title: Expression of gonadotropin subunit genes following 4-nonylphenol exposure in masu salmon: effects on transcript levels and promoter activities via estrogen receptor alpha.
abstract: The 4-nonylphenol (NP) group is classified as some of the most potent endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) reported to have estrogenic effects on reproductive endocrine system in vertebrates. In the present study, we investigated the effect of NP on expression of gonadotropin (GTH) subunit genes in masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou) to clarify pituitary-based reproductive impact by EDCs. Female juvenile fish were injected with NP (a mixture of ring and chain isomers; 10 or 50 mg kg(-1) body weight) and maintained for 3 days post-injection. A semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the pituitary GTHalpha, follicle-stimulating hormone beta (FSHbeta), and luteinizing hormone beta (LHbeta), and hepatic vitellogenin (VTG) mRNA levels. A low dose of NP induced the GTHalpha and LHbeta mRNA levels. High dose of NP slightly reduced FSHbeta mRNA levels in contrast to increased VTG mRNA levels. In a promoter study, NP (1-10 nM) increased the activities of luciferase reporter gene located downstream of masu salmon GTHalpha or LHbeta 5'-flanking region depending on the estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) in transiently transfected mammalian cells. In contrast, the luciferase activity of FSHbeta was elevated by NP in an ERalpha-independent manner. These results suggest that GTH subunit gene expression of masu salmon may be affected by EDCs at the transcription level and that the genes are useful markers for pituitary effects of xenoestrogens.
authors.affiliation: Division of Marine Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Marine Bioscience and Technology, Kangnung National University, Gangneung 210-702, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sejung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maeng
authors.forename: Yujung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Eunju
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Joong-Kyun
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Soonhag
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gen
authors.forename: Young Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Sohn
mesh_terms: D024506:5' Flanking Region / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017683:Oncorhynchus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D006062:Gonadotropins; D010636:Phenols; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C025256:nonylphenol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone