptake and effects of triclosan in aquatic organisms. Our objectives were to investigate the accumulation of dietary triclosan and its neuroendocrine effects in Atlantic croaker, an estuarine fish, under two temperatures and during depuration. A pilot study was used to select a dietary exposure of 50 mg/kg. For 10 days, fish were exposed to one of four diet/temperature treatments (n = 16/treatment): normal diet at 26 °C and 29 °C and triclosan-treated diet at 26 °C and 29 °C. Fish exposed to triclosan at 26 °C accumulated 2.6 mg/kg wet weight on average versus 5.6 mg/kg wet weight at 29 °C. Triclosan exposure significantly impacted reflexes, resulting in the loss of the dorsal fin reflex (DS) in 53% of fish, while temperature and triclosan-temperature interactions were not significant. Triclosan body burden did not significantly predict DS loss. There were no significant differences in thyroid hormone levels among groups. Triclosan-treated fish at 26 °C were fed untreated pellets for 5 additional weeks. Two fish lost the DS during the first depuration week, and no affected fish recovered the reflex. These results have important implications for fish and their predators, as the DS may be important for swimming performance and social patterning.