Polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and corticosterone levels in seven polar seabird species

Sabrina Tartu (1) , Frédéric Angelier (1) , J.O. Bustnes (2) , B. Moe , S.A. Hanssen (3) , D. Herzke (4) , G.W. Gabrielsen (5) , N. Verboven (6) , J. Verreault (7) , P. Labadie (8) , H. Budzinski (8) , J.C. Wingfield (9) , Olivier Chastel (1)

1 CEBC - Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé - UMR 7372
2 NINA - Division of Arctic Ecology
3 NINA - Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
4 NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research
5 Norwegian Polar Institute
6 Division of Cell Sciences
7 TOXEN - Centre de Recherche en Toxicologie de l'environnement
8 EPOC - Environnements et Paléoenvironnements OCéaniques
9 Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior

The role of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on exposure-related endocrine effects has been poorly investigated in wild birds. This is the case for stress hormones including corticosterone (CORT). Some studies have suggested that environmental exposure to PCBs and altered CORT secretion might be associated. Here we investigated the relationships between blood PCB concentrations and circulating CORT levels in seven free-ranging polar seabird species occupying different trophic positions, and hence covering a wide range of PCB exposure. Blood P7PCB concentrations (range: 61e115,632 ng/g lw) were positively associated to baseline or stress-induced CORT levels in three species and negatively associated to stress-induced CORT levels in one species. Global analysis suggests that in males, baseline CORT levels generally increase with increasing blood P7PCB concentrations, whereas stress-induced CORT levels decrease when reaching high blood P7PCB concentrations. This study suggests that the nature of the PCB-CORT relationships may depend on the level of PCB exposure.

Domaines: Sciences de l'environnement

Sabrina Tartu, Frédéric Angelier, J.O. Bustnes, B. Moe, S.A. Hanssen, et al.. Polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and corticosterone levels in seven polar seabird species. Environmental Pollution (1970), 2015, 197, pp.173-180. ⟨10.1016/j.envpol.2014.12.007⟩. ⟨hal-01105311⟩