PUBLICATION
Hepatic and extrahepatic expression of estrogen-responsive genes in male adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) as biomarkers of short-term exposure to 17beta-estradiol
- Authors
- Jin, Y., Wang, W., Sheng, G.D., Liu, W., and Fu, Z.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-071210-36
- Date
- 2008
- Source
- Environmental monitoring and assessment 146(1-3): 105-111 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Keywords
- Zebrafish, 17β-estradiol, Vitellogenin, Estrogen receptor, Gene expression
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Biomarkers
- Environmental Exposure/analysis*
- Estradiol/administration & dosage*
- Estrogens/genetics*
- Estrogens/metabolism
- Gene Expression*
- Kidney
- Male
- Zebrafish/metabolism*
- PubMed
- 18060571 Full text @ Environ. Monit. Assess.
Citation
Jin, Y., Wang, W., Sheng, G.D., Liu, W., and Fu, Z. (2008) Hepatic and extrahepatic expression of estrogen-responsive genes in male adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) as biomarkers of short-term exposure to 17beta-estradiol. Environmental monitoring and assessment. 146(1-3):105-111.
Abstract
Growing concern over reproductive hormones in the environment demands sensitive and efficient methods by use of molecular biomarkers to detect these contaminants in oviparous vertebrates. In this study, a real-time quantitative RT-PCR was adopted to investigate the expressions of three estrogen-responsive genes, Vtg I, Vtg II and ERalpha, in hepatic and extrahepatic tissues of male adult zebrafish exposed to varying concentrations of 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) for selected periods. Without exposure to E(2), all the genes were expressed in the tissues of male controls with their levels being much lower than those in the respective tissues of female controls. The expressions of hepatic Vtg I and II mRNAs were induced significantly after 1-day exposure to E(2) at as low as 0.25 mug L(-1). Significant induction in the expression of hepatic ERalpha mRNA required a higher E(2) concentration (>/=0.5 mug L(-1)) and a longer exposure (>/=2 days), suggesting that Vtg I and Vtg II are more sensitive to E(2) exposure. The induction of Vtg mRNA in the skin of zebrafish was also significant following a short exposure (1 day) to low E(2) concentration (0.25 mug L(-1)), with the levels of Vtg I and Vtg II mRNA being increased by 25 and 5 times, respectively. These results suggest that Vtg I mRNA is a highly sensitive biomarker for determining the estrogenic effects of E(2) and that the skin of zebrafish may be an appropriate substitute for liver for such a determination.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping