Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals on Sex Differentiation in Fish

Key words: 
• endocrine disrupting chemicals /
• fish /
• sex differentiation

Abstract: Sex differentiation in fish refers to the development of testes or ovaries from undifferentiated gonads and the expression of male or female secondary sex characteristics under the control of sex determination mechanisms, regulated by the endocrine system. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that can interfere with the production, release, transport, metabolism, binding, action of natural hormones, have potential to disrupt the process of sex differentiation in fish. In this review, the patterns, process and endocrine regulation of sex differentiation in fish were introduced, and adverse effects of EDCs on some events related to sex differentiation in fish were reviewed, including sex ratios, gametogenesis, gonadal development and secondary sex characteristics expression. The potential mechanisms of fish sex differentiation were discussed by synthesis of sex steroid and the expression of genes relating sex differentiation. Finally, future prospects of this field were provided in this paper.