Detection of immunotoxic effects of estrogenic and androgenic endocrine disrupting compounds using splenic immune cells of the female three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus (L.)

Abstract

Today, the list of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in freshwater and marine environments that mimic or block endogenous hormones is expanding at an alarming rate. As immune and reproductive systems may interact in a bidirectional way, some authors proposed the immune capacities as attractive markers to evaluate the hormonal potential of environmental samples. Thus, the present work proposed to gain more knowledge on direct biological effects of natural and EDCs on female fish splenic leucocyte non-specific immune activities by using ex vivo assays. After determining the optimal required conditions to analyze splenic immune responses, seven different EDCs were tested ex vivo at 0.01, 1 and 100nM over 12h on the leucocyte functions of female three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus. In summary, we found that natural hormones acted as immunostimulants, whilst EDCs were immunosuppressive.

Humins in the environment: early stage insights on ecotoxicological aspects

“…In the present work, for whatever immune parameters were tested in stickleback splenocytes, no effect was detected, regardless of products and test concentrations (from 0 to 500 mg L −1 ). Moreover, the immune values were in line with classic proportions of granulocytes‐monocytes (24.4 ± 6.5%) and lymphocytes (75.6 ± 6.5%) and with basal phagocytic activity previously observed (47.9 ± 4.5% of phagocytic capacity; 20.2 ± 6.5% of phagocytic capacity; 1.2 ± 0.8 for respiratory burst index; 4.3 ± 0.7 MFI for lysosomal presence) …”

“…Splenic leucocyte isolation was made following further protocols . Each leucocyte suspension was adjusted at 10 6 cells mL −1 before incubation at 4 °C for 16 h with RMF, HMF, humins b or ML with concentration ranging from 0 to 500 mg L −1 . Then, leucocyte distribution, cellular mortality (apoptotic and necrotic leucocytes), leucocyte respiratory burst, lysosomal presence, and phagocytosis activity analyses were carried out on all leucocytes, using a Cyan TM ADP flow cytometer (Beckman Coulter).…”

β-Estradiol and ethinyl-estradiol contamination in the rivers of the Carpathian Basin

“…Changes are described in the liver, kidneys, and in the brain of two species; in silver catfish (Bagrus filamentosus) and in zebrafish (Danio rerio) (Costa et al 2010, Martyniuk et al 2007). The immune system and the mortality of leucocytes of fishes can also be affected (Bado-Nilles et al 2014). The most used indicator of exposure of exogenous estrogens in aquatic species is plasma vitellogenin.…”

Toxic degree evaluation for fish farming in Pernambuco (Brasil)

“…Several studies have related the effects of the hormone 17 α-methyltestosterone in several fish species, thus showing a concern with the toxic effects on ichthyofauna (ZERULLA et al, 2002;BADO-NILLES et al, 2014;GAO et al, 2015;SAYED et al, 2016;ZHENG et al, 2016). The amount of hormone consumed by the alevines during the sexual reversal process is small when compared to the therapeutic doses used in humans (GHISELLI;GARDEN, 2007).…”