Impacts of androgenic and antiandrogenic substances on the freshwater pulmonate gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis

Knowledge on the impacts of endocrine disruptors on gastropods is scarce and their mechanism of action poorly understood especially the impacts of androgenic and antiandrogenic compounds. In this study effects of 5 androgenics and antiandrogenics endocrine disruptors were investigated on the reproduction and life traits of the freshwater pulmonate gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis. The chemicals tested were Tributyltin, Cyproterone acetate, Methyltestosterone, Vinclozolin and Fenitrothion. Tributyltin was used as androgenic positive control. The other compounds tested are androgenic and antiandrogenic compounds either steroids or non steroids.
Adult snails were exposed to 3 concentrations of each chemical for 30 days. The size and reproductive organs development were monitored throughout exposure. The number of clutches, the number of eggs per clutch were assessed during the first 10 days. The clutches were kept individually in clear water except for the clutches of the eighth day which were divided in two. Half was kept individually in clear water and the other half was individually reared in contaminated water following the same exposure as their parents.
The percentage of hatching per clutch of these clutches was measured.
The development size, mortality, and development of reproductive organs of the juveniles were assessed until their first clutch was laid.