Isolation of Estrogen Receptor Subtypes and Vitellogenin Genes: Expression in Female Chalcalburnus Tarichi

Abstract

Reproductively arrested gonadal development has been previously described in the teleost pearl mullet (Chalcalburnus tarichi, Cyprinidae) from Van Edremit Gulf of Lake Van, Turkey. Oocyte development in some females was arrested at the previtellogenic stage, while gonadosomatic index (GSI) and plasma 17β -estradiol (E2) level were low. A subset of the females was found to have normal ovaries and relatively higher plasma E2 and GSI. These two groups were termed reproductively arrested (RA) and reproductively non-arrested (RN) females. In this study, we cloned estrogen receptor (ER) isoforms (ERα , ERβ 1 and ERβ 2) and vitellogenin (Vtg), and their mRNA levels were measured in RA and RN fish tissues. C. tarichi ERs fell in the same clade with other fish ERs and ERα and ERβ 1 had 97% and 98% identity with the roach (Rutilus rutilus) ERs, respectively. Both Vtg and ER isoforms' mRNA abundance were higher in the liver than in the ovary and hypothalamus (liver> ovary> hypothalamus). The level of ERα mRNA was significantly lower in the liver, ovary and brain of RA fish than in the RN fish tissues. ERβ 1 mRNA levels were not different in the liver and ovary from RA and RN fish while ERβ 2 expression significantly increased in the liver and ovary from RA fish. All ER subtype expression was found to be lower in the brain from RA fish than RN fish. The level of Vtg mRNA was significantly lower in the liver and ovary from RA fish than RN fish tissue. These results suggest that ER subtypes are differentially regulated by E2, and their functions are also different in vitellogenesis. Analysis of organic contaminants in sediments revealed that C. tarichi living in Van Edremit Gulf of Lake Van are exposed to the contaminants bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and 4,4' DDT. We suggest that the RA fish represent a segment of the population that is more sensitive to exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds.

Department(s)

Chemistry

Keywords and Phrases

Chlorphenotane; Estradiol; Estrogen Receptor; Estrogen Receptor Alpha; Estrogen Receptor Beta1; Estrogen Receptor Beta2; Messenger RNA; Phthalic Acid Bis(2 Ethylhexyl) Ester; Unclassified Drug; Vitellogenin; Endocrine Disruptor; Estrogen Receptor; Estrogen Receptor Alpha; Estrogen Receptor Beta; Vitellogenin; Water Pollutant; adult; Animal Experiment; Animal Tissue; Chalcalburnus Tarichi; Cladistics; Controlled Study; Female; Gene; Gene Expression; Hypothalamus; Lake Sediment; Liver; Nonhuman; Ovary; Priority Journal; Regulatory Mechanism; Teleost; Tissue Distribution; Vitellogenesis; Vitellogenin Gene; Analysis; Animal; Cyprinidae; Gene Expression Regulation; Genetics; Physiology; Sediment; Toxicity; Turkey; Water Pollutant; Cyprinidae; Endocrine Disruptors; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Geologic Sediments

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1096-4959

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2014 Elsevier Inc., All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jun 2014

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS