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Canesini G, Galoppo GH, Tavalieri YE, Lazzarino GP, Stoker C, Luque EH, Ramos JG, Muñoz-de-Toro M. Disruption of the developmental programming of the gonad of the broad snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) after in ovo exposure to atrazine. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:40132-40146. [PMID: 36607581 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-25104-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Environmental exposure to agrochemicals during early stages of development can induce subtle alterations that could permanently affect normal physiology. Previously, we reported that in ovo exposure to atrazine (ATZ) disrupts testicular histoarchitecture in postnatal caimans (Caiman latirostris). To assess whether such alterations are the result of disruption of gonadal developmental programming, this study aimed to evaluate the expression of histofunctional biomarkers (VASA, ER, PR, PCNA, and aromatase) and genes involved in gonadal development and differentiation (amh, sox-9, sf-1 and cyp19-a1) in the gonads of male and female caiman embryos and to assess the effect of ATZ exposure on these biomarkers and genes in the gonads of male embryos. Our results suggest that amh, aromatase and sox-9 play a role in sex determination and gonadal differentiation. In male caiman embryos, ATZ exposure increased aromatase expression and altered the temporal expression pattern of amh and sox-9 evidencing an ATZ-induced disruption of gonadal developmental programming. Since the effects of ATZ are consistent across all vertebrate classes, the ATZ-mediated disruptive effects here observed could be present in other vertebrate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermina Canesini
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Casilla de Correo 242, Santa Fe 3000, Argentina
| | - Germán H Galoppo
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Casilla de Correo 242, Santa Fe 3000, Argentina.
| | - Yamil E Tavalieri
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Casilla de Correo 242, Santa Fe 3000, Argentina
| | - Gisela P Lazzarino
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Casilla de Correo 242, Santa Fe 3000, Argentina
| | - Cora Stoker
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Casilla de Correo 242, Santa Fe 3000, Argentina
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica y Cuantitativa, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Enrique H Luque
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Casilla de Correo 242, Santa Fe 3000, Argentina
| | - Jorge G Ramos
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Casilla de Correo 242, Santa Fe 3000, Argentina
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica y Cuantitativa, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Mónica Muñoz-de-Toro
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Casilla de Correo 242, Santa Fe 3000, Argentina
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2
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Rojas-Hucks S, Rodriguez-Jorquera IA, Nimpstch J, Bahamonde P, Benavides JA, Chiang G, Pulgar J, Galbán-Malagón CJ. South American National Contributions to Knowledge of the Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Wild Animals: Current and Future Directions. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10120735. [PMID: 36548568 PMCID: PMC9781241 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10120735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Human pressure due to industrial and agricultural development has resulted in a biodiversity crisis. Environmental pollution is one of its drivers, including contamination of wildlife by chemicals emitted into the air, soil, and water. Chemicals released into the environment, even at low concentrations, may pose a negative effect on organisms. These chemicals might modify the synthesis, metabolism, and mode of action of hormones. This can lead to failures in reproduction, growth, and development of organisms potentially impacting their fitness. In this review, we focused on assessing the current knowledge on concentrations and possible effects of endocrine disruptor chemicals (metals, persistent organic pollutants, and others) in studies performed in South America, with findings at reproductive and thyroid levels. Our literature search revealed that most studies have focused on measuring the concentrations of compounds that act as endocrine disruptors in animals at the systemic level. However, few studies have evaluated the effects at a reproductive level, while information at thyroid disorders is scarce. Most studies have been conducted in fish by researchers from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. Comparison of results across studies is difficult due to the lack of standardization of units in the reported data. Future studies should prioritize research on emergent contaminants, evaluate effects on native species and the use of current available methods such as the OMICs. Additionally, there is a primary focus on organisms related to aquatic environments, and those inhabiting terrestrial environments are scarce or nonexistent. Finally, we highlight a lack of funding at a national level in the reviewed topic that may influence the observed low scientific productivity in several countries, which is often negatively associated with their percentage of protected areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Rojas-Hucks
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, República 440, Santiago 8370134, Chile
| | | | - Jorge Nimpstch
- Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile
| | - Paulina Bahamonde
- Laboratory of Aquatic Environmental Research, Centro de Estudios Avanzados—HUB Ambiental UPLA, Universidad de Playa Ancha, Valparaíso 2360004, Chile
- Millennium Nucleus of Austral Invasive Salmonids (INVASAL), Concepción 4070386, Chile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC), Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas 6210427, Chile
| | - Julio A. Benavides
- Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Facultad Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, República 440, Santiago 8370134, Chile
- Centro de Investigación para la Sustentabilidad, Facultad Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, República 440, Santiago 8370134, Chile
- MIVEGEC, IRD, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Gustavo Chiang
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, República 440, Santiago 8370134, Chile
- Centro de Investigación para la Sustentabilidad, Facultad Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, República 440, Santiago 8370134, Chile
| | - José Pulgar
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, República 440, Santiago 8370134, Chile
| | - Cristóbal J. Galbán-Malagón
- GEMA, Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Universidad Mayor, Camino la Pirámide 5750, Huechuraba, Santiago 8580000, Chile
- Institute of Environment, Florida International University, University Park, Miami, FL 33199, USA
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3
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Tavalieri YE, Alarcón R, Tschopp MV, Canesini G, Luque EH, Muñoz-de-Toro M, Galoppo GH. Exposure to xenoestrogens alters the expression of key morphoregulatory proteins of oviduct adenogenesis in the broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris). AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 235:105817. [PMID: 33853019 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are contaminants ubiquitously found in the environment, which pose a potential threat to aquatic and wetland ecosystems. Caiman latirostris, a crocodilian species that inhabits South American wetlands, is highly sensitive to EDC exposure. Previously, we reported that early postnatal exposure to EDCs such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and 17β-Estradiol (E2) alters C. latirostris oviduct differentiation. The aim of this work was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind this alteration. To accomplish this, we established the ontogenic changes in histological features and the expression of Wnt-7a, Wnt-5a, β-catenin, FoxA2, desmin, and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the oviduct of C. latirostris. Then, we evaluated the effects of BPA and E2 exposure on these histological features and protein expressions. Our results showed that during the postnatal differentiation of the oviduct the presence of histological features related to adenogenesis is associated with the levels of expression of FoxA2, β-catenin, Wnt-5a and Wnt-7a. Early postnatal exposure to BPA and E2 decreased the presence of histological features related to adenogenesis and altered the levels of expression of FoxA2, β-catenin, Wnt-5a and Wnt-7a, as well as the desmin/α-SMA ratio. These findings suggest that altered levels of Wnt-7a, Wnt-5a, β-catenin and FoxA2 could play a role in the BPA and E2-induced alteration in oviduct differentiation in C. latirostris. Thus, impaired adenogenesis and, probably, impaired reproduction in wildlife naturally exposed to BPA and other estrogenic agonists cannot be completely ruled out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y E Tavalieri
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000 Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - R Alarcón
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000 Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Fisiología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - M V Tschopp
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000 Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Fisiología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - G Canesini
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000 Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - E H Luque
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000 Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Fisiología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - M Muñoz-de-Toro
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000 Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - G H Galoppo
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000 Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000 Santa Fe, Argentina.
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Tavalieri YE, Galoppo GH, Canesini G, Luque EH, Muñoz-de-Toro MM. Effects of agricultural pesticides on the reproductive system of aquatic wildlife species, with crocodilians as sentinel species. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 518:110918. [PMID: 32619582 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Agricultural pesticides represent a significant class of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) to which non-target organisms around the world are constantly exposed. Laboratory studies have found strong evidence showing the endocrine-disruptive potential of these pesticides at environmentally relevant exposure levels. Since the field of endocrine disruption continues to grow in richness and complexity, this review aims to provide an update on the effects of two agricultural pesticides that act as EDCs: atrazine and endosulfan. We will focus mainly on the effects on crocodilians due to their worldwide occurrence in tropical and sub-tropical wetland ecosystems and their ecological and physiological features, which render them vulnerable to exposure to pesticides with endocrine-disrupting action at all life stages. The results here reviewed provide important insights into the effects of hormonally active agricultural pesticides at cellular, tissue, and organ levels in the reproductive system of crocodiles. A better understanding of the effects of exposure to environmentally relevant doses of EDCs on the reproductive system of crocodilians will contribute to protect and improve the health of both wildlife species and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y E Tavalieri
- Laboratorio de EcoFisioPatología, Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL, UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - G H Galoppo
- Laboratorio de EcoFisioPatología, Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL, UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - G Canesini
- Laboratorio de EcoFisioPatología, Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL, UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - E H Luque
- Laboratorio de EcoFisioPatología, Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL, UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - M M Muñoz-de-Toro
- Laboratorio de EcoFisioPatología, Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL, UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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5
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Vandenberg LN, Najmi A, Mogus JP. Agrochemicals with estrogenic endocrine disrupting properties: Lessons Learned? Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 518:110860. [PMID: 32407980 PMCID: PMC9448509 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Many agrochemicals have endocrine disrupting properties. A subset of these chemicals is characterized as "estrogenic". In this review, we describe several distinct ways that chemicals used in crop production can affect estrogen signaling. Using three agrochemicals as examples (DDT, endosulfan, and atrazine), we illustrate how screening tests such as the US EPA's EDSP Tier 1 assays can be used as a first-pass approach to evaluate agrochemicals for endocrine activity. We then apply the "Key Characteristics" approach to illustrate how chemicals like DDT can be evaluated, together with the World Health Organization's definition of an endocrine disruptor, to identify data gaps. We conclude by describing important issues that must be addressed in the evaluation and regulation of hormonally active agrochemicals including mixture effects, efforts to reduce vertebrate animal use, chemical prioritization, and improvements in hazard, exposure, and risk assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura N Vandenberg
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA.
| | - Aimal Najmi
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA
| | - Joshua P Mogus
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA
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6
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Pagotto R, Santamaría CG, Harreguy MB, Abud J, Zenclussen ML, Kass L, Crispo M, Muñoz-de-Toro MM, Rodriguez HA, Bollati-Fogolín M. Perinatal exposure to Bisphenol A disturbs the early differentiation of male germ cells. Reprod Toxicol 2020; 98:117-124. [PMID: 32956838 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the effects of Bisphenol A (BPA) on early germ cell differentiation and their consequences in adult life is an area of growing interest in the field of endocrine disruption. Herein, we investigate whether perinatal exposure to BPA affects the differentiation of male germ cells in early life using a transgenic mouse expressing the GFP reporter protein under the Oct4 promoter. In this model, the expression of GFP reflects the expression of the Oct4 gene. This pluripotency gene is required to maintain the spermatogonial stem cells in an undifferentiated stage. Thus, GFP expression was used as a parameter to evaluate the effect of BPA on early germ cell development. Female pregnant transgenic mice were exposed to BPA by oral gavage, from embryonic day 5.5 to postnatal day 7 (PND7). The effects of BPA on male germ cell differentiation were evaluated at PND7, while sperm quality, testicular morphology, and protein expression of androgen receptor and proliferating cell nuclear antigen were studied at PND130. We found that perinatal/lactational exposure to BPA up-regulates the expression of Oct4-driven GFP in testicular cells at PND7. This finding suggests a higher proportion of undifferentiated spermatogonia in BPA-treated animals compared with non-exposed mice. Moreover, in adulthood, the number of spermatozoa per epididymis was reduced in those animals perinatally exposed to BPA. This work shows that developmental exposure to BPA disturbed the normal differentiation of male germ cells early in life, mainly by altering the expression of Oct4 and exerted long-lasting sequelae at the adult stage, affecting sperm count and testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina Pagotto
- Cell Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, CP 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Clarisa G Santamaría
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Ciudad Universitaria UNL, Ruta Nacional N°168, km 472, CPA S3000ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María Belén Harreguy
- Cell Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, CP 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Julián Abud
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Ciudad Universitaria UNL, Ruta Nacional N°168, km 472, CPA S3000ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María Laura Zenclussen
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Ciudad Universitaria UNL, Ruta Nacional N°168, km 472, CPA S3000ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Laura Kass
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Ciudad Universitaria UNL, Ruta Nacional N°168, km 472, CPA S3000ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Martina Crispo
- Transgenic and Experimental Animal Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, CP 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Mónica M Muñoz-de-Toro
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Ciudad Universitaria UNL, Ruta Nacional N°168, km 472, CPA S3000ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Horacio A Rodriguez
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Ciudad Universitaria UNL, Ruta Nacional N°168, km 472, CPA S3000ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Mariela Bollati-Fogolín
- Cell Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, CP 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay.
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7
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Galoppo GH, Tavalieri YE, Schierano-Marotti G, Osti MR, Luque EH, Muñoz-de-Toro MM. Long-term effects of in ovo exposure to an environmentally relevant dose of atrazine on the thyroid gland of Caiman latirostris. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 186:109410. [PMID: 32283336 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The increased incidence of human thyroid disorders, particularly in women, suggests that the exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) together with sex-related factors could play a role in thyroid dysregulation. Since the herbicide atrazine (ATZ) is an environmental EDC suspected to behave as a thyroid disruptor, and Caiman latirostris is a crocodilian species highly sensitive to endocrine disruption that can be exposed to ATZ, this study aimed to describe the histoarchitecture and sexually dimorphic features of the thyroid gland of C. latirostris, and to determine the long-term effects of in ovo exposure to an environmentally relevant dose of ATZ (0.2 ppm) on its thyroid gland and growth. Control caimans showed no sexual dimorphisms. In contrast, ATZ-exposed caimans showed altered embryo growth but an unaltered temporal pattern of development and a sexually dimorphic response in the body condition index growth curves postnatally, which suggests a female-related increase in fat storage. Besides, both male and female exposed caimans showed increases in the size of the thyroid stromal compartment, content of interstitial collagen, and follicular hyperplasia, and decreases in the expression of androgen receptor in the follicular epithelium. ATZ-exposed females, but not males, also showed evidences of thyroid enlargement, colloid depletion, increased follicular epithelial height and increased presence of microfollicular structures. Our results demonstrate that prenatal exposure of caimans to ATZ causes thyroid disruption and that females were more vulnerable to ATZ than males. The effects were organizational and observed long after exposure ended. These findings alert on ATZ side-effects on the growth, metabolism, reproduction and development of non-target exposed organisms, particularly females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán Hugo Galoppo
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Yamil Ezequiel Tavalieri
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Gonzalo Schierano-Marotti
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Mario Raúl Osti
- Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Enrique Hugo Luque
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Mónica Milagros Muñoz-de-Toro
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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8
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Tavalieri YE, Galoppo GH, Canesini G, Truter JC, Ramos JG, Luque EH, Muñoz-de-Toro M. The external genitalia in juvenile Caiman latirostris differ in hormone sex determinate-female from temperature sex determinate-female. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 273:236-248. [PMID: 30292702 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) is a crocodilian species that inhabits South American wetlands. As in all other crocodilians, the egg incubation temperature during a critical thermo-sensitive window (TSW) determines the sex of the hatchlings, a phenomenon known as temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). In C. latirostris, we have shown that administration of 17-β-estradiol (E2) during the TSW overrides the effect of the male-producing temperature, producing phenotypic females (E2SD-females). Moreover, the administration of E2 during TSW has been proposed as an alternative way to improve the recovery of endangered reptile species, by skewing the population sex ratio to one that favors females. However, the ovaries of E2SD-female caimans differ from those of TSD-females. In crocodilians, the external genitalia (i.e. clitero-penis structure or phallus) are sexually dimorphic and hormone-sensitive. Despite some morphological descriptions aimed to facilitate sexing, we found no available data on the C. latirostris phallus histoarchitecture or hormone dependence. Thus, the aims of this study were: (1) to establish the temporal growth pattern of the phallus in male and female caimans; (2) to evaluate histo-morphological features and the expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and androgen receptor (AR) in the phallus of male and female pre-pubertal juvenile caimans; and (3) to determine whether the phallus of TSD-females differs from the phallus of E2SD-females. Our results demonstrated sexually dimorphic differences in the size and growth dynamics of the caiman external genitalia, similarities in the shape and spatial distribution of general histo-morphological compartments, and sexually dimorphic differences in innervation, smooth muscle fiber distribution, collagen organization, and ERα and AR expressions. The external genitalia of E2SD-females differed from that of TSD-females in many histological features and in the expression of ERα and AR, resembling patterns described in males. Our results alert on the effects of estrogen agonist exposure during TSW and suggest that caution must be taken regarding the use of E2SD as a procedure for wildlife population management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y E Tavalieri
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina; Catedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - G H Galoppo
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina; Catedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - G Canesini
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina; Catedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - J C Truter
- Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
| | - J G Ramos
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina; Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica y Cuantitativa, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - E H Luque
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina; Catedra de Fisiología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - M Muñoz-de-Toro
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina; Catedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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Sun X, Li D, Liang H, Miao M, Song X, Wang Z, Zhou Z, Yuan W. Maternal exposure to bisphenol A and anogenital distance throughout infancy: A longitudinal study from Shanghai, China. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 121:269-275. [PMID: 30223203 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.08.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most common endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) with a ubiquitous presence. Both animal and human studies have reported the association between maternal exposure to BPA and anogenital distance (AGD) in offspring. However, the results are conflicting and the longitudinal effect is unknown. We aimed to examine the effect of maternal exposure to BPA on AGD in offspring in a longitudinal birth cohort from birth to 1 year of age. METHODS BPA was assayed using urine samples collected at 12-16 gestational weeks from 982 pregnant participants who later delivered infants. Infants' AGDs (AGDap [anus-penis] and AGDas [anus-scrotum] for boys, AGDac [anus-clitoris] and AGDaf [anus-fourchette] for girls) were measured at birth, and at 6 and 12 months of age. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the associations between maternal exposure to BPA and offspring's AGDs. Then generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was applied to make use of the repeated measurements of AGDs and examine the overall effect of maternal exposure to BPA. RESULTS Compared to boys with undetected maternal BPA, those with detected BPA were more likely to have shorter AGDap and AGDas at 6 and 12 months. However, the differences were statistically significant for AGDap and AGDas only at 12 months (2.87 and 4.12 mm shorter, respectively). In GEE models, similar patterns were observed. Boys in the higher quartiles were more likely to have shorter AGDap and AGDas than those in the first quartile. However, statistically significant differences were only observed in boys in the third quartile. For girls, these associations were not observed regardless of the timing of measurements (at birth, 6 months and 12 months). CONCLUSIONS Maternal exposure to BPA was associated with shortened AGDap and AGDas in boys at age 12 months but not in girls, which suggests a gender specific effect of BPA exposure on offspring's development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dekun Li
- Division of Research, Kaiser Foundation Research Institute, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, USA
| | - Hong Liang
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Maohua Miao
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiuxia Song
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ziliang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhijun Zhou
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory for Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Canesini G, Stoker C, Galoppo GH, Durando ML, Tschopp MV, Luque EH, Muñoz-de-Toro MM, Ramos JG. Temperature- vs. estrogen-induced sex determination in Caiman latirostris embryos: Both females, but with different expression patterns of key molecules involved in ovarian development. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 259:176-188. [PMID: 29197555 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Caiman latirostris is a species with temperature dependent sex determination (TSD), which implies that the incubation temperature of the eggs is the main factor that determines the sex during a thermo-sensitive period (TSP). However, estrogens play a critical role in this process. The administration of 17β-estradiol (E2) previous to TSP overrides the effects of male incubation temperature, producing phenotypic females. This effect has been defined as sex reversal or estrogen-induced sex determination (E2SD). The aim of the present study is to describe similarities and differences in the effects of TSD and E2SD treatment conditions on ovary development. Our results show that the two treatment conditions studied are able to produce different ovaries. Treatment with E2 modified the expression pattern of estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor, and expression of the enzyme aromatase. Moreover, in E2SD females, the proliferation/apoptosis dynamic was also altered and high expression of TAp63 was observed suggesting the presence of greater DNA damage in germ cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that describes the morphology of the female gonad of C. latirostris in three stages of embryonic development and shows the expression of TAp63 during the gonad development of a reptile. It is important to emphasize that the changes demonstrated in E2SD female gonads of embryos show that environmental compounds with proven estrogenic activity alter the follicular dynamics of C. latirostris in neonatal as much as in juvenile animals, endangering their reproductive health and possibly bringing consequences to ecology and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermina Canesini
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Cora Stoker
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina; Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica y Cuantitativa, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Germán H Galoppo
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Milena L Durando
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - María V Tschopp
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Enrique H Luque
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Mónica M Muñoz-de-Toro
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Jorge G Ramos
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina; Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica y Cuantitativa, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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11
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Galoppo GH, Canesini G, Tavalieri YE, Stoker C, Kass L, Luque EH, Muñoz-de-Toro M. Bisphenol A disrupts the temporal pattern of histofunctional changes in the female reproductive tract of Caiman latirostris. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2017; 254:75-85. [PMID: 28947387 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Recently, we have described the ontogeny of histofunctional differentiation changes in the oviduct of Caiman latirostris. The expression of estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor shows that the caiman oviduct could be a target of the action of xenoestrogens such as the widely environmentally present Bisphenol A (BPA), early in life. The aims of this study were: to complement oviduct characterization by establishing the ontogenetic changes in androgen receptor (AR) expression and assessing the effects of early postnatal exposure to 17-β-estradiol (E2) or BPA on the histofunctional features of the oviduct. AR was expressed in all the stages studied. The spatial pattern of AR immunostaining changed from neonatal to juvenile caimans. In the luminal epithelium, changes were at the subcellular level, from cytoplasmic to nuclear. In the subepithelium, although both cytoplasmic and nuclear AR expression was observed, changes were mainly at tissue level, from the subepithelial compartment to the outer muscular layer. The oviduct was highly sensitive to E2 and BPA at the early postnatal developmental stage. E2- and BPA-exposed caimans showed increased luminal epithelial height and higher proliferative activity. Changes in histomorphological features (measured by a scoring system), steroid hormone receptors, collagen remodeling and muscle-associated proteins suggest a precocious oviduct histofunctional differentiation in E2- and BPA-exposed caimans. The modification of the temporal pattern of oviductal biomarkers suggests that organizational changes could impair C. latirostris reproductive health later in life. The alterations in the caiman female reproductive tract exposed to BPA highlight the importance of preserving aquatic environments from plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán H Galoppo
- Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas (FBCB), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), UNL-CONICET, FBCB-UNL, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Guillermina Canesini
- Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas (FBCB), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), UNL-CONICET, FBCB-UNL, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Yamil E Tavalieri
- Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas (FBCB), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Cora Stoker
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), UNL-CONICET, FBCB-UNL, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Laura Kass
- Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas (FBCB), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), UNL-CONICET, FBCB-UNL, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Enrique H Luque
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), UNL-CONICET, FBCB-UNL, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Mónica Muñoz-de-Toro
- Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas (FBCB), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), UNL-CONICET, FBCB-UNL, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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12
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Rosenfeld CS, Denslow ND, Orlando EF, Gutierrez-Villagomez JM, Trudeau VL. Neuroendocrine disruption of organizational and activational hormone programming in poikilothermic vertebrates. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2017; 20:276-304. [PMID: 28895797 PMCID: PMC6174081 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2017.1370083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
In vertebrates, sexual differentiation of the reproductive system and brain is tightly orchestrated by organizational and activational effects of endogenous hormones. In mammals and birds, the organizational period is typified by a surge of sex hormones during differentiation of specific neural circuits; whereas activational effects are dependent upon later increases in these same hormones at sexual maturation. Depending on the reproductive organ or brain region, initial programming events may be modulated by androgens or require conversion of androgens to estrogens. The prevailing notion based upon findings in mammalian models is that male brain is sculpted to undergo masculinization and defeminization. In absence of these responses, the female brain develops. While timing of organizational and activational events vary across taxa, there are shared features. Further, exposure of different animal models to environmental chemicals such as xenoestrogens such as bisphenol A-BPA and ethinylestradiol-EE2, gestagens, and thyroid hormone disruptors, broadly classified as neuroendocrine disrupting chemicals (NED), during these critical periods may result in similar alterations in brain structure, function, and consequently, behaviors. Organizational effects of neuroendocrine systems in mammals and birds appear to be permanent, whereas teleost fish neuroendocrine systems exhibit plasticity. While there are fewer NED studies in amphibians and reptiles, data suggest that NED disrupt normal organizational-activational effects of endogenous hormones, although it remains to be determined if these disturbances are reversible. The aim of this review is to examine how various environmental chemicals may interrupt normal organizational and activational events in poikilothermic vertebrates. By altering such processes, these chemicals may affect reproductive health of an animal and result in compromised populations and ecosystem-level effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl S. Rosenfeld
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Thompson Center for Autism and Neurobehavioral Disorders, Columbia, MO, USA
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Nancy D. Denslow
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Edward F. Orlando
- Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | | | - Vance L. Trudeau
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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13
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Galoppo GH, Stoker C, Canesini G, Schierano-Marotti G, Durando M, Luque EH, Muñoz-de-Toro M. Postnatal development and histofunctional differentiation of the oviduct in the broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2016; 236:42-53. [PMID: 27388661 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Revised: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Caiman latirostris is a South American crocodilian species characterized as a sentinel of the presence of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs). Evaluating developmental events in hormone-dependent organs, such as the oviduct, is crucial to understand physiological postnatal development, to identify putative periods of exposure sensitive to EDCs, and/or to identify biomarkers useful to evaluate the effects of EDC exposure. In this study, we describe the histomorphological features of C. latirostris oviducts by establishing the ontogeny of changes at cellular, tissue and molecular levels from the neonatal to the pre-pubertal juvenile stages. Since the histological diagnosis of the adenogenic oviduct lies on a group of features, here we defined a histofunctional score system and a cut-off value to distinguish between preadenogenic and adenogenic oviducts. Our results showed that the maturation of the C. latirostris oviduct is completed postnatally and characterized by changes that mimic the pattern of histological modifications described for the mammalian uterus. Ontogenic changes in the oviductal epithelium parallel changes at subepithelial level, and include collagen remodeling and characteristic spatial-temporal patterns of α-actin and desmin. The expression pattern of estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor evidenced that, even at early postnatal developmental stages, the oviduct of C. latirostris is a target organ of endogenous and environmental hormones. Besides, oviductal adenogenesis seems to be an estrogen-dependent process. Results presented here provide not only insights into the histophysiological aspect of caiman female reproductive ducts but also new tools to better characterize caimans as sentinels of endocrine disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- G H Galoppo
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - C Stoker
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - G Canesini
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - G Schierano-Marotti
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - M Durando
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - E H Luque
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - M Muñoz-de-Toro
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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