Effects of Environmental Estrogens and Antiandrogens on Endocrine Function, Gene Regulation, and Health in Fish

Embryonic exposures to chemicals acting on brain aromatase lead to different locomotor effects in zebrafish larvae

Pathways underlying neurodevelopmental effects of endocrine disruptors (EDs) remain poorly known. Expression of brain aromatase (aroB), responsible for estrogen production in the brain of teleosts, is regulated by estrogenic EDs and could play a role in their behavioral effects. We exposed zebrafish eleutheroembryos (0-120 h post-fertilization) to various concentrations of 16 estrogenic chemicals (incl. bisphenols and contraceptives), and of 2 aroB inhibitors. Behavior was monitored using a photomotor response test procedure. Both aroB inhibitors (clotrimazole and prochloraz) and a total of 6 estrogenic EDs induced significant behavioral alterations, including DM-BPA, BPC and BPS-MPE, three bisphenol substitutes which behavioral effects were, to our knowledge, previously unknown. However, no consensus was reported on the effects among tested substances. It appears that behavioral changes could not be linked to groups of substances defined by their specificity or potency to modulate aroB expression, or by their structure. Altogether, behavioral effects of estrogenic EDs in 120 h post-fertilization larvae appear unrelated to aroB but are nonetheless not to be neglected in the context of environmental safety.

Verification of In Vivo Estrogenic Activity for Four Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Identified as Estrogen Receptor Agonists via New Approach Methodologies

Given concerns about potential toxicological hazards of the thousands of data-poor per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) currently in commerce and detected in the environment, tiered testing strategies that employ high-throughput in vitro screening as an initial testing tier have been implemented. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of previous in vitro screening for identifying PFAS capable, or incapable, of inducing estrogenic responses in fish exposed in vivo. Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were exposed for 96 h to five PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA]; 1H,1H,8H,8H-perfluorooctane-1,8-diol [FC8-diol]; 1H,1H,10H,10H-perfluorodecane-1,10-diol [FC10-diol]; 1H,1H,8H,8H-perfluoro-3,6-dioxaoctane-1,8-diol [FC8-DOD]; and perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid [HFPO-DA]) that showed varying levels of in vitro estrogenic potency. In agreement with in vitro screening results, exposure to FC8-diol, FC10-diol, and FC8-DOD caused concentration-dependent increases in the expression of transcript coding for vitellogenin and estrogen receptor alpha and reduced expression of insulin-like growth factor and apolipoprotein eb. Once differences in bioconcentration were accounted for, the rank order of potency in vivo matched that determined in vitro. These results provide a screening level benchmark for worst-case estimates of potential estrogenic hazards of PFAS and a basis for identifying structurally similar PFAS to scrutinize for putative estrogenic activity.

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

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.

Effects of 4-n-nonylphenol in liver of male and female viviparous fish (Poecilia vivipara)

4-n-Nonylphenol (NP) is one of the most toxic alkylphenols found in the environment. To evaluate the transcriptional effects of NP in the viviparous fish Poecilia vivipara, a hepatic transcriptome and qPCR analysis of genes were carried out. Guppies separated by sex were injected with two doses of NP (15 μg/g and 150 μg/g) or peanut oil (control). After 24 h, analysis of transcriptional level of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR), Estrogen Nuclear Receptor Alpha (ESR1), Pregnane X Receptor (PXR), Cytochromes P450 (CYP1A, CYP2K1 and CYP3A30), Glutathione S-transferase A3 and Mu 3 (GSTa3 and GSTMu3), SRY-Box Transcription Factor 9 (SOX9), Vitellogenin-1 (VIT), ATP Binding Cassette Subfamily C Member 1 (ABCC1), Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2 (MRP2) and UDP Glucuronosyltransferase Family 1 Member A1 (UGT1A1) was evaluated. 205,046 transcripts were assembled and protein prediction resulted in 203,147 predicted peptides. In females, no significant changes were detected in the transcription of some phase I biotransformation and ABC transporter genes. AhR, PXR, GSTa3 and SOX9 genes where higher in the lower dose group (15 μg/g) compared to control. In male fish, no changes were observed in the transcript levels of the nuclear receptors, in endocrine disruption and phase I biotransformation genes. GSTa3 showed lower transcription in fish treated with both doses. ABCC1 was higher in guppies treated with the lower dose while MRP2 showed less transcripts. This short-term and low-dose exposure to NP caused changes that could serve as early indicators of deleterious processes. These results indicate P. vivipara as a good sentinel in biomonitoring programs.

Occurrence and tissue distribution of alkylphenols (APs) in selected waterbirds from the Southern Baltic

The aim of the present study was to determine the concentrations of nonylphenols (NPs) and 4-t-octylphenol (4tOP) in the muscles, liver, and kidneys of selected waterbird species. Three species with different feeding habits were selected, i.e., greater scaup (Aythya marila), great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus), and great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) to investigate the potential effects of diet on the level of contaminants tested. The determination and quantification of analytes were performed using gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS). The highest NP concentrations were noted in the kidneys of greater scaups and great crested grebes (208.3 and 160.8 μg kg^-1 ww, resp.), which were six to fourteen-fold higher than those in the muscles (15.0 and 25.6 μg kg^-1 ww, resp.) and livers (22.9 and 13.8 μg kg^-1 ww, resp.) of these species. In greater scaups, the mean concentration of NPs in the livers was lower than in the muscles, while in great crested grebes, it was the opposite and higher concentrations were noted in the muscles. The mean concentrations of NPs in the muscles and livers of great cormorants were at similarly low levels (12.5 and 9.7 μg kg^-1 ww, resp.). The concentrations of 4tOP in all samples were low, ranging from <LOQ to 0.29 μg kg^-1 ww. The results of our study indicated that sex and diet did not affect the NP tissue concentrations in different waterbird species, but the phenological period (migration vs breeding) might influence the contamination levels in the kidneys.

Evidence of feminization in seahorses from a tropical estuary

Intersex has been reported regularly in wild populations of gonochoristic fish. The authors investigated the possible feminization of seahorses in a population of Hippocampus reidi in Brazil, as well as report a case of a brood pouch reduction after reproductive stimuli. The female seahorses of this population showed two kinds of morphological anomalies. The proportion of the animals affected in the study population was consistent and was uncorrelated with the sex ratio. The study indicates the changes in the sexual profile of the individual.

Detection of endocrine disrupting chemicals in Danio rerio and Daphnia pulex: Step-one, behavioral screen

Anthropogenic surface and ground water contamination by chemicals is a global problem, and there is an urgent need to develop tools to identify and elucidate biological effects. Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are not typically monitored or regulated and those with known or suspected endocrine disrupting potential have been termed endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Many CECs are known to be neurotoxic (e.g., insecticides) and many are incompletely characterized. Behavioral responses can identify chemicals with neuroactive properties, which can be relevant to EDC mechanisms (e.g., neuroendocrine disturbances). Two freshwater species, Daphnia pulex and Danio rerio, were evaluated for swimming behavior alterations resulting from 24-hr exposure to 9 CECs: triclosan, triclocarban, chlorpyrifos, dieldrin, 4-nonylphenol, bisphenol-A, atrazine, metformin, and estrone. This is the first step in the development of a bioassay for detecting estrogenic and/or anti-androgenic activity with the goal to evaluate complex mixtures of uncharacterized contaminants in water samples. The second step, described in a subsequent report, examines transcriptome alterations following chemical exposure. Significant differences in the swimming behavior response and sensitivity were found across chemicals within a species and across species for a given chemical in this unique optical bioassay system. In the concentration ranges studied, significant behavioral alterations were detected for 6 of 9 CECs for D. pulex and 4 of 9 CECs for D. rerio. These results underscore the utility of this bioassay to identify behavioral effects of sublethal concentrations of CECs before exploration of transcriptomic alterations for EDC detection.

Bioaccumulation and reproductive toxicity of bisphenol A in male-pregnant seahorse (Hippocampus erectus) at environmentally relevant concentrations

Seahorses, with brood pouch in adult males, are a bioindicator species that exhibit specialized reproductive strategy of "male pregnancy". Bisphenol A (BPA), one of the most pervasive endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), is hazardous for reproductive, immune, and neurological systems. However, no evidence of BPA toxicity to the male-pregnant animals is available. Herein, the reproductive toxicity of BPA was evaluated in lined seahorses (Hippocampus erectus) following exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations (10, 100, and 1000 μg/L) through physiological, histological, and transcriptional analyses. Our results indicated BPA bioaccumulation to be positively correlated with exposure doses in both sexes. Ovarian failure was only observed in the high-dose BPA treatment group, accompanied by the apoptosis of follicular cells and up-regulation of pro-apoptotic genes. However, brood pouches maintenance were surprisingly inhibited at low concentration, and transcriptomic analysis revealed disturbed profiles of genes involved in the extracellular matrix and cell-cell adhesion pathways. Interestingly, seahorse testes were less sensitive to BPA exposure than that in other teleosts. Thus, our study suggests that BPA at environmentally relevant concentrations might cause reproductive dysfunction in seahorses, potentially exerting adverse effects on the seahorse population since most of them inhabit shallow coastal areas with prevalent estrogenic contaminants.

Temporal evaluation of estrogenic endocrine disruption markers in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) reveals seasonal variability in intersex

A reconnaissance project completed in 2009 identified intersex and elevated plasma vitellogenin in male smallmouth bass inhabiting the Missisquoi River, VT. In an attempt to identify the presence and seasonality of putative endocrine disrupting chemicals or other factors associated with these observations, a comprehensive reevaluation was conducted between September 2012 and June 2014. Here, we collected smallmouth bass from three physically partitioned reaches along the river to measure biomarkers of estrogenic endocrine disruption in smallmouth bass. In addition, polar organic chemical integrative samples (POCIS) were deployed to identify specific chemicals associated with biological observations. We did not observe biological differences across reaches indicating the absence of clear point source contributions to the observation of intersex. Interestingly, intersex prevalence and severity decreased in a stepwise manner over the timespan of the project. Intersex decreased from 92.8% to 28.1%. The only significant predictor of intersex prevalence was year of capture, based on logistic regression analysis. The mixed model of fish length and year-of-capture best predicted intersex severity. Intersex severity was also significantly different across late summer and early spring collections indicating seasonal changes in this metric. Plasma vitellogenin and liver vitellogenin Aa transcript abundance in males did not indicate exposure to estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals at any of the four sample collections. Analysis of chemicals captured by the POCIS as well as results of screening discrete water samples or POCIS extracts did not indicate the contribution of appreciable estrogenic chemicals. It is possible that unreported changes in land-use activity have ameliorated the problem, and our observations indicate recovery. Regardless, this work clearly emphasizes that single, snap shot sampling for intersex may not yield representative data given that the manifestation of this condition within a population can change dramatically over time.

The possible DNA damage induced by environmental organic compounds: The case of Nonylphenol

Human impact on the environment leads to the release of many pollutants that produce artificial compounds, which can have harmful effects on the body's endocrine system; these are known as endocrine disruptors (EDs). Nonylphenol (NP) is a chemical compound with a nonyl group that is attached to a phenol ring. NP-induced H₂AX is a sensitive genotoxic biomarker for detecting possible DNA damage; it also causes male infertility and carcinogenesis. We attempt to comprehensively review all the available evidence about the different ways with descriptive mechanisms for explaining the possible DNA damage that is induced by NP. We systematically searched several databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and gray literature, such as Google Scholar by using medical subheading (MeSH) terms and various combinations of selected keywords from January 1970 to August 2017. The initial search identified 62,737 potentially eligible studies; of these studies, 33 were included according to the established inclusion criteria. Thirty-three selected studies, include the topics of animal model (n = 21), cell line (n = 6), human model (n = 4), microorganisms (n = 1), solid DNA (n = 1), infertility (n = 4), apoptosis (n = 6), and carcinogenesis (n = 3). This review highlighted the possible deleterious effects of NP on DNA damage through the ability to produce ROS/RNS. Finally, it is significant to observe caution at this stage with the continued use of environmental pollutants such as NP, which may induce DNA damage and apoptosis.

Mixture Toxicity of Bensulfuron-Methyl and Acetochlor to Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii): Behavioral, Morphological and Histological Effects

The mixture of bensulfuron-methyl and acetochlor (MBA) has been widely applied as a rice herbicide in China, but the mixture toxicity of MBA to aquatic organisms is largely unknown. The current study aims to investigate the acute effects of MBA to juvenile red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii. Firstly, a 96 h semi-static exposure was conducted to determine the Lethal Concentration 50 (LC₅₀) values at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, as well as to assess the behavioral and morphological effects. A second 96 h exposure was conducted at an MBA concentration of 50% of the 96 h LC₅₀ (72.62 mg/L) to assess the histological changes in the gill, perigastric organ, muscle, heart, stomach, and midgut. The results showed that MBA exhibited low acute toxicity with the 24, 48, 72 and 96 h LC₅₀ values of 191.25 (179.37–215.75), 166.81 (159.49–176.55), 154.30 (148.36–160.59) and 145.24 (138.94–151.27) mg/L, respectively. MBA-exposed crayfish showed body jerk, belly arch, equilibrium loss, body and appendage sway, and lethargy; and the dead crayfish showed dark gray or grayish-white body color and separated cephalothorax and abdomen. At 72.62 mg/L, MBA exposure caused significant histopathological alterations, mainly including the cuticular and epithelial degeneration of all the gills; atrophy of tubule lumina and cellular vacuolation of the perigastric organs (61.15 ± 9.90% of the tubules showed lesions); epithelial hyperplasia (48.40 ± 9.00%), myocardial fibers and epithelial cell lysis (17.30 ± 2.01%), and hemocytic infiltration of the hearts; cuticular swelling (15.82 ± 2.98%) and vacuolate connective tissue (11.30 ± 2.47%) of the stomachs; atrophied bladder cell and fragmented longitudinal muscles (95.23 ± 4.77%) of the midguts; and slight myofibers fragmentation and lysis (7.37 ± 0.53%) of the abdominal muscles. Our results indicate that MBA can cause behavioral, morphological and histopathological effects on juvenile P. clarkii at relatively high concentrations, but its acute toxicity is low compared with many other common herbicides.

Transcriptomic changes underlie altered egg protein production and reduced fecundity in an estuarine model fish exposed to bifenthrin

Pyrethroid pesticides are a class of insecticides found to have endocrine disrupting properties in vertebrates such as fishes and in human cell lines. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are environmental contaminants that mimic or alter the process of hormone signaling. In particular, EDCs that alter estrogen and androgen signaling pathways are of major concern for fishes because these EDCs may alter reproductive physiology, behavior, and ultimately sex ratio. Bifenthrin, a pyrethroid with escalating usage, is confirmed to disrupt estrogen signaling in several species of fish, including Menidia beryllina (inland silverside), an Atherinid recently established as a euryhaline model. Our main objective was to broadly assess the molecular and physiological responses of M. beryllina to the ng/L concentrations of bifenthrin typically found in the environment, with a focus on endocrine-related effects, and to discern links between different tiers of the biological hierarchy. As such, we evaluated the response of juvenile Menidia to bifenthrin using a Menidia-specific microarray, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) on specific endocrine-related genes of interest, and a Menidia-specific ELISA to the egg-coat protein choriogenin, to evaluate a multitude of molecular-level responses that would inform mechanisms of toxicity and any underlying causes of change at higher biological levels of organization. The sublethal nominal concentrations tested (0.5, 5 and 50ng/L) were chosen to represent the range of concentrations observed in the environment and to provide coverage of a variety of potential responses. We then employed a 21-day reproductive assay to evaluate reproductive responses to bifenthrin (at 0.5ng/L) in a separate group of adult M. beryllina. The microarray analysis indicated that bifenthrin influences a diverse suite of molecular pathways, from baseline metabolic processes to carcinogenesis. A more targeted examination of gene expression via qPCR demonstrated that bifenthrin downregulates a number of estrogen-related transcripts, particularly at the lowest exposure level. Choriogenin protein also decreased with exposure to increasing concentrations of bifenthrin, and adult M. beryllina exposed to 0.5ng/L had significantly reduced reproductive output (fertilized eggs per female). This reduction in fecundity is consistent with observed changes in endocrine-related gene expression and choriogenin production. Taken together, our results demonstrate that environmental concentrations of bifenthrin have potential to interfere with metabolic processes, endocrine signaling, and to decrease reproductive output.

Structural changes in female-to-male sex-reversing gonads of Rana RUGOSA

The phenotypic sex of many species of amphibians is subject to reversal by steroid hormones. The mechanism of this process, however, still remains largely unknown. As a step toward understanding the histological changes during sex reversal in amphibians, we analyzed two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) structures of sex-reversing gonads in Rana rugosa frogs. 2D views revealed that many oocytes in the wild-type ovary disappeared during female-to-male sex-reversal concomitant with the emergence of Vasa-positive small germ cells. Some of the germ cells were labeled with BrdU. BrdU-positive germ cells were few in the testosterone (T) treated ovaries at days 8 and 16, which resembled wild-type ovaries. Basement membranes became disrupted by day 24 in T-treated ovaries. However, the membranes were later reconfigured into testis-like gonadal structures 40 days after T treatment. 3D imaging of the sex-reversing gonad using serial immunostained sections showed that germ cells were organized in linear fashion extending out from where the sex-reversing gonad attached to the mesorchium 24 days after T treatment. Germ cells were increased in number by 40 days and were localized to the cortex of the gonads. In a T-untreated testis at day 24, many germ cells were distributed throughout the cortex except in the central space, while the efferent duct ran between two sheets of the mesorchium. These results, taken together, suggest that the mesorchium plays an important role in the organization of testicular structure. This is the first report showing germ cell ontogeny and organization in the female-to-male sex-reversing gonad in a vertebrate species.

Evidence of estrogenic endocrine disruption in smallmouth and largemouth bass inhabiting Northeast U.S. national wildlife refuge waters: A reconnaissance study

Intersex as the manifestation of testicular oocytes (TO) in male gonochoristic fishes has been used as an indicator of estrogenic exposure. Here we evaluated largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) or smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) form 19 National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) in the Northeast U.S. inhabiting waters on or near NWR lands for evidence of estrogenic endocrine disruption. Waterbodies sampled included rivers, lakes, impoundments, ponds, and reservoirs. Here we focus on evidence of endocrine disruption in male bass evidenced by gonad histopathology including intersex or abnormal plasma vitellogenin (Vtg) concentrations. During the fall seasons of 2008-2010, we collected male smallmouth bass (n=118) from 12 sites and largemouth bass (n=173) from 27 sites. Intersex in male smallmouth bass was observed at all sites and ranged from 60% to 100%; in male largemouth bass the range was 0-100%. Estrogenicity, as measured using a bioluminescent yeast reporter, was detected above the probable no effects concentration (0.73ng/L) in ambient water samples from 79% of the NWR sites. Additionally, the presence of androgen receptor and glucocorticoid receptor ligands were noted as measured via novel nuclear receptor translocation assays. Mean plasma Vtg was elevated (>0.2mg/ml) in male smallmouth bass at four sites and in male largemouth bass at one site. This is the first reconnaissance survey of this scope conducted on US National Wildlife Refuges. The baseline data collected here provide a necessary benchmark for future monitoring and justify more comprehensive NWR-specific studies.

Vitellogenin expression in wild cyprinid Petroleuciscus esfahani as a biomarker of endocrine disruption along the Zayandeh Roud River, Iran

Aquatic environments are the ultimate sink for most of anthropogenic pollutants. The Zayandeh Roud River is the most important river in the central Iranian Plateau, supplying water to a large population. In order to determine the potential occurrence and in vivo effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) with estrogenic or anti-androgenic properties we analyzed the wild populations of an extensively distributed endemic fish species, Petroleuciscus esfahani. For this purpose, specimens were caught from two sites upstream and two sites downstream of the expected major anthropogenic pollution sources. P. esfahani full-length cDNAs for vitellogenin (vtg), with 4177 base pairs (bp) encoding a 1339 amino acids (aa), and for β-actin (actb), with 1776 bp encoding a 375 aa, were amplified and cloned. Hepatic vtg mRNA expression levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Condition factor, gonadosomatic index and sex ratio were calculated and compared with vtg expression. Gonad histology was performed to study the possible presence of intersex condition. Detection of vtg transcripts in male individuals from the two downstream sampling sites supports the hypothesis of exposure to EDCs in these regions. Higher vtg expression in male individuals, together with reduced gonad size and condition factor, in specimens from the site located downstream of the major steel mill plant suggest a major endocrine disruption in this area.

EDC-2: The Endocrine Society's Second Scientific Statement on Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals

The Endocrine Society's first Scientific Statement in 2009 provided a wake-up call to the scientific community about how environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) affect health and disease. Five years later, a substantially larger body of literature has solidified our understanding of plausible mechanisms underlying EDC actions and how exposures in animals and humans-especially during development-may lay the foundations for disease later in life. At this point in history, we have much stronger knowledge about how EDCs alter gene-environment interactions via physiological, cellular, molecular, and epigenetic changes, thereby producing effects in exposed individuals as well as their descendants. Causal links between exposure and manifestation of disease are substantiated by experimental animal models and are consistent with correlative epidemiological data in humans. There are several caveats because differences in how experimental animal work is conducted can lead to difficulties in drawing broad conclusions, and we must continue to be cautious about inferring causality in humans. In this second Scientific Statement, we reviewed the literature on a subset of topics for which the translational evidence is strongest: 1) obesity and diabetes; 2) female reproduction; 3) male reproduction; 4) hormone-sensitive cancers in females; 5) prostate; 6) thyroid; and 7) neurodevelopment and neuroendocrine systems. Our inclusion criteria for studies were those conducted predominantly in the past 5 years deemed to be of high quality based on appropriate negative and positive control groups or populations, adequate sample size and experimental design, and mammalian animal studies with exposure levels in a range that was relevant to humans. We also focused on studies using the developmental origins of health and disease model. No report was excluded based on a positive or negative effect of the EDC exposure. The bulk of the results across the board strengthen the evidence for endocrine health-related actions of EDCs. Based on this much more complete understanding of the endocrine principles by which EDCs act, including nonmonotonic dose-responses, low-dose effects, and developmental vulnerability, these findings can be much better translated to human health. Armed with this information, researchers, physicians, and other healthcare providers can guide regulators and policymakers as they make responsible decisions.

Field evidence of reproduction impairment through sperm DNA damage in the fish nase (Chondrostoma nasus) in anthropized hydrosystems

This work aims to explore in the field the relationship between the integrity of sperm DNA and the quality of offspring as a possible cause of the decline of a feral fish population through reproduction impairment. Mature nase (Chondrostoma nasus) were caught during the breeding season in three locations (A-C) of the Rhône River basin and gametes collected by stripping. Sampling locations were chosen according to the following gradient of contamination due to human activities on the watershed: A≤B<C. Samples of a pool of collected oocytes were fertilized with the sperm of individual males and then incubated individually back in the lab to study embryo-larval development as well as using sperm samples to assess DNA integrity. Genetic analysis clearly showed the absence of a difference in genetic structure between the three studied C. nasus populations from the Rhône basin. Sperm DNA integrity was significantly lower in males from station C compared to other ones while sperm biochemical characteristics and fertilization rate remained almost unchanged whatever the station. Mortality and abnormality rates measured at both hatching and at the end of yolk sac resorption stages followed the same trend as the sperm DNA damage, demonstrating an impact of river water quality on nase fitness through a loss of sperm DNA integrity. Since the level of both abnormalities and mortality measured in offspring of fish caught in the most contaminated area reached high values up to 15% and 80%, respectively, the hypothesis that the observed nase decline in Rhône River stemming through selection forces can be put forward.

Steroids in teleost fishes: A functional point of view

Steroid hormones are involved in the regulation of a variety of processes like embryonic development, sex differentiation, metabolism, immune responses, circadian rhythms, stress response, and reproduction in vertebrates. Teleost fishes and humans show a remarkable conservation in many developmental and physiological aspects, including the endocrine system in general and the steroid hormone related processes in particular. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge about steroid hormone biosynthesis and the steroid hormone receptors in teleost fishes and compares the findings to the human system. The impact of the duplicated genome in teleost fishes on steroid hormone biosynthesis and perception is addressed. Additionally, important processes in fish physiology regulated by steroid hormones, which are most dissimilar to humans, are described. We also give a short overview on the influence of anthropogenic endocrine disrupting compounds on steroid hormone signaling and the resulting adverse physiological effects for teleost fishes. By this approach, we show that the steroidogenesis, hormone receptors, and function of the steroid hormones are reasonably well understood when summarizing the available data of all teleost species analyzed to date. However, on the level of a single species or a certain fish-specific aspect of physiology, further research is needed.

ECOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SEX REVERSAL OF FISH

Environmental sex reversal (ESR), which results in a mismatch between genotypic and phenotypic sex, is well documented in numerous fish species and may be induced by chemical exposure. Historically, research involving piscine ESR has been carried out with a view to improving profitability in aquaculture or to elucidate the processes governing sex determination and sexual differentiation. However, recent studies in evolution and ecology suggest research on ESR now has much wider applications and ramifications. We begin with an overview of ESR in fish and a brief review of the traditional applications thereof. We then discuss ESR and its potential demographic consequences in wild populations. Theory even suggests sex-reversed fish may be purposefully released to manipulate population dynamics. We suggest new research directions that may prove fruitful in understanding how ESR at the individual level translates to population-level processes. In the latter portion of the review we focus on evolutionary applications of ESR. Sex-reversal studies from the aquaculture literature provide insight in to the evolvability of determinants of sexual phenotype. Additionally, induced sex reversal can provide information about the evolution of sex chromosomes and sex-linked traits. Recently, naturally occurring ESR has been implicated as a mechanism contributing to the evolution of sex chromosomes.

Juvenile exposure to vinclozolin shifts sex ratios and impairs reproductive capacity of zebrafish

Exposure to endocrine disruptors during critical periods of development can impact the sustainability of wild fish populations. Anti-androgenic compounds have received less attention, but are capable of modulating gonad differentiation and maturation, and impairing reproduction in fish. The fungicide vinclozolin (VZ) has been shown to impair reproduction in adult fish, but less is known about its effects following exposure earlier in development. Here we show that waterborne exposure to 400μg VZ/L during critical periods of sex differentiation (21-35 days post fertilization) permanently shifts sex ratios towards females, and alters the maturation of the gonad. Both fecundity and fertility were reduced, even when oogenesis and spermatogenesis recover and sperm motility is not altered. These results demonstrate the need to better understand the impacts of early exposure to anti-androgenic compounds on fish.

Altered levels of endocrine biomarkers in juvenile barramundi (Lates calcarifer; Bloch) following exposure to commercial herbicide and surfactant formulations

Agricultural pesticides that are known endocrine disrupting chemicals have been detected in waters in the Great Barrier Reef catchment and lagoon. Altered transcription levels of liver vitellogenin (vtg) have been documented in wild populations of 2 Great Barrier Reef fisheries species and were strongly associated with pesticide-containing runoff from sugarcane plantations. The present study examined endocrine and physiological biomarkers in juvenile barramundi (Lates calcarifer) exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of commercial herbicide (ATRADEX(®) WG Herbicide, DIUREX(®) WG Herbicide) and surfactant (ACTIVATOR(®) 90) formulations commonly used on sugarcane in the Great Barrier Reef catchment. Estrogenic biomarkers (namely, liver vtg messenger RNA and plasma 17β-estradiol) increased following exposure to commercial mixtures but not to the analytical grade chemical, suggesting an estrogenic response to the additives. In contrast, brain aromatase (cyp19a1b) transcription levels, plasma testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone concentrations, and gill ventilation rates were not affected by any of the experimental exposures. These findings support the assertion that exposure to pesticide-containing runoff from sugarcane plantations is a potential causative agent of altered liver vtg transcription levels in wild barramundi. Whether exposure patterns in the Great Barrier Reef catchment and lagoon are sufficient to impair fish sexual and reproductive development and ultimately influence fish population dynamics remains to be determined. These findings highlight the need to consider both active and so-called inert ingredients in commercial pesticide formulations for environmental risk assessments.

The role of P450 metabolism in the estrogenic activity of bifenthrin in fish

Bifenthrin, a pyrethroid pesticide, is estrogenic in vivo in fishes. However, bifenthrin is documented to be anti-estrogenic in vitro, in the ER-CALUX (estrogen receptor) cell line. We investigated whether metabolite formation is the reason for this incongruity. We exposed Menidia beryllina (inland silversides) to 10ng/l bifenthrin, 10ng/l 4-hydroxy bifenthrin, and 10ng/l bifenthrin with 25μg/l piperonyl butoxide (PBO) - a P450 inhibitor. Metabolite-exposed juveniles had significantly higher estrogen-mediated protein levels (choriogenin) than bifenthrin/PBO-exposed, while bifenthrin alone was intermediate (not significantly different from either). This suggests that metabolites are the main contributors to bifenthrin's in vivo estrogenicity.

The evolutionary consequences of disrupted male mating signals: an agent-based modelling exploration of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the guppy

Females may select a mate based on signalling traits that are believed to accurately correlate with heritable aspects of male quality. Anthropogenic actions, in particular chemicals released into the environment, are now disrupting the accuracy of mating signals to convey information about male quality. The long-term prediction for disrupted mating signals is most commonly loss of female preference. Yet, this prediction has rarely been tested using quantitative models. We use agent-based models to explore the effects of rapid disruption of mating signals. In our model, a gene determines survival. Males signal their level of genetic quality via a signal trait, which females use to select a mate. We allowed this system of sexual selection to become established, before introducing a disruption between the male signal trait and quality, which was similar in nature to that induced by exogenous chemicals. Finally, we assessed the capacity of the system to recover from this disruption. We found that within a relatively short time frame, disruption of mating signals led to a lasting loss of female preference. Decreases in mean viability at the population-level were also observed, because sexual-selection acting against newly arising deleterious mutations was relaxed. The ability of the population to recover from disrupted mating signals was strongly influenced by the mechanisms that promoted or maintained genetic diversity in traits under sexual selection. Our simple model demonstrates that environmental perturbations to the accuracy of male mating signals can result in a long-term loss of female preference for those signals within a few generations. What is more, the loss of this preference can have knock-on consequences for mean population fitness.

Chronic exposure of killifish to a highly polluted environment desensitizes estrogen-responsive reproductive and biomarker genes

Reproductive and endocrine disruption is commonly reported in aquatic species exposed to complex contaminant mixtures. We previously reported that Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) from the chronically contaminated Newark Bay, NJ, exhibit multiple endocrine disrupting effects, including inhibition of vitellogenesis (yolk protein synthesis) in females and false negative vitellogenin biomarker responses in males. Here, we characterized the effects on estrogen signaling and the transcriptional regulation of estrogen-responsive genes in this model population. First, a dose-response study tested the hypothesis that reproductive biomarkers (vtg1, vtg2, chg H, chg Hm, chg L) in Newark Bay killifish are relatively less sensitive to 17β-estradiol at the transcriptional level, relative to a reference (Tuckerton, NJ) population. The second study assessed expression for various metabolism (cyp1a, cyp3a30, mdr) and estrogen receptor (ER α, ER βa, ER βb) genes under basal and estrogen treatment conditions in both populations. Hepatic metabolism of 17β-estradiol was also evaluated in vitro as an integrated endpoint for adverse effects on metabolism. In the third study, gene methylation was evaluated for promoters of vtg1 (8 CpGs) and vtg2 (10 CpGs) in both populations, and vtg1 promoter sequences were examined for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs). Overall, these studies show that multi-chemical exposures at Newark Bay have desensitized all reproductive biomarkers tested to estrogen. For example, at 10ng/g 17β-estradiol, inhibition of gene induction ranged from 62% to 97% for all genes tested in the Newark Bay population, relative to induction levels in the reference population. The basis for this recalcitrant phenotype could not be explained by a change in 17β-estradiol metabolism, nuclear estrogen receptor expression, promoter methylation (gene silencing) or SNPs, all of which were unaltered and normal in the Newark Bay population. The decreased transcriptional sensitivity of estrogen-responsive genes is suggestive of a broad effect on estrogen receptor pathway signaling, and provides insight into the mechanisms of the endocrine disrupting effects in the Newark Bay population.

Benzo[a]pyrene effects on reproductive endpoints in Fundulus heteroclitus

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) that has been implicated in modulating aromatase enzyme function with the potential to interrupt normal reproductive function. The aim of this study was to use a fish model, Fundulus heteroclitus, to assess whether BaP exposure adversely impacts reproduction. Adult fish were exposed to waterborne BaP nominal concentrations of (0, 1, or 10 μg/l) for 28 days. Males and females were combined for the second half of the exposure (days 14-28) in order to quantitate egg production and fertilization success. Egg fertilization and subsequent hatching success of F1 embryos was significantly decreased by the high dose of BaP. In males, both gonad weight and plasma testosterone concentrations were significantly reduced compared to controls by 10 μg/l BaP. Histopathological examination of testes including spermatogonia, spermatocyte and spermatid cyst areas, percentage of cysts per phase, and area of spermatozoa per seminiferous tubule were not significantly affected. Other biomarkers, including male liver weight, liver vitellogenin (vtg) mRNA expression and sperm concentrations, were also not affected. In females, estradiol concentrations were significantly reduced after BaP exposure, but egg production, gonad weight, liver weight, vtg expression and oocyte maturation were not altered. Steroid concentrations in Fundulus larvae from exposed parents at 1 and 3 weeks posthatch were not significantly changed. BaP exposure at these environmentally relevant concentrations caused negative alterations particularly in male fish to both biochemical and phenotypic biomarkers associated with reproduction and multigenerational embryo survival.

A rapid screening test for endocrine disrupting chemicals using primary cell culture of the marine medaka

While endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) pose a significant threat to wildlife worldwide, their diverse chemical structures present a major challenge to their detection, particularly since they are present at very low concentrations in the environment. We here report the development of an in vitro system for rapid screening of EDCs, using primary cell cultures (pituitary, ovarian follicular and testicular cells) of the marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma). Pituitary, testis and ovary cell cultures were developed and challenged by environmentally relevant concentrations of three well known EDCs (viz. estradiol, 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether, and 4-n-nonylphenol) as well as hypoxia (which has been shown to be a potent endocrine disruptor). In general, the mRNA expression levels of gonadotropins, their receptors and steroidogenic enzymes exhibited dose response relationships to the four endocrine disruptors in different tissues. The sensitivity and responses were also comparable to in vivo responses of whole fish and in vitro responses of the H295R human adrenocortical cell line. Our results suggest that the use of marine medaka primary cultured cells can serve as a cost effective tool for rapid screening of EDCs in the marine environment, and at the same time, sheds light on the underlying mechanisms of EDCs by deciphering their specific target sites along the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis of vertebrates.

From 'omics to otoliths: responses of an estuarine fish to endocrine disrupting compounds across biological scales

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) cause physiological abnormalities and population decline in fishes. However, few studies have linked environmental EDC exposures with responses at multiple tiers of the biological hierarchy, including population-level effects. To this end, we undertook a four-tiered investigation in the impacted San Francisco Bay estuary with the Mississippi silverside (Menidia audens), a small pelagic fish. This approach demonstrated links between different EDC sources and fish responses at different levels of biological organization. First we determined that water from a study site primarily impacted by ranch run-off had only estrogenic activity in vitro, while water sampled from a site receiving a combination of urban, limited ranch run-off, and treated wastewater effluent had both estrogenic and androgenic activity. Secondly, at the molecular level we found that fish had higher mRNA levels for estrogen-responsive genes at the site where only estrogenic activity was detected but relatively lower expression levels where both estrogenic and androgenic EDCs were detected. Thirdly, at the organism level, males at the site exposed to both estrogens and androgens had significantly lower mean gonadal somatic indices, significantly higher incidence of severe testicular necrosis and altered somatic growth relative to the site where only estrogens were detected. Finally, at the population level, the sex ratio was significantly skewed towards males at the site with measured androgenic and estrogenic activity. Our results suggest that mixtures of androgenic and estrogenic EDCs have antagonistic and potentially additive effects depending on the biological scale being assessed, and that mixtures containing androgens and estrogens may produce unexpected effects. In summary, evaluating EDC response at multiple tiers is necessary to determine the source of disruption (lowest scale, i.e. cell line) and what the ecological impact will be (largest scale, i.e. sex ratio).

The effects of the urea-based herbicide linuron on reproductive endpoints in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)

Linuron is a widely used urea-based herbicide that has anti-androgenic activity in both fish and rodents. To further elucidate the potential mode of action (MOA) of linuron on the vertebrate endocrine system, adult male and female fathead minnows were exposed for 21 days to dechlorinated water, a solvent control, 17β-estradiol (E2; 0.1 μg/L), dihydrotestosterone (DHT; 100 μg/L), linuron (1, 10, 100 μg/L) and one co-treatment of DHT (100 μg/L) and linuron (100 μg/L). There were no effects of linuron on egg hatching, 7 day egg survival, nuptial tubercle formation or gonadal histopathology. Administration of DHT and 1 and 100 μg/L linuron reduced plasma vitellogenin in females, while male plasma vitellogenin were induced after E2 exposure and co-exposure of DHT and linuron. Ovarian mRNA levels were examined for several genes involved in steroidogenesis (e.g. p450scc, cyp19a, star, tspo, hsd17b and hsd11b) and estrogen-mediated responses (esr1, esr2b, esr2a). Only p450scc mRNA was significantly decreased with DHT+linuron co-treatment. Clustering of steroidogenic mRNA transcript expression patterns revealed that patterns for linuron were more similar to E2 compared to DHT. Collectively, this study supports the hypothesis that linuron may not be a pure anti-androgen and may have multiple MOAs that affect vertebrate reproduction.

Alteration of immune function endpoints and differential expression of estrogen receptor isoforms in leukocytes from 17β-estradiol exposed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

While the endocrine system is known to modulate immune function in vertebrates, the role of 17β-estradiol (E2) in cellular immune function of teleosts is poorly understood. The cellular and molecular responses of juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to E2 treatment were evaluated by exposing fish to 0.47±0.02μg/L E2 (mean±SEM) for either 2 or 7d, with a subsequent 14d recovery period. After 2 and 7d of exposure to E2, hematocrit was significantly lower than in control fish. Lipopolysaccharide-induced lymphocyte proliferation was elevated on day 2 and concanavalin A-induced lymphocyte proliferation was reduced following 7d of E2 exposure. Four estrogen receptor (ER) transcripts were identified in purified trout head kidney leukocytes (HKL) and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL). While the mRNA abundance of ERβ1 and ERβ2 was unaffected by treatment, ERα1 was up-regulated in HKL and PBL following 7d of E2 exposure. ERα2 was up-regulated in HKL after 7d of E2 exposure, but down-regulated in PBL after 2 and 7d of treatment. All parameters that were altered during the E2 exposure period returned to baseline levels following the recovery period. This study reports the presence of the full repertoire of ERs in purified HKL for the first time, and demonstrates that ERα transcript abundance in leukocytes can be regulated by waterborne E2 exposure. It also demonstrated that physiologically-relevant concentrations of E2 can modulate several immune functions in salmonids, which may have widespread implications for xenoestrogen-associated immunotoxicity in feral fish populations inhabiting contaminated aquatic environments.

The in vivo estrogenic and in vitro anti-estrogenic activity of permethrin and bifenthrin

Pyrethroids are highly toxic to fish at parts per billion or parts per trillion concentrations. Their intended mechanism is prolonged sodium channel opening, but recent studies reveal that pyrethroids such as permethrin and bifenthrin also have endocrine activity. Additionally, metabolites may have greater endocrine activity than parent compounds. The authors evaluated the in vivo concentration-dependent ability of bifenthrin and permethrin to induce choriogenin (an estrogen-responsive protein) in Menidia beryllina, a fish species known to reside in pyrethroid-contaminated aquatic habitats. The authors then compared the in vivo response with an in vitro assay--chemical activated luciferase gene expression (CALUX). Juvenile M. beryllina exposed to bifenthrin (1, 10, 100 ng/L), permethrin (0.1, 1, 10 µg/L), and ethinylestradiol (1, 10, 50 ng/L) had significantly higher ng/mL choriogenin (Chg) measured in whole body homogenate than controls. Though Chg expression in fish exposed to ethinylestradiol (EE2) exhibited a traditional sigmoidal concentration response, curves fit to Chg expressed in fish exposed to pyrethroids suggest a unimodal response, decreasing slightly as concentration increases. Whereas the in vivo response indicated that bifenthrin and permethrin or their metabolites act as estrogen agonists, the CALUX assay demonstrated estrogen antagonism by the pyrethroids. The results, supported by evidence from previous studies, suggest that bifenthrin and permethrin, or their metabolites, appear to act as estrogen receptor (ER) agonists in vivo, and that the unmetabolized pyrethroids, particularly bifenthrin, act as an ER antagonists in cultured mammalian cells.

Evaluation of reproductive endocrine status in hornyhead turbot sampled from Southern California's urbanized coastal environments

As part of a regionwide collaboration to determine the occurrence of contaminants and biological effects in coastal ecosystems offshore of urban southern California, the present study characterized the reproductive endocrinology of an indigenous flatfish, the hornyhead turbot (Pleuronichthys verticalis), and compared groups sampled from different study sites representing varying degrees of pollution to screen for potential endocrine disruptive effects. Turbot were sampled from locations near the coastal discharge sites of four large municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located between Los Angeles and San Diego, California, USA, and were compared with fish sampled from three far-field reference locations in the region. Despite environmental presence of both legacy contaminants and contaminants of emerging concern and evidence for fish exposure to several classes of contaminants, both males and females generally exhibited coordinated seasonal reproductive cycles at all study sites. Patterns observed included peaks in sex steroids (17β-estradiol, testosterone, 11-ketotestosterone) in the spring and low levels in the fall, changes corresponding to similarly timed gonadal changes and plasma vitellogenin concentrations in females. Comparisons between fish captured at the different study sites demonstrated some regional differences in plasma levels of estrogens and androgens, indicative of location-associated effects on the endocrine system. The observed differences, however, could not be linked to the ocean discharge locations of four of the largest WWTPs in the world.

Toxicity of atrazine and nonylphenol in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): effects on general health, disease susceptibility and gene expression

Atrazine (ATZ) and nonylphenol (NP) are commonly identified contaminants in aquatic habitats; however, few studies have considered the impact of these endocrine disrupters on immune function and resistance to disease. This study examined the immunotoxicological effects of ATZ and NP at multiple levels of biological organization. Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed to a solvent control (0.00625%, v/v anhydrous ethanol), or sub-lethal concentrations of ATZ (59 μg/L and 555 μg/L) or NP (2.3 μg/L or 18 μg/L) for 4d. At the end of exposure, fish were assessed for a number of physiological endpoints, including a host resistance challenge, and liver gene expression was assessed using a salmonid microarray (cGRASP, 32K version 1). While the low ATZ and low NP treatments had no measurable effects on the physiological endpoints measured, fish exposed to the high ATZ concentration (555 μg/L) exhibited significantly elevated plasma cortisol, a decrease in SSI, and decreased lymphocytes and increased monocytes in peripheral blood, with suppression of early immune system processes apparent at the molecular level. In contrast, fish exposed to the high NP concentration (18 μg/L) showed physiological (e.g. significantly elevated LSI) and gene expression changes (e.g. induction of vitellogenin) consistent with estrogenic effects, as well as decreased lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and more limited alterations in immune system related pathways in the liver transcriptome. Fish exposed to high ATZ or NP concentrations incurred higher mortality than control fish following a disease challenge with Listonella anguillarum, while fish exposed to the lower concentrations were unaffected. Microarray analysis of the liver transcriptome revealed a total of 211 unique, annotated differentially regulated genes (DRGs) following high ATZ exposure and 299 DRGs following high NP exposure. Functional (enrichment) analysis revealed effects on immune system function, metabolism, oxygen homeostasis, cell cycle, DNA damage, and other processes affected by ATZ or NP exposure. Overall, this study provides evidence at multiple levels of biological organization that both ATZ and NP are immunotoxic at sub-lethal concentrations and highlights the potential risk posed by these chemicals to wild fish populations.

Effect-based tools for monitoring and predicting the ecotoxicological effects of chemicals in the aquatic environment

Ecotoxicology faces the challenge of assessing and predicting the effects of an increasing number of chemical stressors on aquatic species and ecosystems. Herein we review currently applied tools in ecological risk assessment, combining information on exposure with expected biological effects or environmental water quality standards; currently applied effect-based tools are presented based on whether exposure occurs in a controlled laboratory environment or in the field. With increasing ecological relevance the reproducibility, specificity and thus suitability for standardisation of methods tends to diminish. We discuss the use of biomarkers in ecotoxicology including ecotoxicogenomics-based endpoints, which are becoming increasingly important for the detection of sublethal effects. Carefully selected sets of biomarkers allow an assessment of exposure to and effects of toxic chemicals, as well as the health status of organisms and, when combined with chemical analysis, identification of toxicant(s). The promising concept of “adverse outcome pathways (AOP)” links mechanistic responses on the cellular level with whole organism, population, community and potentially ecosystem effects and services. For most toxic mechanisms, however, practical application of AOPs will require more information and the identification of key links between responses, as well as key indicators, at different levels of biological organization, ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services.

Reconstitution studies of pesticides and surfactants exploring the cause of estrogenic activity observed in surface waters of the San Francisco Bay Delta

To evaluate the potential role of endocrine disruption in the decline of pelagic fishes in the San Francisco Bay Delta of California, various surface water samples were collected, extracted, and found to elicit estrogenic activity in laboratory fish. Chemical analysis of the estrogenic samples indicated 2 pesticides (bifenthrin, diuron), 2 alkyphenols (AP), and mixtures of 2 types of alkyphenol polyethoxylates (APEOs). Evaluation of estrogenic activity was further characterized by in vitro bioassays using rainbow trout hepatocytes (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and in vivo studies with Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). In the in vitro bioassays, hepatocytes exposed to the pesticides alone or in combination with the AP/APEO mixtures at concentrations observed in surface waters failed to show estrogenic activity (induction of vitelloginin mRNA). In the in vivo bioassays, medaka exposed to individual pesticides or to AP/APEO alone did not have elevated VTG at ambient concentrations. However, when the pesticides were combined with AP/APEOs in the 7-day exposure a significant increase in VTG was observed. Exposure to a 5-fold higher concentration of the AP/APEO mixture alone also significantly induced VTG. In contrast to earlier studies with permethrin, biotransformation of bifenthrin to estrogenic metabolites was not observed in medaka liver microsomes and cytochrome P450 was not induced with AP/APEO treatment. These results showed that mixtures of pesticides with significantly different modes of action and AP/APEOs at environmentally relevant concentrations may be associated with estrogenic activity measured in water extracts and feral fish that have been shown to be in population decline in the San Francisco Bay Delta.

Antiandrogenic activity of humic substances

For long, natural organic matter (NOM) composed mainly of humic substances (HS) were regarded as inert in the ecosystems with respect to their possible chemical interaction with exposed organisms. However recently, NOM have been shown to elicit various adverse effects generally attributed to synthetic xenobiotics, including estrogenic effects translating into shifts of the gender ratios in populations. However, the anti/androgenic pathway was not yet evaluated. Here, we applied an anti/androgenic sensitive cell line MDA stably transfected with the firefly luciferase gene under transcriptional control of the androgen responsive element. With five out of twelve tested NOM preparations, particularly with soil and coal isolates, we identified a relatively high, concentration-dependent antiandrogenic effect. This appears to be the first study to show this endocrine disrupting pathway for a ubiquitous biogeochemical matrix, a potential activity which should not be neglected in forthcoming studies on synthetic endocrine disruptors in the environment.

Molecular cloning and characterization of estrogen receptor gene in the scallop Chlamys farreri: expression profiles in response to endocrine disrupting chemicals

In order to gain insights into the mechanism of sex steroid signaling in molluscs, the full-length cDNA of estrogen receptor (ER) was isolated and characterized from Chlamys farreri for the first time. The positions of cysteine residues and other residues around them that constitute the two zinc finger motifs and the P-box are conserved. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the CfER is an ortholog of the other mollusk ERs. Tissue distribution analysis of the CfER mRNA revealed that the expression of ER mRNA was observed in various tissues, and highest in the gonad of males and females. C. farreri were exposed for 10 days to endocrine disrupting chemicals including Benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)p) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE-47). B(a)p exposure at 0.4 and 2 μg/L caused significant increase in mRNA expression of ER and VTG, but B(a)p at 10 μg/L down-regulated CfER and VTG mRNA expression compared to control. Varying increase of ER and VTG mRNA transcripts was resulted in by BDE-47 at 0.1, 1 and 10 μg/L. These results elucidate potential roles of CfER induced by xenobiotics in C. farreri and can be helpful for investigating the mechanism of sex steroid signaling in bivalve mollusks.

The effects of an in vitro exposure to 17β-estradiol and nonylphenol on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) peripheral blood leukocytes

While xenoestrogens are routinely detected in the aquatic environment, there is little understanding of the immunotoxicological consequences of exposure to these chemicals in fish, or of the mechanisms through which these effects are mediated. This study was conducted to determine if estrogen receptors (ERs) are present in fish leukocytes and to characterize the effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) and the xenoestrogen nonylphenol (NP) on immune system endpoints in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Q-PCR was used to confirm that freshly isolated peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) express ERs. Following 96-h incubations with E2 or NP (1 nM to 10 μM), PBL ER transcription was again examined using Q-PCR and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated proliferation was assessed using flow cytometry. While the transcription of all four forms of rainbow trout ER was unaffected by treatment with E2 or NP, transcription of ERα1 and ERα2 was down-regulated following LPS stimulation. Both E2 and NP, at concentrations of ≥100 nM and 10nM respectively, suppressed leukocyte proliferation. This first report of ERs in rainbow trout PBLs suggests a mechanism through with E2 and other xenoestrogens can modulate immune function. These results highlight the potential for xenoestrogens to impact host resistance to pathogens in wild fish populations.

Fundulus heteroclitus: ovarian reproductive physiology and the impact of environmental contaminants

Fundulus heteroclitus, the mummichog or Atlantic killifish, is the dominant small-bodied fish species of the east coast estuaries and salt marshes of Canada and the USA, where it is present as two subspecies, the northern F. h. macrolepidotus and the southern F. h. heteroclitus. Recently identified as the premier teleost model in environmental biology, the species has long been of value in understanding evolved tolerance to toxicants and more lately in adding to our knowledge about reproductive effects of environmental endocrine disruptors. The body of literature on F. heteroclitus ovarian physiology and reproduction, from both field and laboratory studies, provides the foundation for present work focused on understanding the reproductive effects and modes of action of environmental toxicants. In this paper, we review the environmental and endocrine factors controlling ovarian and reproductive cycling in F. heteroclitus, noting specifics related to field and laboratory studies on the two subspecies as well as key research gaps compared to other fish species. We also summarize recent development of methodologies to study the effects of environmental contaminants on endocrine signalling and egg production in F. heteroclitus. Continued efforts to progress both our fundamental understanding of reproductive physiology in mummichog, coupled with studies focused on the modes of action of environmental contaminants, have high potential to further develop this teleost model. While the model may presently lag behind those based on other species of fish, the unique biochemical and physiological adaptations which allow F. heteroclitus to adapt to changing environmental and toxic conditions provide a valuable experimental system for comparative physiologists, ecotoxicologists and evolutionary biologists.

Rapid-behaviour responses as a reliable indicator of estrogenic chemical toxicity in zebrafish juveniles

Whereas biochemical and molecular parameters have been well recognised as important "signposts" of individual disturbance to endocrine disrupting chemical's (EDCs) exposure, behavioural endpoints are yet greatly overlooked as a routine tool in environmental risk assessment of EDCs. However, life histories are intimately associated with numerous inter- and intra-specific interactions, which invariably depend on the performance of effective behaviours. Within fish species, one of the most important factors influencing energy turnover earlier in the development is locomotor activity. This essential trait reflects the organism's ability to generate and coordinate the metabolic energy required for both reproductive and non-reproductive behaviours. Inappropriate movement responses due to toxic effects of contaminants may ultimately impact important ecological variables. Therefore, in the present study, the swimming bursts of zebrafish juveniles exposed for 40 d to the synthetic estrogen ethinylestradiol (EE(2)), tested at environmentally relevant concentrations (nominal concentrations of 0.5, 1 and 2 ng L(-1)), were investigated in order to address the potential of rapid-behaviour patterns as an effective response indicator of estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemical's exposure. This synthetic estrogen was selected due to its high prevalence in aquatic ecosystems, ability to mimic natural estrogens and proven record of causing negative effects in fish reproduction. The behavioural responses were compared with established endpoints used in the screening of EE(2) effects at adulthood. Results indicate that zebrafish juveniles' swimming activity was significantly decreased upon EE(2) exposure. Since reduced locomotion of zebrafish may impact foraging, predator avoidance, drift and transport, and even interfere with social and reproductive behaviours, a fitness decline of wild fish populations can ultimately be hypothesized. Furthermore, behavioural endpoints were found to display higher sensitivity to EE(2) than either vitellogenin gene induction or reproductive parameters determined at adulthood. Overall, the findings of this work not only demonstrate the power of high-throughput behavioural responses, able to act as sensitive early warning signals of EDC exposure, but also highlight the potential of behavioural endpoints in providing a more comprehensive and non-invasive measure of EDC's exposure.

Decreased vitellogenin inducibility and 17β-estradiol levels correlated with reduced egg production in killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) from Newark Bay, NJ

Aquatic species inhabiting polluted estuaries are exposed to complex mixtures of xenobiotics which can alter normal reproduction. We previously reported that female Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) from the highly contaminated Newark Bay, NJ (USA) exhibited an inhibition of oocyte development due to reduced vitellogenin (egg-yolk precursor) levels. Our hypothesis was that the inhibition of oocyte development in Newark Bay killifish is due to (1) deficient levels of circulating 17β-estradiol, and (2) a decreased sensitivity of the vitellogenin pathway to physiological doses of 17β-estradiol. In the first study, adult naïve killifish from Tuckerton, NJ (reference) were caged at Tuckerton and Newark Bay. After 1 month, males caged at Newark Bay exhibited inductions of hepatic vitellogenin and estrogen receptor α, which were transient and returned to basal levels after 2 months (p≤0.05). In the second study, fecundity and 17β-estradiol levels were measured in reproductively active adult females from Tuckerton and Newark Bay. Tuckerton females produced 140 eggs per female and Newark Bay females produced 11 eggs per female. Embryos from Newark Bay had 34% greater mortality and 28% less hatch, relative to Tuckerton. In addition, embryo mass and yolk-volume of Newark Bay embryos compared to Tuckerton embryos was 16% and 25% lower, respectively. Circulating 17β-estradiol levels in Newark Bay females (0.26 ng/mL) were measured to be 8-fold lower than Tuckerton females (2.25 ng/mL). In the third study, adult killifish from both sites were dosed with 17β-estradiol to assess the sensitivity of the vitellogenin pathway. At doses of 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 ng/g body weight, induction levels of circulating vitellogenin in Newark Bay males were significantly inhibited by 97, 99, 98 and 44%, respectively, compared to Tuckerton males. At doses of 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 ng/g body weight, induction levels of circulating vitellogenin in Newark Bay females were inhibited by 89, 79, 61, 40 and 30%, respectively, compared to Tuckerton females. These differences in inducibility could not be explained by altered hepatic expression of estrogen receptors α, βa or βb. Based on the caged and dose-response studies, contaminants that down-regulate vitellogenin would interfere with its ability to be used as a biomarker for xeno-estrogen exposures. These studies demonstrate that contaminants within Newark Bay exert both estrogenic and anti-estrogenic responses which results in an overtly anti-estrogenic phenotype (reduced egg production due to inhibition of vitellogenesis).

Molecular characterization of estrogen receptor genes in Gobiocypris rarus and their expression upon endocrine disrupting chemicals exposure in juveniles

Estrogens play an important role in many physiological processes of vertebrates, mediated by estrogen receptors (ERs). The full length of the cDNAs for ERα, ERβ1, and ERβ2 were isolated and characterized from Gobiocypris rarus. G. rarus ERs shared the highest amino acid identities with counterparts of three cyprinidae species (Pimephales promelas ERα: 91.1%, Rutilus rutilus ERβ1: 92.9%, Tanichthy albonubes ERβ2: 93.5%). The phylogenic tree of vertebrate ERs indicates G. rarus ER isoforms are more related to counterparts of cyprinidae species. The expression of ERα mRNA was high in gonad and liver. The ERβ1 transcript was the highest in the liver of female fish and was evenly high in the liver, testis and intestine in male. The ERβ2 transcript was high in liver, gonad, and intestine. G. rarus juvenile at 34 days post fertilization were exposed for 3 days to endocrine disrupting chemicals including 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2), 4-nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA). ER mRNA expression following the xenoestrogens' exposure was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. EE2 exposure at 0.01, 0.1 and 1 nM significantly up-regulated ERα transcript. ERβ1 mRNA expression was suppressed by EE2 at all concentrations. However ERβ2 transcript had opposite response to EE2 at low and high concentrations (up-regulation at 0.1 nM, down-regulation at 1 nM). Except a weak increase of ERα at 10 nM EE2, varying decrease of three ER transcripts was resulted in by NP at 10, 100 and 1000 nM. ERα transcript was significantly up-regulated by BPA at 10 nM. A non-significant weak increase in ERβ1 mRNA expression was caused by 1 nM BPA. However 1 nM and 10 nM BPA exposures resulted in significant and non-significant decrease of ERβ2 transcript, respectively. The BPA exposures at other concentrations almost had no effect on the ER transcripts. Vitellogenin (Vtg) mRNA expression profiling following exposure to three xenoestrogens indicated that Vtg transcript is a sensitive biomarker of the juvenile G. rarus at 34 dpf to the EDCs, especially to EE2. These results combined suggest that the ER genes are not modulated in the same manner by EE2, NP, and BPA and that ERs may not contribute equally to the transcriptional regulation of genes involved in fish development and reproduction.

Determination of naturally occurring progestogens in bovine milk as their oxime derivatives using high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry

BACKGROUND

Hormones and hormone-like substances which are present in the environment have been repeatedly accused of being the cause of most endocrine disruption. However, the possible role of endogenous hormones in food of animal origin deserves to be discussed as well. The relation between steroid hormones and several human health problems has been previously reported, such as prostate and breast cancer, perturbation of human reproduction and endocrine disruption on humans and wildlife. This research is particularly concerned with cow's milk, which contains a considerable amount of sex hormones.

RESULTS

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed for the simultaneous detection and quantification of four naturally occurring steroid hormones in commercial bovine milk (pregnenolone (P5), progesterone (P4), 17-hydroxypregnenolone (17-OHP5), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (P4)). Oxime derivatives of steroids were analyzed in positive ionization and multiple reaction monitoring mode. Methodology has been validated according to Decision 2002/657/EC criteria.

CONCLUSION

This method has been successfully used in real samples. It is fast and easy-handling and provides a useful tool for the assessment of progestogens in bovine milk.

Functional behavior and reproduction in androgenic sex reversed zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals released into natural watercourses may cause biased sex ratios by sex reversal in fish populations. The present study investigated the androgenic sex reversal of zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to the androgenic compound 17beta-trenbolone (TB) and whether sex-changed females would revert to the female phenotype after cessation of TB exposure. 17beta-Trenbolone is a metabolite of trenbolone acetate, an anabolic steroid used as a growth promoter in beef cattle. 17beta-Trenbolone in runoff from cattle feedlots may reach concentrations that affect fish sexual development. Zebrafish were exposed to a concentration of 20 ng/L TB in a flow-through system for five months from egg until sexual maturity. This resulted in an all-male population. It was further found that all these phenotypic males displayed normal male courtship behavior and were able to reproduce successfully, implying that the sex reversal was complete and functional. None of the phenotypic males developed into females after six months in clean water, demonstrating that androgenic sex reversal of zebrafish is irreversible.

Alterations in the developing testis transcriptome following embryonic vinclozolin exposure

The current study investigates the direct effects of in utero vinclozolin exposure on the developing F1 generation rat testis transcriptome. Previous studies have demonstrated that exposure to vinclozolin during embryonic gonadal sex determination induces epigenetic modifications of the germ line and transgenerational adult onset disease states. Microarray analyses were performed to compare control and vinclozolin treated testis transcriptomes at embryonic days 13, 14 and 16. A total of 576 differentially expressed genes were identified and the major cellular functions and pathways associated with these altered transcripts were examined. The sets of regulated genes at the different development periods were found to be transiently altered and distinct. Categorization by major known functions of altered genes was performed. Specific cellular process and pathway analyses suggest the involvement of Wnt and calcium signaling, vascular development and epigenetic mechanisms as potential mediators of the direct F1 generation actions of vinclozolin.