Teleost fish metamorphosis under the influence of estrogenic hormones: targeting the thyroid axis – a literature review
Estrogens, whether naturally excreted by humans and livestock or introduced through pharmaceuticals, are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) with strong estrogenic activity. While their effects on the reproductive functions of teleosts are well-documented, their influence on other vital biological...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Environment International |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003216 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849423023871885312 |
|---|---|
| author | Nathalie Leroux Sébastien Baekelandt Patrick Kestemont |
| author_facet | Nathalie Leroux Sébastien Baekelandt Patrick Kestemont |
| author_sort | Nathalie Leroux |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Estrogens, whether naturally excreted by humans and livestock or introduced through pharmaceuticals, are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) with strong estrogenic activity. While their effects on the reproductive functions of teleosts are well-documented, their influence on other vital biological functions such as metamorphosis remains understudied. Teleost metamorphosis represents a critical life stage involving profound morphological, physiological, and behavioral transformations essential for survival. This process is tightly regulated by multiple endocrine factors, with the thyroid axis playing a central role. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the impact of estrogens on teleost metamorphosis, focusing on the thyroid hormonal pathway. Several studies have examined estrogen effects on specific aspects of metamorphosis, such as skeletal development, salinity adaptation, and migratory behaviours. However, these investigations often remain fragmented and lack an integrative analysis of metamorphosis as a whole. Furthermore, few studies directly link estrogen-induced disruptions to thyroid axis alterations, despite findings of such links in other aquatic species, such as amphibians, and with other EDCs. While the impact of estrogens on the thyroid cascade of teleosts has been documented, observations are sometimes contradictory due to experimental and methodological differences, complicating data interpretation and hindering mechanistic understanding. Nonetheless, available studies suggest that estrogens are potent modulators of thyroid function at multiple levels of the hormonal cascade. Such disruptions may significantly affect thyroid-regulated functions, including metamorphosis, whose long-term ecological implications warrant greater attention. Given the environmental threat posed by estrogenic pollution, driven by human activities such as hormonal contraceptive use and agricultural runoff, further research in this field is necessary. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-89b2909bafe244e7ab2d005966bb06d9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0160-4120 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj-art-89b2909bafe244e7ab2d005966bb06d92025-08-20T03:30:49ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202025-07-0120110957010.1016/j.envint.2025.109570Teleost fish metamorphosis under the influence of estrogenic hormones: targeting the thyroid axis – a literature reviewNathalie Leroux0Sébastien Baekelandt1Patrick Kestemont2Corresponding author.; Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Institute of Life, Earth & Environment, University of Namur, 5000, BelgiumResearch Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Institute of Life, Earth & Environment, University of Namur, 5000, BelgiumResearch Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Institute of Life, Earth & Environment, University of Namur, 5000, BelgiumEstrogens, whether naturally excreted by humans and livestock or introduced through pharmaceuticals, are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) with strong estrogenic activity. While their effects on the reproductive functions of teleosts are well-documented, their influence on other vital biological functions such as metamorphosis remains understudied. Teleost metamorphosis represents a critical life stage involving profound morphological, physiological, and behavioral transformations essential for survival. This process is tightly regulated by multiple endocrine factors, with the thyroid axis playing a central role. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the impact of estrogens on teleost metamorphosis, focusing on the thyroid hormonal pathway. Several studies have examined estrogen effects on specific aspects of metamorphosis, such as skeletal development, salinity adaptation, and migratory behaviours. However, these investigations often remain fragmented and lack an integrative analysis of metamorphosis as a whole. Furthermore, few studies directly link estrogen-induced disruptions to thyroid axis alterations, despite findings of such links in other aquatic species, such as amphibians, and with other EDCs. While the impact of estrogens on the thyroid cascade of teleosts has been documented, observations are sometimes contradictory due to experimental and methodological differences, complicating data interpretation and hindering mechanistic understanding. Nonetheless, available studies suggest that estrogens are potent modulators of thyroid function at multiple levels of the hormonal cascade. Such disruptions may significantly affect thyroid-regulated functions, including metamorphosis, whose long-term ecological implications warrant greater attention. Given the environmental threat posed by estrogenic pollution, driven by human activities such as hormonal contraceptive use and agricultural runoff, further research in this field is necessary.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003216MetamorphosisThyroidEndocrine disruptorEstrogenTeleost |
| spellingShingle | Nathalie Leroux Sébastien Baekelandt Patrick Kestemont Teleost fish metamorphosis under the influence of estrogenic hormones: targeting the thyroid axis – a literature review Environment International Metamorphosis Thyroid Endocrine disruptor Estrogen Teleost |
| title | Teleost fish metamorphosis under the influence of estrogenic hormones: targeting the thyroid axis – a literature review |
| title_full | Teleost fish metamorphosis under the influence of estrogenic hormones: targeting the thyroid axis – a literature review |
| title_fullStr | Teleost fish metamorphosis under the influence of estrogenic hormones: targeting the thyroid axis – a literature review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Teleost fish metamorphosis under the influence of estrogenic hormones: targeting the thyroid axis – a literature review |
| title_short | Teleost fish metamorphosis under the influence of estrogenic hormones: targeting the thyroid axis – a literature review |
| title_sort | teleost fish metamorphosis under the influence of estrogenic hormones targeting the thyroid axis a literature review |
| topic | Metamorphosis Thyroid Endocrine disruptor Estrogen Teleost |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003216 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nathalieleroux teleostfishmetamorphosisundertheinfluenceofestrogenichormonestargetingthethyroidaxisaliteraturereview AT sebastienbaekelandt teleostfishmetamorphosisundertheinfluenceofestrogenichormonestargetingthethyroidaxisaliteraturereview AT patrickkestemont teleostfishmetamorphosisundertheinfluenceofestrogenichormonestargetingthethyroidaxisaliteraturereview |