PUBLICATION

Reversibility of endocrine disruption in zebrafish (Danio rerio) after discontinued exposure to the estrogen 17α-ethinylestradiol

Authors
Baumann, L., Knörr, S., Keiter, S., Rehberger, K., Volz, S., Schiller, V., Fenske, M., Holbech, H., Segner, H., Braunbeck, T.
ID
ZDB-PUB-140517-5
Date
2014
Source
Toxicology and applied pharmacology   278(3): 230-7 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Braunbeck, Thomas, Fenske, Martina, Holbech, Henrik
Keywords
Vitellogenin, aromatase, endocrine disruptor, estrogen, gonad histology, sexual differentiation
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers/metabolism
  • Body Size/drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Resistance
  • Endocrine Disruptors/administration & dosage
  • Endocrine Disruptors/toxicity*
  • Environmental Restoration and Remediation
  • Estrogens/administration & dosage
  • Estrogens/toxicity*
  • Ethinyl Estradiol/administration & dosage
  • Ethinyl Estradiol/toxicity*
  • Female
  • Feminization/chemically induced*
  • Feminization/metabolism
  • Feminization/pathology
  • Feminization/prevention & control
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/drug effects
  • Male
  • Organ Specificity
  • Ovary/drug effects
  • Ovary/metabolism
  • Ovary/pathology
  • Sex Differentiation/drug effects*
  • Sexual Maturation/drug effects*
  • Testis/drug effects
  • Testis/metabolism
  • Testis/pathology
  • Vitellogenins/genetics
  • Vitellogenins/metabolism
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical/administration & dosage
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity*
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
PubMed
24832493 Full text @ Tox. App. Pharmacol.
CTD
24832493
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the persistence of the feminizing effects of discontinued 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) exposure on zebrafish (Danio rerio). An exposure scenario covering the sensitive phase of sexual differentiation, as well as final gonad maturation was chosen to examine the estrogenic effects on sexual development of zebrafish. Two exposure scenarios were compared: continuous exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations (0.1 - 10ng/L EE2) up to 100days post-hatch (dph) and developmental exposure up to 60 dph, followed by 40 d of depuration in clean water. The persistence of effects was investigated at different biological organization levels from mRNA to population-relevant endpoints to cover a broad range of important parameters. EE2 had a strong feminizing and inhibiting effect on the sexual development of zebrafish. Brain aromatase (cyp19b) mRNA expression showed no clear response, but vitellogenin levels were significantly elevated, gonad maturation and body growth were inhibited in both genders, and sex ratios were skewed towards females and undifferentiated individuals. To a large extent, all of these effects were reversed after 40 d of recovery, leading to the conclusion that exposure to the estrogen EE2 results in very strong, but reversible underdevelopment and feminization of zebrafish. The present study is the first to show this reversibility at different levels of organization, which gives better insight into the mechanistic basis of estrogenic effects in zebrafish.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping