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1927624 
Journal Article 
Diet exposure to technical hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) affects testes and circulating testosterone and thyroxine levels in American kestrels (Falco sparverius) 
Marteinson, SC; Kimmins, S; Letcher, RJ; Palace, VP; Bird, DM; Ritchie, IJ; Fernie, KJ 
2011 
Yes 
Environmental Research
ISSN: 0013-9351
EISSN: 1096-0953 
111 
8 
1116-1123 
English 
21917248 
WOS:000297179500017 
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a high-production-volume, brominated flame-retardant that is used in items such as polystyrene foams. HBCD has been detected in the environment, wildlife tissues and in humans globally with some of the highest recorded levels in predatory birds. This study examined the effects of exposure to environmentally relevant levels of HBCD on the reproductive physiology of captive male American kestrels (Falco sparverius), a predatory bird. Two sets of males were used: one group not housed with females (unpaired: nc=12, nHBCD=10) and the second group housed with females (breeding: nc=10, nHBCD=20). All treatment birds were exposed to 0.51 μg HBCD/g kestrel/day technical HBCD, and controls to safflower oil only, injected into their food during seasonal testicular development. Unpaired males were exposed for 3 weeks and euthanized for testicular analysis. Breeding males were exposed for 3 weeks prior to pairing and throughout the courtship period. The HBCD-exposed unpaired males had heavier testes (p≤0.017) and a trend towards more seminiferous tubules containing elongated spermatids (p=0.052). There was also a moderate increase in plasma testosterone concentrations (p=0.056) compared to controls. In breeding males, testosterone levels increased during courtship to culminate in higher levels than controls by the time the first egg was laid (p=0.010) and circulating free and total T4 was reduced throughout. The number of sperm cells reaching the perivitelline layer of the first egg for breeding males did not differ between the two groups. This study is the first report that HBCD exposure at environmentally relevant levels alters reproductive physiology in male birds and suggests that birds may be more sensitive to HBCD than mammals. 
Hexabromocyclododecane; HBCD; American kestrel; Testes; Testosterone