Effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of the xeno-androgen, methyldihydrotestosterone, on male and female mating behavior in Xenopuslaevis

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are well known to interfere with the hormone system of aquatic vertebrates and to affect their reproductive biology. 17α-Methyldihydrotestosterone (MDHT) is a widely used model compound for the assessment of androgenic EDCs, because it binds with high affinity to nuclear androgen receptors. It was previously shown to affect various aspects of reproductive biology in aquatic vertebrates, however, evidence for MDHT affecting mating behavior of aquatic vertebrate species is lacking. In order to test the assumption that MDHT affects reproductive behavior of aquatic vertebrates, we exposed male and female Xenopuslaevis to three environmentally relevant concentrations of MDHT (30.45 ng L−1, 3.05 μg L−1 and 30.45 μg L−1). In males, MDHT at all concentrations led to enhanced levels of advertisement calling and decreased the relative proportions of rasping, a call type characterizing a sexually unaroused state of the male, indicating an increase in sexual arousal of MDHT exposed males. Temporal and spectral parameters of the advertisement call itself, however, were not affected by MDHT exposure. In females, MDHT (30.45 ng L−1) did not have any effects, while MDHT at 3.05 μg L−1 increased female receptivity, increased the duration of time females spent close to the speaker playing male advertisement calls and reduced their latency to respond. MDHT at 30.45 μg L−1, on the other hand, decreased female receptivity and increased their latency to respond. In summary, this study illustrates that exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of the androgenic EDC MDHT affects male and female mating behavior of X. laevis. Hence, we suggest that nonaromatizable androgens might play a direct and predominant role in the physiology and regulation of reproduction not only in male but also in female frogs.

► Male advertisement calling of X. laevis is androgen-dependent.
► MDHT is an androgenic endocrine disrupting compound active at low concentrations.
► MDHT at very low concentrations enhances male advertisement calling.
► MDHT lowers and enhances female receptivity depending on exposure concentration.
► Environmentally relevant concentrations of MDHT affect male and female behavior.