First evidence of estrogenic potential of the cyanobacterial heptotoxins the nodularin-R and the microcystin-LR in cultured mammalian cells

Testicular toxicity of cyanobacterial biomass in Japanese quails

“…High levels of MCs were found in the gonads and egg yolk and white of several aquatic bird species naturally exposed to toxic Microcystis blooms (Chen et al, 2009), as well as Japanese quails (unpublished data). There is also the first evidence of the oestrogenic potential of MC-LR (Oziol and Bouaicha, 2010), indicating that MCs can exert some endocrine-disrupting effects on reproduction. Moreover, our recent in vitro studies indicated the presence of compounds with oestrogenic potency in cyanobacterial water blooms.…”

“…The lower weight of eggs produced by exposed parental hens was not reflected in their biological quality because reproductive parameters such as egg viability, hatchability, and the overall effect of hatching in cyanobacterial biomass-exposed birds were better than in the control group Contrary to this, there is a growing body of evidence to support the toxic effects of MCs in the mammalian male reproductive system and testes seem to be another target organ for these biotoxins (Ding et al, 2006;Li et al, 2008;Liu et al, 2010;Xiong et al, 2009). Interestingly, the xenoestrogenic potential of MC-LR has recently been recognized in cultured mammalian cells (Oziol and Bouaicha, 2010). It was, therefore, our goal to examine the testicular toxicity of a sub-lethal chronic exposure to a cyanobacterial biomass of known microcystin contents using histopathology and detoxification and antioxidant parameters in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) as a model avian species.…”

A review of reproductive toxicity of microcystins

“…Oziol and Bouaïcha [128] reported the estrogenic potential of MC-LR in vitro in a stably transfect cell line (MELN) with an estrogen-regulated luciferase gene at concentrations lower than those found in natural environments. MC-LR presents estrogenic potential likely by indirect interaction with estrogen receptors, possibly mediated by PP1/2A inhibition and oxidative stress.…”

Effects of microcystin-producing and microcystin-free strains ofPlanktothrix agardhiion long-term population dynamics ofDaphnia magna

“…Among these contaminants, toxins may act as endocrinedisruptors, which modify the functioning of the endocrine system and induce, among other effects, reproductive disorders (Burkhardt-Holm, 2010). Such endocrinedisrupting effects of two cyanobacterial toxins, nodularin-R and MC-LR, have been observed in vitro by Oziol and Bouaı¨cha (2010) using a transgenic human cell line MELN. The authors inferred the existence of an indirect interaction of MC-LR with oestrogen receptors.…”