The synthetic estrogen 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE₂), ubiquitous in the aquatic environment and commonly detected in sewage effluents, interferes with the endocrine system in multiple ways. Exposure during sensitive windows of development causes persistent effects on fertility, reproductive and non-reproductive behavior in mammals and fish. In the present study, three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) were exposed to nominal 0 and 20 ng/L EE₂ from fertilization to 7 weeks post-hatch. After 8 months of remediation in clean water three non-reproductive behaviors, not previously analyzed in developmentally EE₂-exposed progeny of wild-caught fish, were evaluated. Chemical analysis revealed that the nominal 0 and 20 ng/L exposure contained 5 and 30 ng/L EE_2, respectively. Therefore, the use of control fish from previous experiments was necessary for comparisons. Fish exposed during development showed significant concentration-dependent reduction in anxiety-like behavior in the scototaxis (light/dark preference) test by means of shorter latency to first entrance to the white compartment, more visits in white, and longer total time in white compared to unexposed fish. In the novel tank test, developmental exposure significantly increased the number of transitions to the upper half of the aquaria. Exposure to EE₂ during development did not alter shoal cohesion in the shoaling test compared with unexposed fish but fish exposed to 30 ng/L EE₂ had significantly longer latency to leave the shoal and fewer transitions away from the shoal compared to fish exposed to 5 ng/L EE₂. Skewed sex ratio with more females, sex reversal in genetic males as well as intersex in males was observed after exposure to 30, but not 5 ng/L EE₂. In conclusion, EE₂ exposure during development in three-spined stickleback resulted in persistent effects on anxiety-like behaviors. These long-term effects from developmental exposure are likely to be of higher relevance for natural populations than are short-term effects from adult exposure.

合成雌激素17α-炔雌醇（EE ₂）在水生环境中无处不在，通常在污水中检测到，它以多种方式干扰内分泌系统。在敏感的发育窗口内暴露会持续影响哺乳动物和鱼类的繁殖力，生殖和非生殖行为。在本研究中，从受精到孵化后7周，三针刺背back（Gasterosteus aculeatus）暴露于标称0和20 ng / L EE ₂。在纯净水中修复8个月后，三种非生殖行为，以前在发育EE _2中未进行过分析评估了野生捕捞鱼的暴露后代。化学分析表明，标称0和20 ng / L暴露分别包含5和30 ng / L EE ₂。因此，比较之前必须使用先前实验中的对照鱼。在发育过程中暴露的鱼在斯科茨克病（亮/暗偏好）测试中显示出浓度依赖性的焦虑样行为显着减少，这是由于与第一次进入白色隔间的等待时间较短，在白色中的访问次数更多，在白色中的总时间更长，给未暴露的鱼。在新型水箱测试中，发育暴露显着增加了向水族箱上半部分过渡的次数。接触EE ₂与未暴露的鱼相比，发育过程中浅滩测试的浅滩凝聚力没有改变，但是暴露于30 ng / L EE _2的鱼与暴露于5 ng / L EE的鱼相比，离开浅滩的潜伏期显着更长，并且远离浅滩的过渡时间短₂。暴露于30 ng / L EE ₂后，观察到性别比例偏斜，女性较多，遗传上的男性发生性逆转以及男性的双性恋。总之，在三刺棘背鱼的发育过程中，EE ₂暴露导致对焦虑样行为的持续影响。与成人接触的短期影响相比，发育接触的这些长期影响与自然人群的相关性更高。