title: Chronic perfluorooctanesulphonic acid (PFOS) exposure produces estrogenic effects in zebrafish.
abstract: Perfluorooctanesulphonic acid (PFOS) is a ubiquitous contaminant in the aquatic environment and our earlier studies demonstrated that chronic PFOS exposures lead to a female-biased sex ratio and decreased sperm quality in male zebrafish. The underlying mechanism for these reproductive effects is unknown. In the present study, 8 h post-fertilization (hpf) zebrafish were exposed to PFOS at 250 μg/L for 5 months, and the levels of sex hormones, expression of sex determination related genes, and histological and ultrastructural changes of gonads were fully characterized. During the sex differentiation period, we observed elevated estradiol (E2) and decreased testosterone (T) levels in whole tissue homogenates from PFOS exposed juveniles. In fully mature adult male fish, serum E2 levels were slightly increased, however, the estrogen receptor alpha (esr1) was significantly elevated in PFOS treated male gonads. Histological and electron microscopic examinations revealed structural changes in the gonads of PFOS exposed male and female adult zebrafish. In summary, chronic PFOS exposure disrupts sex hormone level and related gene expression and impairs gonadal development, which may contribute to the previously reported PFOS reproductive toxicity.
authors: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
authors: Jiangfei
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
authors: Xiaotong
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
authors: Xiaoqing
authors: X
authors: Ge
authors: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
authors: Dingding
authors: D
authors: Wang
authors: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
authors: Ting
authors: T
authors: Wang
authors: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
authors: Lingnan
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, The Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory and the Environmental Health Sciences Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA.
authors: Robert L
authors: RL
authors: Tanguay
authors: Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, The Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory and the Environmental Health Sciences Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Simonich
authors: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
authors: Changjiang
authors: C
authors: Huang
authors: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China. Electronic address: dqxdong@163.com.
authors: Qiaoxiang
authors: Q
authors: Dong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006066:Gonads / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012744:Sex Ratio; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D004958:Estradiol; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid
keywords: Estrogenic effects; Gonad; PFOS; Sex hormone; Zebrafish