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Testing Endocrine Active Substances Services
In recent years, there has been growing evidence to indicate that numerous substances, both synthetic and naturally occurring, have the potential to interact with the hormone system. Among the number of ways in which substances can interfere with the endocrine system, one is that a chemical may mimic a hormone so the body will react to the seemingly increased hormone level. The induction of vitellogenin production in juvenile or male fish is such a reaction, which has become one of the most notable and convincing biological responses of fish linked to endocrine active compounds. Vitellogenin is the precursor to egg yolk protein in most egg-laying vertebrates. It normally occurs in sexually-active females and is not expected in juvenile or male fish. In the past 10 years, however, there were numerous cases of vitellogenin induction in male fish in a variety of water bodies across Europe, Japan and North America.
