Effects of progesterone on reproduction and embryonic development in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)

Abstract

High concentrations (375 ng/L) of the steroid hormone progesterone (P4) were measured in snowmelt runoff associated with large livestock-feeding operations in Wisconsin. To gain insight into the potential endocrine-disrupting effects of P4 in fish, experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of short-term exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of P4 on reproduction and embryonic development in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). For the reproduction assay, groups of reproductively mature fish were exposed for 21 d to nominal concentrations of 0, 10, 100, and 1,000 ng/L P4 in a flow-through system, and various key reproductive endpoints (e.g., egg number, fertilization success) were quantified throughout the exposure period. The embryonic development assay consisted of incubating fathead minnow eggs in static culture to quantify the effects of P4 on early development and hatching success. Progesterone caused dose-dependent decreases in fecundity and fertility and significantly reduced gonadosomatic index and vitellogenin gene expression in females. There were no effects of P4 on early embryonic development or hatching success. Progesterone may be a significant endocrine-disrupting chemical in fish.

The synthetic progestin megestrol acetate adversely affects zebrafish reproduction

“…Our results are consistent with those of a previous study on progestin (e.g., norethindrone, and levonorgestrel, up to 200 ng/L)-treated zebrafish embryos (Zucchi et al, 2012) or embryos derived from P4 (1 g/L)-treated adult fathead minnows (DeQuattro et al, 2012), indicating that progestins are not acutely toxic to fish embryos. However, the exposure of progestins could induce the transcription of many genes (e.g., vtg1, 17ˇ-hsd, androgen receptor [ar], estrogen receptor [er], and pgr) in zebrafish embryos/larvae (Zucchi et al, 2012), indicating the influence of progestins on various hormonal pathways.…”

“…Recently, several studies have reported that even at low concentrations, natural progesterone (P4) or synthetic progestins (e.g., levonorgestrel, norethindrone, desogestrel, and gestodene) may cause endocrine disruption and inhibit reproduction in fish (Atteke et al, 2003;Zeilinger et al, 2009;Paulos et al, 2010;Murack et al, 2011;DeQuattro et al, 2012;Runnalls et al, 2013;Svensson et al, 2013Svensson et al, , 2014 and frogs (Kvarnryd et al, 2011;Lorenz et al, 2011;Safholm et al, 2012;Hoffmann and Kloas, 2012). However, their underlying mechanisms are not yet well-known.…”

Inhibition of growth of Anabaena variabilis population by single and mixed steroid hormones

“…During exposure to 10 ng L −1 progesterone, an inhibition of reproductive processes and decrease in the amount of sperm in Pimephales promelas males were observed (DeQuattro et al 2012). In contrast, the exposure of Danio rerio fish to this progestagen causes irreversible endocrine changes and leads to a change in gene expression (Liang et al 2015;Sangster et al 2016).…”

Biotransformation of progesterone and norgestrel by two freshwater microalgae (Scenedesmus obliquus and Chlorella pyrenoidosa): Transformation kinetics and products identification

“…Progesterone and norgestrel have been detected in sewage effluents and receiving waters at several to hundreds ng L À1 levels (Kolpin et al, 2002;Chang et al, 2011;Liu et al, 2011Liu et al, , 2012. Recent laboratory studies showed that progesterone and norgestrel could affect fish reproduction and hormone receptor gene expressions at ng L À1 levels (Zeilinger et al, 2009;DeQuattro et al, 2012;Zucchi et al, 2012). Some investigations from pharmaceutical industry indicate that steroids including progesterone and norgestrel could be transformed by algae, bacteria and fungi (Hu et al, 1996;Pollio et al, 1996;Huszcza et al, 2005;Eshrat and Aroona, 2011).…”