Effects of Bisphenol S Exposure on Endocrine Functions and Reproduction of Zebrafish

Abstract

While bisphenol S (BPS) has been frequently detected both in environment and biota, limited information is available on their effects of endocrine system. In the present study, adult zebrafish pairs were exposed to 0.5, 5, and 50 μg/L of BPS for 21 d, and the effects on reproduction, sex steroid hormones, and transcription of the genes belonging to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis were investigated. The adverse effects on performances of F1 generation were further examined with or without subsequent exposure to BPS. Egg production and the gonadosomatic index in female fish were significantly decreased at ≥0.5 μg/L BPS. Plasma concentrations of 17β-estradiol were significantly increased in both male and female fish. In male fish, however, significant decreases of testosterone concentration were observed along with up-regulation of cyp19a and down-regulation of cyp17 and 17βhsd transcripts. Parental exposure to BPS resulted in delayed and lesser rates of hatching even when they were hatched in clean water. Continuous BPS exposure in the F1 embryos resulted in worse hatchability and increased malformation rates compared to those without BPS exposure. Our observations showed that exposure to low level BPS could affect the feedback regulatory circuits of HPG axis and impair the development of offspring.

Toxicology: The plastics puzzle

“…They found that both chemicals behaved like oestrogens, but were 100,000-fold less active than oestradiol 3 . Choi and his colleagues discovered that zebrafish exposed to 0.5 micrograms of BPS per litre of water -about one-sixth of the maximum concentration detected in the environment -had fewer eggs, more malformed offspring and higher oestrogen to testosterone ratios than untreated zebrafish 4 . "High concentrations of BPS have the same effect as high concentrations of BPA, " says Habert, who has conducted preliminary experiments on the effect of BPS on mouse and human fetal testis cells.…”

The synthetic progestin megestrol acetate adversely affects zebrafish reproduction

“…Many endocrine disruptors are known to modulate sex steroid signaling and the HPG axis (Ankley et al, 2009;Ji et al, 2013); thus, it is possible that exposure to MTA may also affect plasma sex hormone levels. In our study, the E2 and T levels in female fish plasma and the 11-KT level in male fish plasma were significantly decreased after MTA exposure for 21 days, further demonstrating that synthetic progestins can adversely affect fish of both sexes.…”

“…Many endocrine disruptors are known to modulate sex steroid signaling and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis (Villeneuve et al, 2007;Ankley et al, 2009;Ji et al, 2013) by interfering with endocrine functions and affecting both development and reproduction. Thus, we also measured the concentrations of sex hormones in zebrafish and examined the effect of MTA on the transcription of key genes along the HPG axis, with the intention of identifying potential target genes and the potential mode of action of MTA.…”

Localization of steroidogenic enzymes and Foxl2a in the gonads of mature zebrafish ( Danio rerio )

“…the higher circulating concentrations of estradiol in female zebrafish(Deng et al, 2010; Liu et al, 2012;Ma et al, 2012;Ji et al, 2013; Liu et al, 2013; Lu et al, 2014;Yu et al, 2014; …”