Environmental estrogenic effects and gonadal development in wild goldfish (Carassius auratus).
Serum vitellogenin (VTG) contents of wild goldfish (Carassius auratus) were investigated as a sensitive biomarker for artificial estrogenic compounds in aquatic environments. Goldfish was sampled from a pristine area, a river situated 5 km downstream from a sewage treatment works (STW), and also from the Young-San River in Korea. The female yolk precursor protein VTG was not detected when gonadosomatic index (GSI) was less than 0.85%, while VTG levels of >10 microg/ml were found in males whose GSI was less than 1.53%. In male goldfish sampled from STW and the Young-San River, the higher VTG corresponded to lower GSI. This study suggested a trend that gonad development was connected to VTG levels in both sexes, and the application of GSI and histological analysis provide an attractive possibility that it could be included in the panel of markers used for estrogenic activity investigation of aquatic environments.
Li
Chun-Ri
CR
Department of Chemistry and Centre for Innovative Bio-physio Sensor Technology, Pusan National University, Busan, 609-735, South Korea.
Lee
Sang-Hoon
SH
Kim
So-Sun
SS
Kim
Andre
A
Lee
Keun Woo
KW
Lu
Ming
M
Kim
Hee-Eun
HE
Kwak
Im-Jung
IJ
Lee
Yun-Ju
YJ
Kim
Dong-Kyoo
DK
Lee
Jung-Sick
JS
Kang
Shin-Won
SW
Huh
Min-Do
MD
Chung
Kyu-Hyuck
KH
Park
Jang-Su
JS
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006054:Goldfish / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D006066:Gonads / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D012621:Seasons; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000097:blood*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000494:pharmacology
D015415:Biomarkers; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004967:Estrogens; D014819:Vitellogenins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical