Endocrine disrupter chemicals affect the humoral antimicrobial activities of gilthead seabream males even upon the cease of the exposure

17α-ethynilestradiol (EE(2)) and tamoxifen (Tmx) are pollutants world-wide distributed in aquatic environments. Gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata L., is highlighted as a species model of intensively culture in anthropogenic disturbed environments. The effects of these pollutants on gilthead seabream reproduction and some immune responses have been described but, the humoral innate antimicrobial activities have never received attention. In this work we analysed the latest in the plasma of gilthead seabream males of different ages and reproductive stages treated with 0, 2.5, 5 or 50 μg EE(2) or 100 μg Tmx g(−1) food during different times of exposure and of reverting to commercial diet (recovery). The peroxidase and protease activities decreased as the spermatogenesis of the first reproductive cycle (RC) proceeded in control fish. However, only protease and antiprotease activities showed different level at different stages of the second RC in control fish, but showed scarce disruption in fish treated with EE(2) or Tmx. Peroxidase and bactericide activities are more sensitive to EE(2), than to Tmx. The effects induced by EE(2) varied depending on the activity analyzed, the dose and the time of exposure and the reproductive stage and the age of the specimens.