Vitellogenin-induced pathology in male summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus).
Male summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) were given two injections (initially and 2 weeks later) of 17beta-estradiol (E2) totaling 0.2 (2 x 0.1), 2.0 (2 x 1.0) or 20.0 (2 x 10.0) mg E2/kg body weight. Blood and tissue samples were collected 4, 6 and 8 weeks after the initial injection in the (2 x 0.1) mg/kg treatment, 4, 6, 8, and 15 weeks after the first injection in the (2 x 1.0) mg/kg treatment and at 4 weeks only in the (2 x 10.0) mg/kg treatment. Five of the 12 fish injected twice with 10.0 mg/kg were moribund before the first sampling period. Circulating levels of vitellogenin (VTG) in the blood of all E2-injected fish from all treatments were comparable with those concentrations found in the blood of wild male carp (Cyprinus carpio) and walleye (Stezostedion vitreum) previously collected near a sewage treatment plant (0.1-10.0 mg VTG/ml plasma). Excessive hyalin material accumulated in the livers, kidneys and testes of the treated fish. A portion of that material was identified as VTG by immunohistochemistry. The accumulation of VTG, and possibly other estrogen-inducible proteins, resulted in hepatocyte hypertrophy, disruption of spermatogenesis, and obstruction or rupture of renal glomeruli.
Folmar
L C
LC
US Environmental Protection Agency, 1 Sabine Island Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, USA. folmar.leroy@epa.gov
Gardner
G R
GR
Schreibman
M P
MP
Magliulo-Cepriano
L
L
Mills
L J
LJ
Zaroogian
G
G
Gutjahr-Gobell
R
R
Haebler
R
R
Horowitz
D B
DB
Denslow
N D
ND
D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000633:toxicity; D005432:Flounder / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000633:toxicity*
D014819:Vitellogenins; D004958:Estradiol