Physiological changes in reproductively active rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis) following exposure to naphthalene

Naphthalene makes up a substantial fraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in crude oil and is an important by-product of industry; however, few studies have investigated the toxicity of naphthalene to aquatic organisms. We examined the toxicity of increasing concentrations (0, carrier control, 130, 200 and 400 μg/l) of naphthalene to adult rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis) for 3 and 14 days to determine its potential to act as an endocrine disruptor. After exposure for 3 days, no changes in sex steroids were measured. After 14 days, a decrease of serum estradiol in females and an increase in serum testosterone in males was observed. These results suggest that naphthalene has the potential to act as an endocrine disruptor, although since no changes in plasma vitellogenin concentrations were observed in either sex, it is unlikely that naphthalene is acting as a xenoestrogen. There was a positive correlation between the incidences of deformities in larval offspring with increasing naphthalene concentrations, suggesting parental transfer of the toxicant. Egg production, hatchability and larval lengths remained unaltered, whilst few changes were measured in γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GTP), an enzymatic indicator of spermatogenesis. Contrary to other PAHs, hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activities declined with increasing exposure concentration, suggesting that naphthalene was either having a cytotoxic effect or disrupting enzyme synthesis.