Bisphenol-A affects the developmental progression and expression of heat-shock protein genes in the moth Sesamia nonagrioides

Abstract

The effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on the endocrine system of vertebrates have been demonstrated in several studies. Here, we report the impact of BPA on the developmental progression and expression of heat shock protein genes on the terrestrial insect Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). S. nonagrioides 1st instar larvae were exposed until the end of 6th (last) instar to selected concentrations of BPA (1 μg/L, 10 μg/L, 100 μg/L, 1 mg/L and 10 mg/L) applied in their artificial diets. The lower doses of BPA (1-10 μg/L) were found to decrease larvae's weight while the 100 μg/L dose increased it. The higher doses of BPA were found to induce various abnormal phenotypes during 5th instar larval molting, larval-pupal transformation and metamorphosis. The developmental and metamorphosis endpoints presented here may indicate the possible impact of BPA on terrestrial insects. Additionally, 6th instar larvae were injected with several concentrations of BPA. Semi-quantitative and Real-Time PCR assays were used to identify the effects of BPA in the transcriptional regulation of five heat shock protein genes (SnoHsp19.5, SnoHsp20.8, SnoHsp70, SnoHsc70 and SnoHsp83). Application of BPA by feeding or by injection induced the synthesis of the SnoHsp19.5 and SnoHsp20.8 mRNAs. The expression levels of SnoHsp70 were not affected. In contrast, SnoHsc70 and SnoHsp83, which play a pivotal role in vertebrate sex steroid signal transduction, were elevated by BPA. Our results suggest that SnoHsp19.5, SnoHsp20.8, SnoHsp83 and SnoHsc70 genes can be modulated by BPA.

The physiological impact of bisphenol A on the developmental and reproductive processes ofSesamia nonagrioides(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under LD and SD photoperiods

“…Interestingly in our previous studies with LDreared S. nonagrioides larvae it was observed a significant weight decrease after exposure to the higher concentration of 100 μg/L BPA (Michail et al 2012). Our results showed that the expression levels of SnoHsp20.8 and SnoHsp83 genes were not affected by BPA during diapausing conditions, while the SnoHsc70 mRNA levels were decreased.…”

“…Additionally, our results provided evidence that BPA modulates the expression of several heat shock protein genes, the expression of the echysone receptor heterodimer's partners (Michail et al 2012;Kontogiannatos et al 2011;Kontogiannatos et al 2015).…”

“…Likewise, BPA concentrations of 12.5-60 μg/L stimulated larval development in Tigriopus Japonicus (Mariager 2001;Oehlmann et al 2009;Flint et al 2012). In S. nonagrioides dosages of 1, 10 and 100 μg/L applied in the insect's artificial diet, resulted in molting malformations and deficiencies throughout the entire biological life of the insect (Michail et al 2012;Kontogiannatos et al 2015).…”

“…In previous studies (Kontogiannatos et al 2011;Michail et al 2012;Kontogiannatos et al 2015) we investigated the endocrine disruptive effects and toxic implications of BPA with the physiological and developmental processes of S. nonagrioides. Our results showed that the lower doses of BPA (1-10 μg/L) decreased larvae's weight while the 100 μg/L dose increased it.…”

Bisphenol A: Understanding Its Health Effects from the Studies Performed on Model Organisms

“…Studies on lepidopteran corn stalk borer Sesamia nonagrioides revealed that BPA induces various developmental disorders through interfering efect in ecdysteroidal pathway [105] and over expression of heat-shock proteins [106]. Study on freshwater insect Chironomus riparius showed that adult emergence times were signiicantly delayed on moderate BPA exposure [107].…”