Abstract
AbstractAdult great blue herons (Ardea herodias) were exposed intraperitoneally to a single dose of 20 μg/kg body weight of 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin (TCDD) and sacrificed after 14 d. Approximately 1.9% of the total TCDD dose was measured in the liver. No differences were found in liver weight or liver to body weight ratio between control and TCDD‐treated birds. Hepatic microsomal ethoxyresorufin O‐deethylase (EROD) activity was induced sixfold above control activities in TCDD‐exposed herons (p < 0.001). Plasma total T4 concentration was significantly elevated in TCDD‐exposed herons (p < 0.05). The TCDD treatment had no effect on plasma total T3 levels, or on the plasma T3 to T4 ratio. No effect of this TCDD exposure was found on plasma 17β‐estradiol or testosterone concentrations, or on hepatic estrogen receptor affinities and concentrations is male or female herons.
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