title: Identification of reproduction-specific genes associated with maturation and estrogen exposure in a marine bivalve Mytilus edulis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While it is established that vertebrate-like steroids, particularly estrogens (estradiol, estrone) and androgens (testosterone), are present in various tissues of molluscs, it is still unclear what role these play in reproductive endocrinology in such organisms. This is despite the significant commercial shellfishery interest in several bivalve species and their decline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using suppression subtraction hybridisation of mussel gonad samples at two stages (early and mature) of gametogenesis and (in parallel) following controlled laboratory estrogen exposure, we isolate several differentially regulated genes including testis-specific kinases, vitelline lysin and envelope sequences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The differentially expressed mRNAs isolated provide evidence that mussels may be impacted by exogenous estrogen exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Corina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ciocan
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cubero-Leon
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Minier
authors.forename: Jeanette M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rotchell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D049880:Mytilus edulis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D012333:RNA, Messenger