Maria João Rocha

Dr. Maria João Rocha

Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar and Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Portugal
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

31Years (1996-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
1 October 2010 in Science of The Total Environment
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Tânia Vieira MadureiraTânia Vieira Madureira
Tânia Vieira Madureira
JBJuliana Cristina Barreiro
Juliana Cristina Barreiro
Maria João RochaMaria João Rocha
Maria João Rocha
Eduardo RochaEduardo Rocha
Eduardo Rocha
Quezia Bezerra CassQuezia Bezerra Cass
Quezia Bezerra Cass
Maria Elizabeth TiritanMaria Elizabeth Tiritan
Maria Elizabeth Tiritan

27 March 2008 in Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
Cláudia RibeiroCláudia Ribeiro
Cláudia Ribeiro
Maria Elizabeth TiritanMaria Elizabeth Tiritan
Maria Elizabeth Tiritan
Eduardo RochaEduardo Rocha
Eduardo Rocha
Maria João RochaMaria João Rocha
Maria João Rocha



1 November 2012 in Aquatic Toxicology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
Paula SilvaPaula Silva
Paula Silva
Maria João RochaMaria João Rocha
Maria João Rocha
Catarina CruzeiroCatarina Cruzeiro
Catarina Cruzeiro
Fernanda MalhãoFernanda Malhão
Fernanda Malhão
BRBruno Carvalho Reis
Bruno Carvalho Reis
Eduardo RochaEduardo Rocha
Eduardo Rocha
In natural environments fish populations are exposed to many potential xenoestrogens, whereby understanding the impacts of mixtures continue to be of great interest. The main objective of this study was, therefore, to understand whether and how an environmentally relevant mixture of xenoestrogens found in the Douro River estuary can disrupt the normal gametogenesis in fish. For this purpose, adult zebrafish of both sexes were exposed for 21 days to an environmental mixture (MIX) of 11 xenoestrogens from diverse sources. A 100 ng/L ethinylestradiol (EE2) positive control was added. A quantitative (stereological) analysis with systematic sampling was made in the gonads, and using light microscopy both the relative and the absolute volumes of the gametogenic stages were estimated. Data point that the EE2 stimulus induced changes in structural compartments; with decreasing trends for the advanced maturation stages both in males and females. There was also a trend for a greater amount of interstitial tissue in males. Along with an interstitial fibrosis increase detected, the presence of a proteinaceous fluid was observed in both sexes and experimental groups (EE2 and MIX). Other histopathologic alterations were observed in the EE2 female group, such as the presence of foci of granulomatous inflammation and follicular mineralization in the germinal parenchyma and luminal areas. The most interesting finding of this study was that the exposure to the MIX caused a decrease of the relative volume of spermatozoa in zebrafish. This kind of estrogenic effect has not earlier been structurally quantified in such a fine detail with unbiased stereology in fish gonads. Despite the ultimate consequences of such disruptions being unknown, it could be logically argued that reduction or slowing-down of the appearance of the most mature cohorts and/or eventual interstitial fibrosis and other pathologic changes can adversely affect breeding. The findings add further explanatory bases for understanding the negative impacts of xenoestrogens.