PUBLICATION

The synthetic progestin megestrol acetate adversely affects zebrafish reproduction

Authors
Han, J., Wang, Q., Wang, X., Li, Y., Wen, S., Liu, S., Ying, G., Guo, Y., Zhou, B.
ID
ZDB-PUB-140513-316
Date
2014
Source
Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)   150: 66-72 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
Endocrine disruption, Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, Progestin, Reproduction
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones/blood
  • Male
  • Megestrol Acetate/toxicity*
  • Oviposition/drug effects
  • Reproduction/drug effects*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity*
  • Zebrafish/physiology*
PubMed
24647012 Full text @ Aquat. Toxicol.
Abstract
Synthetic progestins contaminate the aquatic ecosystem, and may cause adverse health effects on aquatic organisms. Megestrol acetate (MTA) is present in the aquatic environment, but its possible effects on fish reproduction are unknown. In the present study, we investigated the endocrine disruption and impact of MTA on fish reproduction. After a pre-exposure period of 14 days, reproductively mature zebrafish (Danio rerio) (F0) were exposed to MTA at environmental concentrations (33, 100, 333, and 666ng/L) for 21 days. Egg production was decreased in F0 fish exposed to MTA, with a significant decrease at 666ng/L. The exposure significantly decreased the circulating concentrations of estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) in female fish or 11-keto testosterone (11-KT) in male fish. MTA exposure significantly downregulated the transcription of certain genes along the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. MTA did not affect early embryonic development or hatching success in the F1 generation. The present study showed that MTA is a potent endocrine disruptor in fish, and short-term exposure to MTA could significantly affect reproduction in fish and negatively impact the fish population.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping