Environmentally relevant concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene affect steroid levels and affect gonad of male scallop Chlamys farreri

Sexually mature male Chlamys farreri were exposed to benzotalpyrene for 10 days at four concentrations at 0, 0.025, 0.5 and 10 mu g/L. Fluctuations in sex steroids during the exposure period were observed, which indicated that sex steroids have a role in gamete development. Exposure to B[a]P altered levels of 17 beta-estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone. Furthermore, B[a]P treatments induced oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner on spermary of scallop and led to delayed development and damaged spermatid in germinal epithelium of spermary. Overall, B[a]P affected the steroid levels and induced gonadal toxicity at environmentally relevant concentrations. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.