PUBLICATION

The influence of non-toxic concentrations of DDT and DDE on the old world vulture estrogen receptor alpha

Authors
Naidoo, V., Katsu, Y., and Iguchi, T.
ID
ZDB-PUB-080922-17
Date
2008
Source
General and comparative endocrinology   159(2-3): 188-195 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
DDT, DDE, Endocrine disruptor, vulture, organochlorine, estrogen receptor
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DDT/pharmacology*
  • Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene/pharmacology*
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha/chemistry
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha/drug effects
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha/genetics
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha/metabolism*
  • Falconiformes/genetics
  • Falconiformes/metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Insecticides/pharmacology*
  • Mammals
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Transcription, Genetic
PubMed
18801367 Full text @ Gen. Comp. Endocrinol.
CTD
18801367
Abstract
Seven of the nine vulture species in South Africa are listed as endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list. From these, the Cape Griffon vulture (Gyps corprotheres) is the most endangered species in the region. Although inadequate nutritional support has been blamed on the constant decline in populations, the process of vulture restaurants has failed to improve the population status over the last twenty years. One possible reason for the decline may be an underlying reproductive disorder as described in endocrine disruptive syndromes. Both DDT and p,p'-DDE have been detected previously at very high concentrations in the mid 1980s, with lower concentrations still being detectable as late as 2001. To establish the effect of DDT and DDE, the vulture estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) was sequenced from two species using 5' and 3' rapid amplification cDNA ends (RACE). Using transient transfected mammalian cell assays, vulture ERalpha estrogen-dependent transcription activity was validated using various estrogens and DDT derivatives. The receptor assay was sensitive to p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE with EC(50) of 2.41x10(-6), 3.47x10(-7) and 3.81x10(-5)M. When compared to results obtained from human, zebrafish, chicken, salamander and turtle, the vulture ERalpha showed high sensitivity to o,p'-DDT and intermediately responsive to p,p'-DDE. Vulture ERalpha is, however, not responsive to the DDT and DDE levels reported in the plasma of vultures from the last population survey, indicating that the Southern African vulture are not currently exposed to disruptive levels of these contaminants.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping