Effects of Natural and Synthetic Estrogens and Various Environmental Contaminants on Vitellogenesis in Fish Primary Hepatocytes: Comparison of Bream (Abramis brama) and Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Abstract

Interaction of environmental estrogens with the estrogen receptor (ER) has been shown in various fish species. Our objective was to compare the sensitivity of bream (Abramis brama) to (xeno-)estrogens with that of the carp (Cyprinus carpio), by measuring the effects of 17beta-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), ethynylestradiol (EE2), bisphenol A (BPA), nonylphenol (NP), methoxychlor (MXCL), and halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB126, PCB118), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-dioxin (TCDD), and 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PCDF) on vitellogenesis in primary hepatocytes. Comparing the EC50 values in bream hepatocytes: EE2 (0.1-0.2 microM) < E1 (0.6-0.2 microM) < E2 (1.9 microM) with those of carp hepatocytes EE2 (0.03-0.06 microM) < E2 (0.3 microM) approximately E1 (0.2-0.3 microM) we found differences in sensitivity and ranking of the estrogenic potency of E2 and E1, indicating interspecies differences. Exposure to BPA, NP, MXCL, and HAHs did not or only weakly induce vitellogenesis. Bream hepatocytes coexposed to E2 and TCDD, PCB126 or PCDF showed a concentration-dependent inhibition of E2-induced vitellogenesis. IC50 (concentration of a compound that elicits 50% inhibition of E2-induced vitellogenesis) values determined in bream were: TCDD (0.02-0.09 nM) < PCB126 (0.35-0.1 nM) < PCDF (2.0-0.1) and in carp were: TCDD (0.01 nM) < PCB126 (0.4 nM). PCB118 showed no (anti-)estrogenic response. IC50 values and benchmark-concentration for TCDD and PCB126 in bream and carp hepatocytes were in the same range, indicating similar sensitivity to these compounds. Due to their anti-estrogenic capacity with benchmark-concentrations in the pM range TCDD, PCDF, and PCB126 may form a potential hazard for the reproductive success of fish species by inhibition of vitellogenesis.

Evaluation of estrogenic activities and mechanism of action of perfluorinated chemicals determined by vitellogenin induction in primary cultured tilapia hepatocytes

“…of six replicate samples from four different male fish. Significant differences between individual chemicals and corresponding co-exposure group were determined using student's t-test and are indicated by *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01. was measured in medium using an ELISA method reported a calculated 48-h EC 50 for E2 of 0.3 M (Rankouhi et al, 2004). This value is comparable to our study, but much less than the value determined for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (EC 50 = 1.8 nM) (Jobling and Sumpter, 1993), indicating that there is pronounced variability in EC 50 values among fish species.…”

“…However, the male liver is capable of synthesizing and secreting VTG in response to exogenous estrogen stimulation. Thus, induction of VTG in male fish hepatocytes has been utilized for chemical screening or environmental monitoring for estrogenic substances and is considered a reliable biomarker for exposure to environmental estrogens or estrogenic properties of xenobiotics (e.g., Sumpter and Jobling, 1995;Smeets et al, 1999;Navas and Segner, 2000;Rankouhi et al, 2002Rankouhi et al, , 2004Xie et al, 2005a,b;Letcher et al, 2005; for a review, see Navas and Segner, 2006).…”

The feasibility of using mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) for detecting endocrine‐disrupting chemicals in the freshwater environment

“…Species differences in response to E 2 have also been reported for in vitro induction of Vtg protein using primary cultures of male fish hepatocytes. The EC50s of E 2 in the hepatocytes of freshwater bream (Abramis brama) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio), both members of the cyprinid family, were 1.9 and 0.3 mM, respectively [31], whereas the hepatocytes of rainbow trout exhibited approximately half the maximum response at 1 to 10 nM of E2 [32]. In contrast, the effects of BPA in the present study are comparable to those reported in the literature.…”

Removal ofp-Alkylphenols from Aqueous Solutions by Combined Use of Mushroom Tyrosinase and Chitosan Beads

“…7,8) It has been reported that biodegradation of alkylphenol ethoxylates and alkylphenols stimulates production of biomarkers of estrogenic activity in male fish. 5,9,10) Many researchers have a great interest in oxidoreductases such as tyrosinase, [11][12][13][14][15] laccase, [16][17][18] and peroxidase, [19][20][21][22][23] because their industrial potentials are recognized in degradation and detoxification of recalcitrant environmental pollutions. The potential advantages of the enzymatic treatment include operation at low concentrations over wide pH and temperature ranges and the easy control process.…”