Testis-Ova in Male Rice Frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) - A Natural Process of Sex Differentiation or a Suitable Biomarker of Effect for Ecotoxicology?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58837/tnh.26.1.267836Keywords:
amphibian, endocrine disrupting chemicals, histology, intersex, rice fieldAbstract
A previous study found that adult male rice frogs (Fejervarya limnocharis) inhabiting agricultural areas with varying levels of herbicide use exhibited testis-ova (TO). However, it remained unclear whether the occurrence of TO is associated with underlying herbicide contamination in agricultural areas or represents a natural aspect of testicular development in this species. This study aimed to examine the gonadal histology and intersex condition of the male rice frog, F. limnocharis, living in an agricultural area in central Thailand with no history of herbicide utilization over the last 10 years. The results showed that the incidences of testicular ovarian follicles (TOFs) in adult, subadult, and juvenile frogs were 46/50 (92%), 7/7 (100%), and 6/6 (100%), respectively. Crucially, these TOFs were observed in rice frogs even when herbicide analysis showed paraquat tissue residue below detection limits. These findings suggest that the presence of oocytes within the testis in F. limnocharis may represent a natural, transition phase of testicular development in the undifferentiated and semi-differentiated types of the normal sex differentiation process in amphibians. This prompted an evaluation of whether the TOFs could serve as a biomarker for assessing the effect of and susceptibility to herbicide contamination in this frog species.
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