Date of Award

Spring 2006

Document Type

Legacy Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Department

Biology

College

College of Science

First Advisor

Wendy R. Hood

Abstract/Description

Recent studies indicate that environmental contaminants with estrogenic and androgenic properties can have dramatic effects on the reproductive structures of vertebrates. Many studies have largely focused on the effects of these contaminates on males but the effects of exogenous exposure to estrogen and progesterone on females is largely unknown. The effects of exposure to 17β-estradiol and progesterone on the mass of ovarian and liver tissues were examined in mosquitofish. Female mosquitofish were randomly assigned to one of three treatments, exposure to 1OOng/L of estradiol, 1OOng/L of progesterone, or a control with no hormone exposure. All fish were exposed to the hormones for thirty-one days. After exposure, the fish were killed, the ovarian and liver tissue was extracted, and both the wet and dry mass of the tissue was recorded. Results indicate there was no significant difference in ovarian and liver tissue mass among the treatment groups.

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