Nonylphenol modulates expression of androgen receptor and estrogen receptor genes differently in gender types of the hermaphroditic fish Rivulus marmoratus.
To uncover the effect of estrogenic chemicals [4-nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BisA)] on the expression of androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptors (ERalpha and ERbeta) in the hermaphroditic fish Rivulus marmoratus, we cloned the full length of the cDNAs encoding AR, ERalpha, and ERbeta from gonadal tissue of R. marmoratus and analyzed the modulation of expression of these genes following exposure to estrogenic chemicals using real-time RT-PCR. R. marmoratus AR, ERalpha, and ERbeta genes showed a high similarity to the relevant fish species on amino acid residues, respectively. Rm-ERalpha and Rm-ERbeta cDNAs included a serine-rich region when compared to other teleost fish ER genes. Tissue-specific expression of Rm-AR and Rm-ERbeta mRNAs in adult hermaphrodite R. marmoratus was high in the gonad, while Rm-ERalpha mRNA was high in the liver based on real-time RT-PCR. In addition, Rm-AR and Rm-ERalpha mRNAs increased along with developmental stage from stage 3 (5 dpf) to hatching, while Rm-ERbeta mRNA increased from stage 2 (2 dpf). To uncover the effect of estrogenic chemicals on R. marmoratus, we exposed the fish to NP (300 microg/l) and BisA (600 microg/l) for 96 h. Significant down-regulation of Rm-AR, Rm-ERalpha, and Rm-ERbeta mRNA was observed in gonadal tissue after exposure to NP but not BisA. In the liver, there were gender differences in gene expression after EDC exposure. These results demonstrate that expression patterns of the Rm-AR, Rm-ERalpha, and Rm-ERbeta genes in the hermaphroditic fish, R. marmoratus, vary according to tissue and developmental stage as well as the specificity of environmental estrogenic chemicals. These genes can be useful as molecular biomarkers in assessing the potential impact of estrogenic compounds using this species as a model system.
Seo
Jung Soo
JS
Department of Molecular and Environmental Bioscience, The National Research Lab of Marine Molecular and Environmental Bioscience, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, South Korea.
Lee
Young-Mi
YM
Jung
Sang-Oun
SO
Kim
Il-Chan
IC
Yoon
Yong-Dal
YD
Lee
Jae-Seong
JS
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D003532:Cyprinodontiformes / Q000235:genetics; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D057850:Hermaphroditic Organisms; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D012737:Sex Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D010636:Phenols; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; C025256:nonylphenol; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds