Estrogenic Activity in Five United Kingdom Rivers Detected by Measurement of Vitellogenesis in Caged Male Trout

Harries, Jule E.; Sheahan, Dave; Jobling, Susan; Matthiessen, Peter; Neall, Paula; Sumpter, John P.; Tylor, Tina; Zaman, Nicholas

doi:10.1897/1551-5028(1997)016<0534:eaifuk>2.3.co;2

Cited by 172 publications

(219 citation statements)

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“…Thus, the concentrations of EDC are likely to drop below the level of detection or the lowest effective concentration in a bioassay. Nevertheless, results from the UK suggest that rivers can accumulate EDC, particularly in dry seasons [26]. We are currently investigating river samples from the Alb with our herein introduced testing system.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retinol-binding protein as a biomarker to assess endocrine-disrupting compounds in the environment

et al. 2003

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Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDC) are predominantly investigated with respect to their ability to mimic or block estrogenic actions. However, it is well-known that EDC can act as agonists or antagonists of androgen- and estrogen-response systems. For that reason, there is an obvious need for bioassays providing the possibility of detecting (anti-)estrogenic and (anti-)androgenic effects. The retinol-binding protein (RBP) seems to be a useful molecular biomarker for assessing all modes of action of EDC, because it is regulated by sex steroid hormones. This study was conducted to establish RBP as a biomarker for determination of (anti-)estrogenic and (anti-)androgenic effects of EDC using a Xenopus laevis primary hepatocyte culture system. It could be shown that RBP mRNA expression in X. laevis hepatocytes was stimulated by estrogens in a dose-dependent manner whereas a combination of estrogen and androgen or estrogen and anti-estrogen treatment suppressed estrogenic stimulating effects. Androgens testosterone and dihydrotestosterone were able to reduce RBP mRNA expression and the anti-androgen vinclozolin could abolish the mRNA synthesis-suppressing activity of the androgen dihydrotestosterone. These results clearly demonstrated that RBP mRNA expression patterns in Xenopus laevis hepatocytes have different modes of (anti-)estrogenic and (anti-)androgenic action and can be used for examination of suspected EDC. Moreover, water samples from sewage-treatment plant effluents were applied to liver cells and expression levels of RBP and estrogen receptor mRNA (a known estrogenic biomarker) were detected. These samples had high estrogenicity but caused low to moderate induction of RBP mRNA synthesis, leading to the conclusion that RBP levels represent the sum of all possible effects (estrogenic and other effects) of EDC in environmental samples.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retinol-binding protein as a biomarker to assess endocrine-disrupting compounds in the environment

et al. 2003

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“…In single cases alkylphenols compounds have also been suggested as possible causative agents (Sheahan et al 2002). Induction of vitellogenin (vtg), a biomarker of estrogenic exposure, has been detected in various species of male fish collected downstream of sewage treatment works (STWs) (Jobling et al 1998;Flammarion et al 2000;van Aerle et al 2001;Gercken and Sordyl 2002;Hecker et al 2002;Folmar et al 2001;Harshbarger et al 2000;Minier et al 2000) and in caged fish placed near STW outlets (Harries et al 1997(Harries et al , 2000Larsson et al 1999). After high prevalences of intersex were first observed in roach (Rutilus rutilus) from UK rivers (Jobling et al 1998), other populations of fish with intersex males have been observed downstream of STWs (van Aerle et al 2001;Aravindakshan et al 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gonad histology and vitellogenin concentrations in brown trout (Salmo trutta) from Danish streams impacted by sewage effluent

et al. 2006

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Brown trout (Salmo trutta) collected from a number of Danish streams impacted by sewage effluent were examined for alterations to gonadal development and induction of vitellogenin synthesis. Among fish collected in June/July 2000/2001 and November 2002 higher levels of plasma vitellogenin were found in males from six streams impacted by sewage effluent compared to males from their respective reference sites. A direct non-competitive ELISA was developed for brown trout vitellogenin in order to perform the vitellogenin measurements. Intersex in females with no apparent relation to sewage effluent exposure was observed at all sites. In one stream, male brown trout with a very high level of vitellogenin were concomitantly found to have a high degree of vacuolation of the testes and a presence of only the early spermatogenic stage, spermatogonia. The cause of these alterations to the testis structure is unclear. However, as a high level of plasma vitellogenin in these males indicated estrogenic exposure, the vacuolation might also be a result of endocrine disruption causing delayed or disrupted spermatogenesis.

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“…In the past few years numerous effects of these EDC have emerged, including intersex of river fish, and reproductive failure and abnormalities in marine vertebrates [2,3], birds [4,5,6], alligators [7,8], and polar bears [9]. It has, for instance, been demonstrated that several STP effluents in the UK are estrogenic to fish [10,11,12,13,14,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of vitellogenin mRNA as a biomarker for endocrine disruption in feral and cultured fish

García-Reyero¹,

Raldúa

Quirós

et al. 2004

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

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The presence of the female-specific yolk protein precursor vitellogenin in blood and liver from male fish is widely used as an indicator of endocrine disruption. We studied the induction of vitellogenin mRNA in liver from several species of fish, both maintained in fish tanks or captured in the wild. Our procedure requires minute amounts of liver samples (down to 50 mg), and can be applied to field samples if the appropriate RNA-stabilisation agent is used. We used reverse-transcriptase PCR and quantitative real-time PCR for detection and precise quantitation of vitellogenin mRNA levels. Male mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) exposed to 17 beta-estradiol contained levels of vitellogenin mRNA up to 30 times higher than in untreated females and treatment with nonylphenol resulted in a weak but consistent induction of this transcript. We also studied levels of vitellogenin mRNA in a population of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) from the Anoia river, a river known for its high levels of estrogenic alkylphenols. The results were consistent with recorded data for fish from this sampling site. Finally, we also detected vitellogenin mRNA in barbs (Barbus graellsi), a species for which no vitellogenin sequence was available. The use of mRNA quantitation techniques for analysis of feral and cultured fish of different species opens the possibility of more precise detection and further control of the noxious effects of contaminants on the local fauna exposed to them.

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Estrogenic Activity in Five United Kingdom Rivers Detected by Measurement of Vitellogenesis in Caged Male Trout

Cited by 172 publications

References 0 publications

Retinol-binding protein as a biomarker to assess endocrine-disrupting compounds in the environment

Retinol-binding protein as a biomarker to assess endocrine-disrupting compounds in the environment

Gonad histology and vitellogenin concentrations in brown trout (Salmo trutta) from Danish streams impacted by sewage effluent

Use of vitellogenin mRNA as a biomarker for endocrine disruption in feral and cultured fish

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