Effects of triphenyltin chloride and five other organotin compounds on the development of imposex in the rock shell, Thais clavigera

The imposer promotion activities of six organotin compounds-tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT), monobutyltin (MBT), triphenyltin (TPT), diphenyltin (DPT) and monophenyltin (MPT)-were examined by injection experiments with the rock shell, Thais clavigera (Prosebranchia; Muricidae). TPT and TBT had strong effects on the development of imposer in the rock shell (p<0.001). The other organotin compounds (DBT, MET, DPT and MPT) had no or less effects on the development of imposer in T. clavigera. The difference between the effects of TPT and TBT was statistically insignificant (p >0.01). The effects of these compounds are estimated, from the relationships between TBT or TPT concentration in tissue and mean penis length of females after injections, to be approximately the same. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.