Estrogenic effects of phytoestrogens in brown trout (Salmo trutta)

Phytoestrogens produced by agriculturally important crops such as clover, alfalfa and soya have the potential of leaching from the soil into streams. Concentrations of phytoestrogens in freshwater systems ranging from the low nanogram to low microgram per litre range have been demonstrated. However, the potential effect of the waterborne phytoestrogens on endemic fish species is largely unknown.
In the present investigation, the estrogenic effect of biochanin A was tested in brown trout through water exposure experiments. Juvenile brown trout of both sexes were exposed to different concentrations of biochanin A. In a ten day exposure experiments, NOEC and LOEC for plasma vitellogenin induction in brown trout were found to be 0.8µg biochanin A/L and 1.2µg biochanin A/L, respectively. A six hour pulse experiment resulted in NOEC and LOEC for induction of plasma vitellogenin in brown trout of 48µg biochanin A/L and 186µg biochanin A/L, respectively.
Investigations of the ability of genistein to induce vitellogenin synthesis in brown trout are ongoing.