Prenatal xenoestrogen exposure affects amh, sox9 and sf-1 mRNA expression in Caiman latirostris

DURANDO M; COCITO L; RODRIGUEZ HA; VARAYOUD J; RAMOS JG; LUQUE EH; MUÑOZ DE TORO, M

Congreso; XLVIII Reunión Anual de la SAIB; 2012

Caiman latirostris exhibits temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). Male-to-female sex reversal after in ovo estrogen/xenoestrogen exposure was demonstrated (hormone-dependent sex determination: HSD). amh, sox9 and sf-1 genes are involved in sex determination/differentiation and steroidogenesis. Our aims were: a) to establish the expression patterns of amh, sox9 and sf-1 mRNA in the gonad-adrenal-mesonephros (GAM) complexes of neonatal TSD-male and -female, b) to compare gene expressions between TSD-females and HSD-females, c) to evaluate if in ovo exposure to xenoestrogens (E2, bisphenol A-BPA or endosulfan-END) modify amh, sox9 or sf-1 mRNA expressions in neonatal TSD-males. mRNA expressions were quantitatively compared by RT-PCR. We demonstrated a sexually dimorphic pattern of amh and sox9, with higher expression in TSD-male than in -female. sf-1 mRNA did not differ between TSD-males and -females. HSD-females exhibited a higher expression of sox9 than TSD-females. In neonatal TSD-males, increased mRNA expression of sex-determining genes was observed after in ovo exposure to END. E2 decreased the sox9 but increased the sf-1 mRNA expression. Changes induced by BPA were evident although no significant. Our results provide new insights into the potential mechanisms that lead to the gonadal histo-functional alterations observed in caimans exposed to contaminated environments.