title: Vitellogenin (VTG) conservation in sea turtles: anti-VTG antibody in Chelonia mydas versus Caretta caretta.
abstract: Vitellogenin (VTG) is considered as a marker of endocrine disruption. A Western blot method for VTG quantification in Caretta caretta turtle plasma was developed using anti-VTG antibody for Chelonia mydas. A screening of samples (n = 61) collected in the southern Mediterranean Sea around Lampedusa Island, Italy, was performed. The antibody showed a good cross-reactivity with C. caretta VTG, suggesting a certain conservation of the core of the protein in different sea turtle species. The optimal operative condition for Western blot analysis consists of using diluted plasma at 1:50. In field samples, a certain mismatch with morphological sexing was observed, and VTG was detected in young animals. These results suggest the possibility of a precocious activation of VTG-encoding genes before sexual maturation and/or exposure to endocrine disrupter substances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Pathology, Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, Research Group on Large Pelagic Vertebrates, Veterinary Medicine School, University of Bologna, FC, Italy. annalisa.zaccaroni@unibo.it
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaccaroni
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zucchini
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Segatta
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gamberoni
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Freggi
authors.forename: Pier A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Accorsi
authors.forename: Dino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scaravelli
authors.forename: Susan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D014426:Turtles / Q000097:blood*; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D014819:Vitellogenins