1
|
Liu Z, Zhang Y, Jia X, Hoskins TD, Lu L, Han Y, Zhang X, Lin H, Shen L, Feng Y, Zheng Y, Hu C, Zhang H. Microcystin-LR Induces Estrogenic Effects at Environmentally Relevant Concentration in Black-Spotted Pond Frogs ( Pelophylax nigromaculatus): In Situ, In Vivo, In Vitro, and In Silico Investigations. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:9559-9569. [PMID: 38710655 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c01322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Harmful cyanobacterial blooms are frequent and intense worldwide, creating hazards for aquatic biodiversity. The potential estrogen-like effect of Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a growing concern. In this study, we assessed the estrogenic potency of MC-LR in black-spotted frogs through combined field and laboratory approaches. In 13 bloom areas of Zhejiang province, China, the MC-LR concentrations in water ranged from 0.87 to 8.77 μg/L and were correlated with sex hormone profiles in frogs, suggesting possible estrogenic activity of MC-LR. Tadpoles exposed to 1 μg/L, an environmentally relevant concentration, displayed a female-biased sex ratio relative to controls. Transcriptomic results revealed that MC-LR induces numerous and complex effects on gene expression across multiple endocrine axes. In addition, exposure of male adults significantly increased the estradiol (E2)/testosterone (T) ratio by 3.5-fold relative to controls. Downregulation of genes related to male reproductive endocrine function was also identified. We also showed how MC-LR enhances the expression of specific estrogen receptor (ER) proteins, which induce estrogenic effects by activating the ER pathway and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. In aggregate, our results reveal multiple lines of evidence demonstrating that, for amphibians, MC-LR is an estrogenic endocrine disruptor at environmentally relevant concentrations. The data presented here support the need for a shift in the MC-LR risk assessment. While hepatoxicity has historically been the focus of MC-LR risk assessments, our data clearly demonstrate that estrogenicity is a major mode of toxicity at environmental levels and that estrogenic effects should be considered for risk assessments on MC-LR going forward.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiquan Liu
- School of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| | - Yinan Zhang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| | - Xiuying Jia
- Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310015, China
| | - Tyler D Hoskins
- Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Liping Lu
- School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| | - Yu Han
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| | - Xiaofang Zhang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| | - Huikang Lin
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| | - Lilai Shen
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| | - Yixuan Feng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| | - Yueyue Zheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| | - Chao Hu
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| | - Hangjun Zhang
- School of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
- Hangzhou International Urbanology Research Center, Hangzhou 311121, China
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Moreno Abril SI, Pin AO, Beiras R. Effects of primary leachates of conventional and alternative plastics in Cyprinodon variegatus fish larvae: Endocrine disruption and toxicological responses. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 347:123717. [PMID: 38447656 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
The inclusion of hazardous substances in the formulation of plastics raises significant concerns, particularly, if those substances are released as primary leachates during plastic degradation and/or fragmentation. In this sense, the production of degradable plastics holding deleterious additives can increase the release of harmful substances into the environment. Additionally, the effects of primary leachates of "eco-friendly" materials remain unexplored. To address this, we performed exposures to primary leachates of alternative polymers, and commercial bags to verify possible responses associated with endocrine disruption and/or activation of the detoxification pathway in larvae of the marine fish model Cyprinodon variegatus. The chemical characterization evidenced a great number of additives in the formulation of the materials analyzed in this study. Those include, except for the PLA sample, relevant levels of the hazardous phthalates DEHP and DiBP. Regarding the effects on marine fish larvae, exposure to leachates from alternative polymers (10 g/L) PHB and PHBV produced remarkable mortality (100%). While the exposure to bag leachates of all tested materials (1 and 10 g/L) produced alterations in biomarkers for steroidogenic and detoxification pathways. To a lesser extent (10 g/L), three materials produced significant alterations in estrogenic biomarkers (Home-compostable bag 1, LDPE and Recycled PE bags). Although the alterations in gene expression were not directly correlated to the amount of DEHP or DiBP, we can conclude that primary leachates of "eco-friendly" bags are harmful to marine vertebrates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Isabel Moreno Abril
- Marine Research Centre, University of Vigo (CIM-UVigo), 36310, Vigo, Galicia, Spain; Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Galicia, Spain.
| | - Ana Olmos Pin
- Marine Research Centre, University of Vigo (CIM-UVigo), 36310, Vigo, Galicia, Spain; Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Galicia, Spain
| | - Ricardo Beiras
- Marine Research Centre, University of Vigo (CIM-UVigo), 36310, Vigo, Galicia, Spain; Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Galicia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mukherjee U, Das S, Ghosh S, Maitra S. Reproductive toxicity of bisphenol A, at environmentally relevant concentrations, on ovarian redox balance, maturational response, and intra-oocyte signalling events in Labeo bata. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167415. [PMID: 37777122 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used plastic monomer that potentially interferes with ovarian neuroendocrine, endocrine, and autocrine/paracrine factors, causing reproductive dysfunction. However, the influence of BPA on redox balance, estrogen receptor (ER) expression vis-à-vis meiotic cell cycle progression, and intra-oocyte signalling events has not been extensively investigated. The present study examines the impact of BPA on reproductive toxicity in female Labeo bata (Order Cypriniformes, Family Cyprinidae), a freshwater teleost preferred as a food fish in the Indian subcontinent. Our results show that while ovarian weight (gonadosomatic index, GSI) and dynamics of follicular growth undergo pronounced changes during the annual reproductive cycle, chronic BPA exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations promotes follicular atresia concomitant with reduced GSI during the spawning phase, the highest response being observed due to low-dose (0.1 μg/L, 0.438 nM) BPA exposure in vivo. Furthermore, BPA perturbation of ovarian StAR expression and ERα/ERβ homeostasis corroborates with elevated oxidative stress in BPA-treated ovary, FG follicles, and follicular cells. A sharp increase in ROS accumulation and nitric oxide (NO) levels in BPA-treated full-grown (FG) follicles coupled with loss of redox balance, elevated follicular cell death, and activation of apoptotic markers (caspase -8, -9, -3, Bax) indicate poor oocyte health and reproductive toxicity. Importantly, maturational steroid (MIS, 17,20β-P)-induced cyclin B-p34cdc2 activation and elevated GVBD (germinal vesicle breakdown) response require protein kinase A (PKA) inhibition and participation of Mos/MAPK- and cdc25-mediated signalling events. While the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin (FK) abrogates, priming with a PKA inhibitor (H89) promotes the meiotic G2-M1 transition, confirming the role of PKA in meiotic cell cycle progression in this species. Furthermore, the negative influence of BPA priming on 17,20β-P-induced oocyte maturation involves elevated PKAc phosphorylation (activation) and significant alteration in Mos/MAPK signalling, indicating derailed meiotic maturational competence and disrupted oocyte quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Urmi Mukherjee
- Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 731235, India
| | - Sriparna Das
- Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 731235, India
| | - Soumyajyoti Ghosh
- Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 731235, India
| | - Sudipta Maitra
- Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 731235, India.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abril SIM, Pin AO, Schonemann AM, Bellot M, Gómez-Canela C, Beiras R. Evaluating the alterations of the estrogen-responsive genes in Cyprinodon variegatus larvae for biomonitoring the impacts of estrogenic endocrine disruptors (EEDs). ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 97:104042. [PMID: 36549414 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2022.104042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Currently, endocrine disruptors (EDs) can be found in all the environmental compartments. To understand the effects of estrogenic EDs (EEDs), adults of Cyprinodon variegatus have been classically used as a marine model. However, it is during development that exposure to contaminants may generate permanent consequences. Thus, the aim of this study was to verify the effects produced by acute exposure to 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in C. variegatus larvae. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) results revealed the induction of vtg and zp gene expression on exposure to 1000 ng/L EE2 and the induction of vtgc, zp2, zp3 and cyp19a2, and inhibition of vtgab, wap and cyp1a1 on exposure to 100 ng/L EE2. Lower concentrations inhibited the gene expression of vtgab and wap (50 ng/L), cyp1a1 (25 ng/L) and zp2 (12.5 ng/L). These alterations in gene expression allow us to affirm that larvae of C. variegatus are an efficient and sensitive model for biomonitoring EEDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Isabel Moreno Abril
- Marine Research Centre, University of Vigo (CIM-UVigo), 36310 Vigo, Galicia, Spain; Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Galicia, Spain.
| | - Ana Olmos Pin
- Marine Research Centre, University of Vigo (CIM-UVigo), 36310 Vigo, Galicia, Spain; Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Galicia, Spain
| | - Alexandre M Schonemann
- Marine Research Centre, University of Vigo (CIM-UVigo), 36310 Vigo, Galicia, Spain; Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, 36310 Galicia, Spain
| | - Marina Bellot
- Department of Analytical and Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, Institut Químic de Sarrià-Universitat Ramon Llull, 08017 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristian Gómez-Canela
- Department of Analytical and Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, Institut Químic de Sarrià-Universitat Ramon Llull, 08017 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ricardo Beiras
- Marine Research Centre, University of Vigo (CIM-UVigo), 36310 Vigo, Galicia, Spain; Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Galicia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Walsh HL, Gordon SE, Sperry AJ, Kashiwagi M, Mullican J, Blazer VS. A case study: temporal trends of environmental stressors and reproductive health of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) from a site in the Potomac River Watershed, Maryland, USA. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 31:1536-1553. [PMID: 36454361 PMCID: PMC9729326 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-022-02605-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Decades of poor reproductive success and young-of-the-year survival, combined with adult mortality events, have led to a decline in the smallmouth bass (SMB; Micropterus dolomieu) population in sections of the Potomac River. Previous studies have identified numerous biologic and environmental stressors associated with negative effects on SMB health. To better understand the impact of these stressors, this study was conducted at the confluence of Antietam Creek and the Potomac River from 2013 to 2019 to identify temporal changes associated with SMB reproductive health. Surface water samples were collected and analyzed for over 300 organic contaminants, including pesticides, phytoestrogens, pharmaceuticals, hormones and total estrogenicity (E2Eq). Adult SMB were collected and sampled for multiple endpoints, including gene transcripts associated with reproduction (molecular), histopathology (cellular), and organosomatic indices (tissue). In males, biomarkers of estrogenic endocrine disruption, including testicular oocytes (TO) and plasma vitellogenin (Vtg) were assessed. Numerous agriculture-related contaminants or land use patterns were associated with gene transcript abundance in both male and female SMB. Positive associations between pesticides in the immediate catchment with TO severity and E2Eq with plasma Vtg in males were identified. In males, the prevalence of TO and detectable levels of plasma Vtg, liver vitellogenin transcripts (vtg) and testis vtg were high throughout the study. Peaks of complex mixtures of numerous contaminants occurred during the spring/early summer when spawning and early development occurs and to a lesser extent in fall/winter during recrudescence. Management practices to reduce exposure during these critical and sensitive periods may enhance reproductive health of these economically important sportfishes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heather L Walsh
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Leetown Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Rd., Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA.
| | - Stephanie E Gordon
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Leetown Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Rd., Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA
| | - Adam J Sperry
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Leetown Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Rd., Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA
| | - Michael Kashiwagi
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fishing and Boating Services, 10932 Putman Rd., Thurmont, MD, 21788, USA
| | - John Mullican
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fishing and Boating Services, 20901 Fish Hatchery Rd., Hagerstown, MD, 21740, USA
| | - Vicki S Blazer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Leetown Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Rd., Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Guan WZ, Jiang K, Lai XL, Dong YT, Qiu GF. Comprehensive Transcriptome Analysis of Gonadal and Somatic Tissues for Identification of Sex-Related Genes in the Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 24:588-598. [PMID: 35384611 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-022-10127-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is an economically important fish. It can spawn many times during a breeding season, and there are no obvious morphological characteristics to distinguish male and female juvenile fish. So far, little is known about the genes regulating their sexual development in this species. Here, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis of the testis, ovary, and somatic tissue to identify sex-related genes in the largemouth bass. A total of 51,672 unigenes were obtained via the transcriptome analysis, and 5900 differential expression genes (DEGs), including 3028 up-regulated and 2872 down-regulated DEGs, were obtained in the somatic tissue, testis, and ovary. DEGs were retrieved by making comparisons: somatic tissue vs testis (1733-up and 1382-down), testis vs ovary (841-up and 807-down), and ovary vs somatic tissue (454-up and 683-down). Finally, functional annotation identified 22 key sex-related DEGs, including 13 testis-biased DEGs (dmrt1, cyp11b1, sox9, spata4, spata22, spata17, fshr, fem-1a, wt1, daz1, amh, vasa, and piwi1) and 9 ovary-biased DEGs (foxl2, gdf9, zp3, sox3, cyp19a, bmp15, fem-1b, fig. la, and piwi2). This result was further confirmed by the tissue expression detection via RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. Protein-protein interacting (PPI) network analysis revealed that the testis-specific dmrt1 interacts directly with the testis-biased DEGs (cyp11b1 and spata4) and the ovary-biased DEGs (foxl2, gdf9, zp3, sox3, cyp19a, and bmp15), suggesting that the dmrt1 as a sex-determining gene can play a dual role through inducing the testis-biased DEGs and inhibiting the ovary-biased DEGs during the testicular development. Our present results provide useful molecular data for a better understanding of sexual development in the largemouth bass.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Zhi Guan
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of AgricultureShanghai Engineering Research Center of AquaculturePudong New Area, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, 999 Huchenghuan Road, Shanghai, 201306, China
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kai Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of AgricultureShanghai Engineering Research Center of AquaculturePudong New Area, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, 999 Huchenghuan Road, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Xing-Lin Lai
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of AgricultureShanghai Engineering Research Center of AquaculturePudong New Area, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, 999 Huchenghuan Road, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Yao-Ting Dong
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of AgricultureShanghai Engineering Research Center of AquaculturePudong New Area, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, 999 Huchenghuan Road, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Gao-Feng Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of AgricultureShanghai Engineering Research Center of AquaculturePudong New Area, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, 999 Huchenghuan Road, Shanghai, 201306, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wu Z, Zhang C. Role of the cytoskeleton in steroidogenesis. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets 2021; 22:549-557. [PMID: 34802411 DOI: 10.2174/1871530321666211119143653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Steroidogenesis in the adrenal cortex or gonads is a complicated process, modulated by various elements either at the tissue or molecular level. The substrate-cholesterol is first delivered to the outer membrane of mitochondria, undergoing a series of enzymatic reactions along with the material exchange between the mitochondria and the ER (endoplasmic reticulum) and ultimately yield various steroids: aldosterone, cortisol, testosterone and estrone. Several valves are set to adjust the amount of production to the needs. e.g. StAR(steroidogenic acute regulator) is in charge of the rate-limiting step-traffic of cholesterol from outer membrane to inner membrane of mitochondria. And the "needs" is partly reflected by trophic signals like ACTH、LH and downstream pathways-- intracellular cAMP pathway, which represents the endocrinal regulation of steroid synthesis, too. The coordinated activities of these related factors are all associated with another crucial cellular constituent-the cytoskeleton, which plays a crucial role in the cellular architecture and substrate trafficking. Though considerable studies have been performed regarding steroid synthesis, details about the upstream signaling pathways and mechanisms of the regulation by cytoskeleton network still remain unclear. The metabolism and interplays of the pivotal cellular organelles with cytoskeleton are worth exploring as well. In this review, we summarize research of different time span, describing the roles of specific cytoskeleton elements in steroidogenesis and related signaling pathways involved in the steroid synthesis. In addition, we discussed the inner cytoskeletal network involved in steroidogenic processes such as mitochondrial movement, organelle interactions and cholesterol trafficking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zaichao Wu
- Joint Program of Nanchang University and Queen Mary University of London, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi. China
| | - Chunping Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi. China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Pan Z, Zhu C, Chang G, Wu N, Ding H, Wang H. Differential expression analysis and identification of sex-related genes by gonad transcriptome sequencing in estradiol-treated and non-treated Ussuri catfish Pseudobagrus ussuriensis. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2021; 47:565-581. [PMID: 33523351 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-021-00932-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Ussuri catfish (Pseudobagrus ussuriensis) has an XX/XY sex determination system but its sex determination gene(s) remain unknown. To better understand the molecular sex determination mechanism, transcriptome analysis was conducted to obtain sex-related gene expression profiles. Transcriptome analyses were made of male and female developing/differentiating gonads by high-throughput RNA sequencing, including gonads from fish given an estradiol-induced sex reversal treatment. A total of 81,569 unigenes were assembled and 39,904 were significantly matched to known unique proteins by comparison with public databases. Twenty specifically expressed and 142 differentially expressed sex-related genes were extracted from annotated data by comparing the treatment groups. These genes are involved in spermatogenesis (e.g., Dnali1, nectin3, klhl10, mybl1, Katnal1, Eno4, Mns1, Spag6, Tsga10, Septin7), oogenesis (e.g., Lagr5, Fmn2, Npm2, zar1, Fbxo5, Fbxo43, Prdx4, Nrip1, Lfng, Atrip), gonadal development/differentiation (e.g., Cxcr4b, Hmgb2, Cftr, Ch25h, brip1, Prdm9, Tdrd1, Star, dmrt1, Tut4, Hsd17b12a, gdf9, dnd, arf1, Spata22), and estradiol response (e.g., Mmp14, Lhcgr, vtg1, vtg2, esr2b, Piwil1, Aifm1, Hsf1, gdf9). Dmrt1 and gdf9 may play an essential role in sex determination in P. ussuriensis. The expression patterns of six random genes were validated by quantitative real-time PCR, which confirmed the reliability and accuracy of the RNA-seq results. These data provide a valuable resource for future studies of gene expression and for understanding the molecular mechanism of sex determination/differentiation and gonadal development/differentiation (including hormone-induced sexual reversal) in Ussuri catfish. This has the potential to assist in producing monosex Ussuri catfish to increase aquacultural productivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- ZhengJun Pan
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Breeding of Special Aquatic Organisms, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, 223300, China.
| | - ChuanKun Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Breeding of Special Aquatic Organisms, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, 223300, China
| | - GuoLiang Chang
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Breeding of Special Aquatic Organisms, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, 223300, China
| | - Nan Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Breeding of Special Aquatic Organisms, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, 223300, China
| | - HuaiYu Ding
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Breeding of Special Aquatic Organisms, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, 223300, China
| | - Hui Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Breeding of Special Aquatic Organisms, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, 223300, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wang Y, Liu X, Li W, Zhao J, Liu H, Yu L, Zhu X. Reproductive performance is associated with seasonal plasma reproductive hormone levels, steroidogenic enzymes and sex hormone receptor expression levels in cultured Asian yellow pond turtles (Mauremys mutica). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 254:110566. [PMID: 33515788 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2021.110566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In order to understand the endocrine mechanism associated with fecundity of seasonally breeding animals, we investigated the plasma reproductive hormones levels and detected the differences in steroidogenic enzymes and sex hormone receptor mRNA levels in female Mauremys mutica. These turtles were divided into higher fecundity (HF) group than those in lower fecundity (LF) group based on paternity identification in our previous research. The plasma estrogen (E2), testosterone (T) and progesterone (P4) levels were significantly higher in pre-breeding season (PBS) than those in non-breeding season (NBS) and were markedly higher in the HF group than those in LF group. In the hypothalamus, there was significantly higher mRNA abundance of P450-cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450Scc) encoded by Cyp11α1, aromatase (Cyp19α1) and 5-reductase (5α-R), but significantly lower mRNA levels of follicular stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and progesterone receptor (PR) detected in PBS than those in NBS. The pituitary steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450-17alpha-hydroxylase (Cyp17α1), 3-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD), 17-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase 3 (17βHSD3), Cyp19α1, 5α-R, FSHR, estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), androgen receptor (AR) and PR transcriptional levels in HF group were up-regulated significantly compared with the LF group. In the ovary, Cyp17α1 and 17βHSD3 transcriptional levels were markedly higher in PBS than those in NBS. We detected significantly increased expression levels of all steroidogenic enzymes, but notably lower mRNA levels of FSHR and PR in uterus during the PBS, and the HF group has significantly higher expression levels of StAR, Cyp17α1, 5α-R and AR than LF group. Our work reveals seasonal variations in hormone regulation as well as gene regulation in turtles, providing reliable information to understand the mechanisms underlying the different reproductive capacity of reptiles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yakun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510380, PR China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510380, PR China
| | - Wei Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510380, PR China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510380, PR China
| | - Haiyang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510380, PR China
| | - Lingyun Yu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510380, PR China
| | - Xinping Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510380, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Transcriptome and physiological effects of toxaphene on the liver-gonad reproductive axis in male and female largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2020; 36:100746. [PMID: 32992212 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2020.100746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Toxaphene is an organochlorine pesticide and environmental contaminant that is concerning due to its atmospheric transport and persistence in soil. In Florida, toxaphene and other organochlorine pesticides were used heavily in agriculture on the north shore of Lake Apopka and they are still detectable in soil. Wild largemouth bass that inhabit the lake and the marshes along the north shore have been exposed to a variety of organochlorine pesticides including dieldrin, methoxychlor, and p,p'-DDE, among others. While these other organochlorine pesticides have been studied for their endocrine disrupting effects in largemouth bass, there is little information for toxaphene. In this study, male and female largemouth bass were given food containing 50 mg/kg toxaphene for almost 3 months, to achieve tissue levels similar to those found in fish at Lake Apopka. Sex-specific toxicity was then evaluated by measuring various reproductive endpoints and transcriptomic changes. In females, gonadosomatic index showed a trend towards reduction (p = 0.051) and plasma vitellogenin was reduced by ~40% relative to controls. However plasma levels of 17β-estradiol and testosterone were not perturbed by toxaphene exposure. These data suggest that toxaphene does not act as a weak estrogen as many other organochlorine pesticides do, but rather appears to be acting as an antiestrogen in female fish. There were no obvious changes in the gonadosomatic index and plasma hormones in male bass. However, ex vivo explant experiments revealed that toxaphene prevented human chorionic gonadotropin-stimulated testosterone production in the testis. This suggested that toxaphene had anti-androgenic effects in males. Subsequent transcriptomic analyses of the testis revealed that androgen receptor/beta-2-microglobulin signaling was up-regulated while insulin-related pathways were suppressed with toxaphene, which could be interpreted as a compensatory response to androgen suppression. In the male liver, the transcriptome analysis revealed an overwhelming suppression in immune-related signaling cascades (e.g. lectin-like receptor and ITSM-Containing Receptor signaling, CD16/CD14 Proinflammatory Monocyte Activation, and CD38/CD3-JUN/FOS/NF-kB Signaling in T-cell Proliferation). Overall, this study showed that toxaphene induced sex-specific effects. The transcriptomic and physiological responses observed can contribute to the development of adverse outcome pathways for toxaphene exposure in fish.
Collapse
|
11
|
Navarro-Martín L, Martyniuk CJ, Mennigen JA. Comparative epigenetics in animal physiology: An emerging frontier. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2020; 36:100745. [PMID: 33126028 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2020.100745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The unprecedented access to annotated genomes now facilitates the investigation of the molecular basis of epigenetic phenomena in phenotypically diverse animals. In this critical review, we describe the roles of molecular epigenetic mechanisms in regulating mitotically and meiotically stable spatiotemporal gene expression, phenomena that provide the molecular foundation for the intra-, inter-, and trans-generational emergence of physiological phenotypes. By focusing principally on emerging comparative epigenetic roles of DNA-level and transcriptome-level epigenetic mark dynamics in the emergence of phenotypes, we highlight the relationship between evolutionary conservation and innovation of specific epigenetic pathways, and their interplay as a priority for future study. This comparative approach is expected to significantly advance our understanding of epigenetic phenomena, as animals show a diverse array of strategies to epigenetically modify physiological responses. Additionally, we review recent technological advances in the field of molecular epigenetics (single-cell epigenomics and transcriptomics and editing of epigenetic marks) in order to (1) investigate environmental and endogenous factor dependent epigenetic mark dynamics in an integrative manner; (2) functionally test the contribution of specific epigenetic marks for animal phenotypes via genome and transcript-editing tools. Finally, we describe advantages and limitations of emerging animal models, which under the Krogh principle, may be particularly useful in the advancement of comparative epigenomics and its potential translational applications in animal science, ecotoxicology, ecophysiology, climate change science and wild-life conservation, as well as organismal health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laia Navarro-Martín
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona, Catalunya 08034, Spain.
| | - Christopher J Martyniuk
- Department of Physiological Sciences and Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida Genetics Institute, Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Jan A Mennigen
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N6N5, Canada
| |
Collapse
|