PUBLICATION

Induction of hepatic estrogen-responsive gene transcription by permethrin enantiomers in male adult zebrafish

Authors
Jin, Y., Wang, W., Xu, C., Fu, Z., and Liu, W.
ID
ZDB-PUB-080527-20
Date
2008
Source
Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)   88(2): 146-152 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
Zebrafish, Permethrin enantiomers, Gene expression, Enantioselectivity
MeSH Terms
  • Male
  • Zebrafish/physiology*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity*
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers/analysis
  • Permethrin/toxicity*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects*
  • Estrogens/pharmacology
  • Liver/drug effects
PubMed
18499281 Full text @ Aquat. Toxicol.
CTD
18499281
Abstract
Despite recent studies on enantioselectivity in acute aquatic toxicity and biodegradation of some pyrethroid pesticides, including permethrin (PM), enantiomer-specific estrogenic activity has been the subject of limited research. In this study, real-time quantitative RT-PCR was adopted to investigate induction of hepatic expression of mRNA of selected genes in male adult zebrafish after short-term exposure to PM enantiomers. The PM enantiomers were completely separated by a chiral HPLC column. The in vivo study found that a 2-day exposure to 100ng/l PM racemate and its enantiomers was sufficient to stimulate transcription of two vitellogenin (vtg) genes, while 250ng/l exposure significantly induced gene transcription in a pattern and content similar to that of the control (50ng/l 17beta-estradiol (E2)). Significant differences were detected between the enantiomers in induction of hepatic gene transcription. At exposure level of 500ng/l, the response to the (-)-trans enantiomer was 2.6 and 1.8 times greater than the (+)-trans enantiomer based on zebrafish vtg1 and vtg2 mRNA induction (p<0.05), respectively. Of the four enantiomers, the (-)-trans enantiomer showed the greatest estrogenic activity, with a relative activity 4-fold higher than the 50ng/l E2 group. The results strongly suggested the occurrence of significant enantioselectivity in estrogenic activity of PM enantiomers. It would appear from our results and previous studies that using chiral pesticide as a single compound would increase the environmental risk of chronic toxicity, such as endocrine disruption, to humans and wildlife.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping