Vitellogenin as a biomarker of exposure to estrogenic compounds in aquatic invertebrates: A review

A multibiomarker approach in the clam Ruditapes decussatus to assess the impact of pollution in the Ria Formosa lagoon, South Coast of Portugal

“…In R. decussatus, spawning coincides with summer, when stressful environmental parameters were more notorious. In ALP responses, this seasonality is more evident since its levels follow the same trend of the gametogenic cycle in females with mature individuals having naturally higher ALP concentrations (Blaise et al 1999;Matozzo et al, 2008). However, this does not explain the higher Vg--like protein concentrations in males since only during the resting stages of gonadal development would ALP levels in females be similar to males (Blaise et al 1999;Matozzo et al, 2008;Porte et al 2006) which is indicative of the presence of EDCs.…”

“…In ALP responses, this seasonality is more evident since its levels follow the same trend of the gametogenic cycle in females with mature individuals having naturally higher ALP concentrations (Blaise et al 1999;Matozzo et al, 2008). However, this does not explain the higher Vg--like protein concentrations in males since only during the resting stages of gonadal development would ALP levels in females be similar to males (Blaise et al 1999;Matozzo et al, 2008;Porte et al 2006) which is indicative of the presence of EDCs. On the other hand, different studies have pointed out that vitellogenin is also an immune--relevant molecule with a potential role in defence reac--tions, possessing antibacterial and hemagglutinating activities (Shi et al, 2006;Tong et al, 2010;Zhang et al, 2005).…”

“…While no significant differences were found for DNA damage between sites (p > 0.05), for LPO a significant differ--ence was found between sites 3 and 4 (p < 0.05). Vitellogenin--like protein concentrations, indirectly determined as alkali--labile phosphates (ALP), were separated by gender since increases in Vg--like proteins in males and immature individuals are a better reflex of environmental exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) (Blaise et al,1999;Matozzo et al, 2008). ALP levels in females and males were generally higher in summer but only signifi--cantly different at site 4 in July 2008 (>150 mg PO4 mgÀ1 Prot) (p < 0.05).…”

“…Genotoxic potential of contaminants was also evaluated due to their ability to interfere with DNA integrity (Steinert et al, 1998) analysing DNA damage in clam's haemolymph with the alkaline single--cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay. Finally, estrogenic contamination was assessed through the effect of xenoestrogens, vitellogenin induction mainly in males and immature females, applying the indirect alkali--labile phosphate (ALP) method to clam's gonads (Matozzo et al, 2008).…”

Interspecies comparison of selected pollution biomarkers in dreissenid spp. inhabiting pristine and moderately polluted sites

“…This rise of MTs in the gonads of mussels suggest a role for these proteins during meiosis (Anderson and Nusslein-Volhard, 1984;Meistertzheim et al, 2009). Similarly for vitellogenins, a common biomarker of estrogenic effects (Neubert, 1997;Blaise et al, 2003;Pampanin et al, 2005) natural fluctuations related to the reproductive cycle were recorded (as reviewed by Matozzo et al, 2008). Vitellogenins (Vtg) are the main precursors of the egg-yolk proteins, vitellins, which serve as energy reserves during embryonic development in oviparous organisms.…”