title: Using gene expression to assess the status of fish from anthropogenically influenced estuarine wetlands.
abstract: The diverse mixture of contaminants frequently present in estuaries complicates their assessment by routine chemical or biological analyses. We investigated the use of gene expression to assess contaminant exposure and the condition of southern California estuarine fish. Liver gene expression, plasma estradiol concentrations, and gonad histopathology were used to study biological condition in longjaw mudsuckers (Gillichthys mirabilis). Metals, legacy organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, and contaminants of emerging concern were detected in sediments and whole fish. Overall gene expression patterns were characteristic to each of four sites investigated in this study. Differentially expressed genes belonged to several functional categories including xenobiotic metabolism, detoxification, disease, and stress responses. In general, plasma estradiol concentrations were similar among fish from all areas. Some fish gonads had pathologic changes (e.g., infection, inflammation) that could indicate weakened immune systems and chronic stress. The differential expression of some genes involved in stress responses correlated with the prevalence of histologic gonad lesions. This study indicates that gene expression is a promising tool for assessing the biological condition of fish exposed to environmental contaminants.
authors.affiliation: Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, California, United States. dorisv@sccwrp.org
authors.forename: Doris E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Vidal-Dorsch
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bay
authors.forename: Monica A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mays
authors.forename: Darrin J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Greenstein
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Jeffery C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Alexander V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Loguinov
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vulpe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002140:California; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005843:Geography; D006066:Gonads / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D004958:Estradiol