Detection of environmental endocrine-disruptor effects on gene expression in live Rana catesbeiana tadpoles using a tail fin biopsy technique.
We describe a novel method of rapidly assessing exposure of premetamorphic Rana catesbeiana tadpoles to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Tail fin biopsy and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses of the thyroid hormone (TH)-responsive gene, TH receptor beta (TRbeta), demonstrate for the first time that a known accelerant of TH-induced metamorphosis, acetochlor, can significantly enhance TH-induced TRbeta mRNA levels within 24 h at an environmentally relevant dose. Although we focus on laboratory exposures in this study, this method easily can be adapted for use in field studies.
Veldhoen
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Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Helbing
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D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D001706:Biopsy; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity*; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011892:Rana catesbeiana / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014052:Toluidines / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D006540:Herbicides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014052:Toluidines; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C043377:acetochlor