PUBLICATION

Short-term treatment of adult male zebrafish (Danio Rerio) with 17alpha-ethinyl estradiol affects the transcription of genes involved in development and male sex differentiation

Authors
Reyhanian Caspillo, N., Volkova, K., Hallgren, S., Olsson, P.E., Porsch-Hällström, I.
ID
ZDB-PUB-140513-118
Date
2014
Source
Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP   164C: 35-42 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
17α-Ethinyl estradiol, Biomarker, Endocrine disruptors, Gene regulation, Gonads, Sex differentiation, Zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Sex Differentiation/drug effects
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Steroidogenic Factor 1/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Estrogen Receptor beta/genetics
  • Liver/drug effects
  • Liver/physiology
  • Anti-Mullerian Hormone/genetics
  • Transcription Factors/genetics
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity
  • Vitellogenins/genetics
  • SOX9 Transcription Factor/genetics
  • Aromatase/genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/drug effects*
  • Ethinyl Estradiol/toxicity*
  • Male
  • Animals
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish/growth & development
  • Zebrafish/physiology*
(all 20)
PubMed
24747828 Full text @ Comp. Biochem. Physiol. C Toxicol. Pharmacol.
Abstract
The synthetic estrogen 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) disturbs reproduction and causes gonadal malformation in fish. Effects on the transcription of genes involved in gonad development and function that could serve as sensitive biomarkers of reproductive effects in the field is, however, not well known. We have studied mRNA expression in testes and liver of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) males treated with 0, 5 or 25ng/L EE2for 14days. qPCR analysis showed that the mRNA expression of four genes linked to zebrafish male sex determination and differentiation, Anti-Mullerian Hormone, Double sex and mab-related protein, Sry-related HMG box-9a and Nuclear receptor subfamily 5 group number 1b were significantly decreased by 25ng/L, but not 5ng/L EE2 compared with the levels in untreated fish. The decreased transcription was correlated with a previously shown spawning failure in these males (Reyhanian et al., 2011. Aquat Toxicol 105, 41-48), suggesting that decreased mRNA expression of genes regulating male sexual function could be involved in the functional sterility. The mRNA level of Cytochrome P-45019a, involved in female reproductive development, was unaffected by hormone treatment. The transcription of the female-specific Vitellogenin was significantly induced in testes. While testicular Androgen Receptor and the Estrogen Receptor-alpha mRNA levels were unchanged, Estrogen receptor-beta was significantly decreased by 25ng/L EE2. Hepatic Estrogen Receptor-alpha mRNA was significantly increased by both exposure concentrations, while Estrogen Receptor-beta transcription was unaltered. The decreased transcription of male-predominant genes supports a demasculinization of testes by EE2 and might reflect reproductive disturbances in the environment.
Genes / Markers
Figures
No images available
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping
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Citation
Reyhanian Caspillo, N., Volkova, K., Hallgren, S., Olsson, P.E., Porsch-Hällström, I. (2014) Short-term treatment of adult male zebrafish (Danio Rerio) with 17alpha-ethinyl estradiol affects the transcription of genes involved in development and male sex differentiation. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP. 164C:35-42.