Xenoestrogen Stimulates Vitelline Envelope Protein Gene Transcription in Male Fish Cichlasoma dimerus (Teleostei, Perciformes)

GENOVESE, G.REGUEIRA, M. LONOSTRO,F. DA CUÑA, R. MAGGESE, C.LUQUET, C. TOWLED.W.

Virginia Beach, VA, USA

Congreso; APS Intersociety Meeting: Comparative Physiology 2006: Integrating Diversity; 2006

American Physiological Societty

In fish, xenoestrogens such as octylphenol (OP) produce feminization, abnormal induction of liver proteins, growth abnormalities of testis, and development of intersexes. Sensitive biomarkers of xenoestrogen exposure are the vitelline envelope proteins (VEP). The aim of this work was to obtain partial sequences of VEP, determine their site of production, and measure mRNA expression in a local (Argentina) freshwater fish exposed to OP. Females were injected with estradiol (E2) and males were exposed to 150 ìg/L waterborne OP for 0-28 days. Degenerate primers for VEP alpha, beta, and gamma were used to amplify and sequence corresponding cDNAs. Species-specific primers were designed for measurements of mRNA expression via QPCR. Female VEP gene expression in liver was strongly induced by E2. Exposure of male fish to OP caused a specific induction of liver VEP (beta and gamma) on day 1, increased on day 3 and reached a maximum on day 21. A cyclic pattern of VEP expression was detected and seemed to reflect a physiological response to OP since the results obtained for Na+/K+-ATPase did not show the same. Liver from control males, muscle, intestine or brain from treated animals showed no VEP expression. Thus, gene expression constitutes a sensitive method to monitor endocrine disruptors in fish exposed for short periods of time to OP. same. Liver from control males, muscle, intestine or brain from treated animals showed no VEP expression. Thus, gene expression constitutes a sensitive method to monitor endocrine disruptors in fish exposed for short periods of time to OP. +/K+-ATPase did not show the same. Liver from control males, muscle, intestine or brain from treated animals showed no VEP expression. Thus, gene expression constitutes a sensitive method to monitor endocrine disruptors in fish exposed for short periods of time to OP.