Abstract
The presence of oral contraceptives (basically applying estrogens and/or progestogens) poses a challenge to animals living in aquatic ecosystems and reflects a rapidly growing concern worldwide. However, there is still a lack in knowledge about the behavioural effects induced by progestogens on the non-target species including molluscs. In the present study, environmental progestogen concentrations were summarised. Knowing this data, we exposed a well-established invertebrate model species, the great pond snail (Lymnaea stagnalis) to relevant equi-concentrations (1, 10, 100, and 500 ng L−1) of mixtures of four progestogens (progesterone, drospirenone, gestodene, levonorgestrel) for 21 days. Significant alterations were observed in the embryonic development time, heart rate, feeding, and gliding activities of the embryos as well as in the feeding and locomotion activity of the adult specimens. All of the mixtures accelerated the embryonic development time and the gliding activity. Furthermore, the 10, 100, and 500 ng L−1 mixtures increased the heart rate and feeding activity of the embryos. The 10, 100, and 500 ng L−1 mixtures affected the feeding activity as well as the 1, 10, and 100 ng L−1 mixtures influenced the locomotion of the adult specimens. The differences of these adult behaviours showed a biphasic response to the progestogen exposure; however, they changed approximately in the opposite way. In case of feeding activity, this dose-response phenomenon can be identified as a hormesis response. Based on the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the non-reproductive effects of progestogens occurring also in the environment on molluscan species. Our findings contribute to the global understanding of the effects of human progestogens, as these potential disruptors can influence the behavioural activities of non-target aquatic species. Future research should aim to understand the potential mechanisms (e.g., receptors, signal pathways) of progestogens induced behavioural alterations.
Highlights
In the last few years, it has become clear that pharmacologically active compounds (PhACs), as emerging pollutants in Responsible Editor: Philippe GarriguesEnviron Sci Pollut Res (2021) 28:59391–59402 the progesterone (PRG) and its synthetic analogue progestins; generally referred to as progestogens (SitrukWare and Nath 2010)
There was no observed lethality at any applied progestogen concentrations during the entire 15 days of the study period
We applied 1, 10, 100, and 500 ng L−1 progestogen concentrations for the exposure of L. stagnalis that can be definitely considered as environmentally relevant values
Summary
In the last few years, it has become clear that pharmacologically active compounds (PhACs), as emerging pollutants in Responsible Editor: Philippe GarriguesEnviron Sci Pollut Res (2021) 28:59391–59402 the progesterone (PRG) and its synthetic analogue progestins (e.g. drospirenone [DRO], gestodene [GES], and levonorgestrel [LNG]); generally referred to as progestogens (SitrukWare and Nath 2010). In our pilot study area, by analysing freshwater samples from the catchment area of the largest shallow lake in Central Europe, Lake Balaton, varying progestogen concentrations of 0.6–50 ng L−1 were detected (Avar et al 2016; Maasz et al 2019). Despite these relatively low environmental concentrations, progestogens have extreme stability against oxidation or degradation in the environment due to the polycyclic sterane frame and ethynyl-group (LNG, GES). The large majoritIn the last few yearsy of these studies applies only a single PhAC in the laboratory experiments; there is a lack of information about the adverse mixture effects of progestogens, especially at average environmental (~ 1–10 ng L−1) concentrations
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