Transcriptomic alterations in the brain of painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) developmentally exposed to bisphenol A or ethinyl estradiol.
Developmental exposure of turtles and other reptiles to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including bisphenol A (BPA) and ethinyl estradiol (EE), can stimulate partial to full gonadal sex-reversal in males. We have also recently shown that in ovo exposure to either EDC can induce similar sex-dependent behavioral changes typified by improved spatial learning and memory or possibly feminized brain responses. Observed behavioral changes are presumed to be due to BPA- and EE-induced brain transcriptomic alterations during development. To test this hypothesis, we treated painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) at developmentalstage 17, incubated at 26°C (male-inducing temperature), with1) BPA (1 ng/µl),2) EE (4 ng/µl), or3) vehicle ethanol (control group). Ten months after hatching and completion of the behavioral tests, juvenile turtles were euthanized, brains were collected and frozen in liquid nitrogen, and RNA was isolated for RNA-Seq analysis. Turtles exposed to BPA clustered separately from EE-exposed and control individuals. More transcripts and gene pathways were altered in BPA vs. EE individuals. The one transcript upregulated in both BPA- and EE-exposed individuals was the mitochondrial-associated gene, ND5, which is involved in oxidative phosphorylation. Early exposure of turtles to BPA increases transcripts linked with ribosomal and mitochondrial functions, especially bioenergetics, which has been previously linked with improved cognitive performance. In summary, even though both BPA and EE resulted in similar behavioral alterations, they diverge in the pattern of neural transcript alterations with early BPA significantly upregulating several genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial activity, and ribosomal function, which could enhance cognitive performance.
Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.|Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
Lindsey K
LK
Manshack
Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.|Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
Caroline M
CM
Conard
Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
Sara J
SJ
Bryan
Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.|Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
Sharon L
SL
Deem
Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.|Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri.
Dawn K
DK
Holliday
DNA Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
Nathan J
NJ
Bivens
Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.|Informatics Research Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.|Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
Scott A
SA
Givan
Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; rosenfeldc@missouri.edu.|Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.|Genetics Area Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; and.|Thompson Center for Autism and Neurobehavioral Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
Cheryl S
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4137-3933
CS
Rosenfeld
D000818:Animals; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000187:drug effects*; D014426:Turtles / Q000235:genetics*; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D010636:Phenols; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
RNA-Seq; brain; endocrine-disrupting chemicals; estrogens; integrative correlation analyses; pathway analysis; turtle