Influence of Propylparaben on Vitellogenesis and Sex Ratio in Juvenile Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>)

Mikula, Přemysl; Kružíková, Kamila; Dobšíková, Radka; Haruštiaková, Danka; Svobodová, Zdeňka

doi:10.2754/avb200978020319

Acta Veterinaria > Archive > 2009, Vol. 78 > Issue 2 > Influence of Propylparaben on…

Acta Vet. Brno 2009, 78: 319-326

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb200978020319

Influence of Propylparaben on Vitellogenesis and Sex Ratio in Juvenile Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Přemysl Mikula¹, Kamila Kružíková¹, Radka Dobšíková¹, Danka Haruštiaková², Zdeňka Svobodová¹

¹Department of Veterinary Public Health and Toxicology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Czech Republic
²Research Centre for Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

Received September 30, 2008
Accepted December 15, 2008

The aim of the study was to evaluate the xeno-oestrogenic potential of propylparaben in vivo using zebrafish (Danio rerio). Experimental juvenile zebrafish (20 days post hatching) were fed a feed containing 500, 1000, or 2000 mg kg^-1 of propylparaben, fish in a positive control group were given a feed treated with 20 mg kg^-1 of 17β-oestradiol, and the control fish were given the feed free of either tested substance. The exposure of fish to propylparaben did not affect vitellogenesis after 20 days exposure but seemed to influence the sex differentiation processes, as evidenced by a sex ratio significantly skewed towards females in the group fed 500 mg kg^-1 of propylparaben following 45 days of exposure. The potential of the fish to respond to oestrogenic stimulation was confirmed, since significantly higher vitellogenin concentrations were detected in the fish from the positive control group.