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Cañizares-Martínez MA, Quintanilla-Mena MA, Árcega-Cabrera F, Ceja-Moreno V, Del Río-García M, Reyes-Solian SG, Rivas-Reyes I, Rivera-Bustamante RF, Puch-Hau CA. Transcriptional Response of Vitellogenin Gene in Flatfish to Environmental Pollutants from Two Regions of the Gulf of Mexico. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2023; 112:11. [PMID: 38092994 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-023-03825-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The present study evaluates the endocrine effect in flatfish through vitellogenin (vtg) gene expression and its association with pollutants data obtained from fish muscle and sediment from two regions in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM): Perdido Fold Belt (northwestern) and the Yucatan Peninsula (southeast). The results revealed induction of vtg in male flatfish in both geographical regions with different levels and patterns of distribution per oceanographic campaign (OC). In the Perdido Fold Belt, vtg was observed in male fish during four OC (carried out in 2016 and 2017), positively associated with Pb, V, Cd and bile metabolites (hydroxynaphthalene and hydroxyphenanthrene). In the Yucatan Peninsula, the induction of vtg in males was also detected in three OC (carried out in 2016 and 2018) mainly associated with Ni, Pb, Al, Cd, V and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Ultimately, estrogenic alterations could affect reproductive capacity of male flatfish in the GoM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayra A Cañizares-Martínez
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Mérida. Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73-Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, México
| | - Mercedes A Quintanilla-Mena
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Mérida. Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73-Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, México
| | - Flor Árcega-Cabrera
- Unidad de Química en Sisal, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo S/N, Sisal, Yucatán, 97355, México
| | - Victor Ceja-Moreno
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Mérida. Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73-Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, México
| | - Marcela Del Río-García
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Mérida. Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73-Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, México
| | - Sandy G Reyes-Solian
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Mérida. Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73-Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, México
| | - Isajav Rivas-Reyes
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Mérida. Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73-Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, México
| | - Rafael F Rivera-Bustamante
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Mérida. Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73-Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, México
| | - Carlos A Puch-Hau
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Mérida. Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73-Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, México.
- Tecnológico Nacional de México Campus Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Valladolid, carretera Valladolid-Tizimín, Km. 3.5, Valladolid, Yucatán, C.P. 97780, México.
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Blazer VS, Walsh HL, Sperry AJ, Raines B, Willacker JJ, Eagles-Smith CA. A multi-level assessment of biological effects associated with mercury concentrations in smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 329:121688. [PMID: 37088253 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Total mercury (THg) was measured in muscle (fillet) and liver tissue of adult smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu collected at multiple sites in the Potomac and Susquehanna River drainages within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Smallmouth bass in these drainages have experienced episodic mortality events, a high prevalence of skin lesions and reproductive endocrine disruption (intersex or testicular oocytes and plasma vitellogenin in males). A multi-level assessment of general and reproductive health including indicators at the organismal, organ, cellular and molecular levels was conducted on adult smallmouth bass during the spring (prespawn) season. Concentrations of THg were correlated with increased visible abnormalities, increased macrophage aggregates and tissue parasite burdens. In male bass positive correlations of THg were observed with plasma vitellogenin and hepatic transcript abundance of estrogen receptor β1 and androgen receptor α, while there was a negative association with estrogen receptors α and β2 and androgen receptors β. In female bass there was a negative correlation between THg and plasma vitellogenin as well as hepatic transcript abundance of vitellogenin, choriogenin, estrogen receptor β2 and 17β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Associations of THg concentrations with various biological indicators suggest mercury may be an important environmental stressor contributing to the observed adverse effects in smallmouth bass populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicki S Blazer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Leetown Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA.
| | - Heather L Walsh
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Leetown Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA
| | - Adam J Sperry
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Leetown Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA
| | - Brenna Raines
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Leetown Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA
| | - James J Willacker
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Collin A Eagles-Smith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
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Wang Y, Guo J, Jia X, Luo X, Zhou Y, Mao X, Fan X, Hu H, Zhu H, Jia C, Guo X, Cheng L, Li X, Zhang Z. Genome and transcriptome of Chinese medaka (Oryzias sinensis) and its uses as a model fish for evaluating estrogenicity of surface water. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 317:120724. [PMID: 36427818 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120724] [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: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Ecological toxicity assessments of contaminants in aquatic environments are of great concern. However, a dilemma in ecological toxicity assessments often arises when linking the effects found in model animals in the laboratory and the phenomena observed in wild fishes in the field due to species differences. Chinese medaka (Oryzias sinensis), widely distributed in East Asia, is a satisfactory model animal to assess aquatic environment in China. Here, we domesticated this species and assembled its genome (814 Mb) using next-generation sequencing (NGS). A total of 21,922 high-confidence genes with 41,306 transcripts were obtained and annotated, and their expression patterns in tissues were determined by RNA-sequencing. Six mostly sensitive biomarker genes, including vtg1, vtg3, vtg6, zp3a.2, zp2l1, and zp2.3 to estrogen exposure were screened and validated in the fish exposed to concentrations of estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3) under laboratory condition. Field investigations were then performed to evaluating the gene expression of biomarkers in wild Chinese medaka and levels of E1, E2, and E3 in the fish habitats. It was found that in 40 sampling sites, the biomarker genes were obviously highly expressed in the wild fish from about half sites, and the detection frequencies of E1, E2, and E3, were 97.5%, 42.5%, and 45% with mean concentrations of 82.48, 43.17, 52.69 ng/L, respectively. Correlation analyses of the biomarker gene expressions in the fish with the estrogens levels which were converted to EEQs showed good correlation, indicating that the environmental estrogens and estrogenicity of the surface water might adversely affect wild fishes. Finally, histologic examination of gonads in male wild Chinese medaka was performed and found the presence of intersex in the fish. This study facilitated the uses of Chinese medaka as a model animal for ecotoxicological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Process, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jilong Guo
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Process, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xiaojing Jia
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Process, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xiaozhe Luo
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Process, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Ying Zhou
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Process, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xingtai Mao
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Process, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xiaolin Fan
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Process, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Hongxia Hu
- Fisheries Research Institute, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - Hua Zhu
- Fisheries Research Institute, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - Chengxia Jia
- Fisheries Research Institute, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - Xuan Guo
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Process, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Lan Cheng
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Process, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xiqing Li
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Process, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Zhaobin Zhang
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Process, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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Walsh HL, Gordon SE, Sperry AJ, Kashiwagi M, Mullican J, Blazer VS. A case study: temporal trends of environmental stressors and reproductive health of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) from a site in the Potomac River Watershed, Maryland, USA. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 31:1536-1553. [PMID: 36454361 PMCID: PMC9729326 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-022-02605-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Decades of poor reproductive success and young-of-the-year survival, combined with adult mortality events, have led to a decline in the smallmouth bass (SMB; Micropterus dolomieu) population in sections of the Potomac River. Previous studies have identified numerous biologic and environmental stressors associated with negative effects on SMB health. To better understand the impact of these stressors, this study was conducted at the confluence of Antietam Creek and the Potomac River from 2013 to 2019 to identify temporal changes associated with SMB reproductive health. Surface water samples were collected and analyzed for over 300 organic contaminants, including pesticides, phytoestrogens, pharmaceuticals, hormones and total estrogenicity (E2Eq). Adult SMB were collected and sampled for multiple endpoints, including gene transcripts associated with reproduction (molecular), histopathology (cellular), and organosomatic indices (tissue). In males, biomarkers of estrogenic endocrine disruption, including testicular oocytes (TO) and plasma vitellogenin (Vtg) were assessed. Numerous agriculture-related contaminants or land use patterns were associated with gene transcript abundance in both male and female SMB. Positive associations between pesticides in the immediate catchment with TO severity and E2Eq with plasma Vtg in males were identified. In males, the prevalence of TO and detectable levels of plasma Vtg, liver vitellogenin transcripts (vtg) and testis vtg were high throughout the study. Peaks of complex mixtures of numerous contaminants occurred during the spring/early summer when spawning and early development occurs and to a lesser extent in fall/winter during recrudescence. Management practices to reduce exposure during these critical and sensitive periods may enhance reproductive health of these economically important sportfishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L Walsh
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Leetown Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Rd., Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA.
| | - Stephanie E Gordon
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Leetown Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Rd., Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA
| | - Adam J Sperry
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Leetown Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Rd., Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA
| | - Michael Kashiwagi
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fishing and Boating Services, 10932 Putman Rd., Thurmont, MD, 21788, USA
| | - John Mullican
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fishing and Boating Services, 20901 Fish Hatchery Rd., Hagerstown, MD, 21740, USA
| | - Vicki S Blazer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Leetown Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Rd., Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA
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Kadlec SM, Blackwell BR, Blanksma CA, Johnson RD, Olker JH, Schoff PK, Mount DR. Gonadal Development in Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus Dolomieu) Reared in the Absence and Presence of 17-α-Ethinylestradiol. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:1416-1428. [PMID: 35199887 PMCID: PMC11131168 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Testicular oocytes in wild adult bass (Micropterus spp.) are considered a potential indication of exposure to estrogenic compounds in municipal, agricultural, or industrial wastewater. However, our ability to interpret links between testicular oocyte occurrence in wild fish species and environmental pollutants is limited by our understanding of normal and abnormal gonadal development. We previously reported low-to-moderate testicular oocyte prevalence (7%-38%) among adult male bass collected from Minnesota waters with no known sources of estrogenic compounds. In the present study, two experiments were conducted in which smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) fry were exposed to control water or 17-α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) during gonadal differentiation, then reared in clean water for an additional period. Histological samples were evaluated at several time points during the exposure and grow-out periods, and the sequence and timing of gonadal development in the presence of estrogen were compared with that of control fish. Testicular oocytes were not observed in any control or EE2-exposed fish. Among groups exposed to 1.2 or 5.1 ng/L EE2 in Experiment 1 or 3.0 ng/L EE2 in Experiment 2, ovaries were observed in 100% of fish up to 90 days after exposure ceased, and approximately half of those ovaries had abnormal characteristics, suggesting that they likely developed in sex-reversed males. Groups exposed to 0.1, 0.4, or 1.0 ng/L in Experiment 2 developed histologically normal ovaries and testes in proportions not significantly different from 1:1. These findings suggest that, while presumably able to cause sex reversal, juvenile exposure to EE2 may not be a unique cause of testicular oocytes in wild bass, although the long-term outcomes of exposure are unknown. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1416-1428. © 2022 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Kadlec
- Integrated Biosciences Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
- U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Brett R. Blackwell
- U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Chad A. Blanksma
- U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
- Badger Technical Services, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Rodney D. Johnson
- Integrated Biosciences Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
- U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jennifer H. Olker
- U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
- Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota—Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Patrick K. Schoff
- Integrated Biosciences Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
- Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota—Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - David R. Mount
- Integrated Biosciences Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
- U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
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Walsh HL, Rafferty SD, Gordon SE, Blazer VS. Reproductive health and endocrine disruption in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) from the Lake Erie drainage, Pennsylvania, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2021; 194:3. [PMID: 34862922 PMCID: PMC8643298 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09654-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu were sampled from three sites within the Lake Erie drainage (Elk Creek, Twentymile Creek, and Misery Bay, an embayment in Presque Isle Bay). Plasma, tissues for histopathological analyses, and liver and testes preserved in RNALater® were sampled from 30 smallmouth bass (of both sexes) at each site. Liver and testes samples were analyzed for transcript abundance with Nanostring nCounter® technology. Evidence of estrogenic endocrine disruption was assessed by the presence and severity of intersex (testicular oocytes; TO) and concentrations of plasma vitellogenin in male fish. Abundance of 17 liver transcripts associated with reproductive function, endocrine activity, and contaminant detoxification pathways and 40 testes transcripts associated with male and female reproductive function, germ cell development, and steroid biosynthesis were also measured. Males with a high rate of TO (87-100%) and plasma vitellogenin were noted at all sites; however, TO severity was greatest at the site with the highest agricultural land cover. Numerous transcripts were differentially regulated among the sites and patterns of transcript abundance were used to better understand potential risk factors for estrogenic endocrine disruption. The results of this study suggest endocrine disruption is prevalent in this region and further research would benefit to identify the types of contaminants that may be associated with the observed biological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L Walsh
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA.
| | - Sean D Rafferty
- Pennsylvania Sea Grant College Program, The Pennsylvania State University, Tom Ridge Environmental Center, 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA, 16505, USA
| | - Stephanie E Gordon
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA
| | - Vicki S Blazer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA
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Yusuf A, O'Flynn D, White B, Holland L, Parle-McDermott A, Lawler J, McCloughlin T, Harold D, Huerta B, Regan F. Monitoring of emerging contaminants of concern in the aquatic environment: a review of studies showing the application of effect-based measures. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2021; 13:5120-5143. [PMID: 34726207 DOI: 10.1039/d1ay01184g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Water scarcity is increasingly a global cause of concern mainly due to widespread changes in climate conditions and increased consumptive water use driven by the exponential increase in population growth. In addition, increased pollution of fresh water sources due to rising production and consumption of pharmaceuticals and organic chemicals will further exacerbate this concern. Although surface water contamination by individual chemicals is often at very low concentration, pharmaceuticals for instance are designed to be efficacious at low concentrations, creating genuine concern for their presence in freshwater sources. Furthermore, the additive impact of multiple compounds may result in toxic or other biological effects that otherwise will not be induced by individual chemicals. Globally, different legislative frameworks have led to pre-emptive efforts which aim to ensure good water ecological status. Reports detailing the use and types of effect-based measures covering specific bioassay batteries that can identify specific mode of actions of chemical pollutants in the aquatic ecosystem to evaluate the real threat of pollutants to aquatic lives and ultimately human lives have recently emerged from monitoring networks such as the NORMAN network. In this review, we critically evaluate some studies within the last decade that have implemented effect-based monitoring of pharmaceuticals and organic chemicals in aquatic fauna, evaluating the occurrence of different chemical pollutants and the impact of these pollutants on aquatic fauna with special focus on pollutants that are contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) in urban wastewater. A critical discussion on studies that have used effect-based measures to assess biological impact of pharmaceutical/organic compound in the aquatic ecosystem and the endpoints measurements employed is presented. The application of effect-based monitoring of chemicals other than assessment of water quality status is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azeez Yusuf
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland.
- Water Institute, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Dylan O'Flynn
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland
- Water Institute, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Blanaid White
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland
- Water Institute, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Linda Holland
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland.
- Water Institute, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anne Parle-McDermott
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland.
- Water Institute, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jenny Lawler
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland.
- Water Institute, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Thomas McCloughlin
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland.
- Water Institute, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Denise Harold
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Belinda Huerta
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland
- Water Institute, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fiona Regan
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland
- Water Institute, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
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Yang C, Lim W, Song G. Reproductive toxicity due to herbicide exposure in freshwater organisms. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2021; 248:109103. [PMID: 34129918 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2021.109103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Excessively used pesticides in agricultural areas are spilled into aquatic environments, wherein they are suspended or sedimented. Owing to climate change, herbicides are the fastest growing sector of the pesticide industry and are detected in surface water, groundwater, and sediments near agricultural areas. In freshwater, organisms, including mussels, snails, frogs, and fish, are exposed to various types and concentrations of herbicides. Invertebrates are sensitive to herbicide exposure because their defense systems are incomplete. At the top of the food chain in freshwater ecosystems, fish show high bioaccumulation of herbicides. Herbicide exposure causes reproductive toxicity and population declines in freshwater organisms and further contamination of fish used for consumption poses a risk to human health. In addition, it is important to understand how environmental factors are physiologically processed and assess their impacts on reproductive parameters, such as gonadosomatic index and steroid hormone levels. Zebrafish is a good model for examining the effects of herbicides such as atrazine and glyphosate on embryonic development in freshwater fish. This review describes the occurrence and role of herbicides in freshwater environments and their potential implications for the reproduction and embryonic development of freshwater organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changwon Yang
- Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology and Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Whasun Lim
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea.
| | - Gwonhwa Song
- Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology and Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
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9
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Zhao W, Yu G, Blaney L, Wang B. Development of emission factors to estimate discharge of typical pharmaceuticals and personal care products from wastewater treatment plants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 769:144556. [PMID: 33485210 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Due to the potential ecological and human health risks, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are considered as contaminants of emerging concern. PPCPs can be discharged to the aquatic environment from various sources, including municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), animal feeding operations, hospitals, and pharmaceutical manufacturers. A major challenge to regional characterization of ecological and human health risks is identification of the environmental emissions of PPCPs. This study established a facile approach for calculation of PPCP emission factors from raw wastewater and wastewater effluent. Using reported concentrations from WWTPs, nine PPCPs, namely carbamazepine, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, ofloxacin, sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim, were identified as priority contaminants based on environmental significance (i.e., high detection frequency and potential ecological risk) and data availability. Emission factors were calculated for the nine PPCPs in raw wastewater, secondary effluent, and tertiary effluent for low, medium and high emission scenarios according to the concentration distributions of these nine PPCPs. The emission factors were used to estimate the mass of the PPCPs discharged from the nine provinces and two municipalities of the Yangtze River valley. The total mass of the nine PPCPs emitted into the watershed was estimated as 3867 kg, 8808 kg and 21,464 kg for low, medium and high emission scenarios respectively in 2018. Although uncertainty is inevitable in the emission factors, the reported approach provides a viable alternative to top-down and multimedia fugacity estimation strategies that require an abundance of sewershed-, WWTP-, and compound-specific information that is difficult to collect in developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxing Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Gang Yu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Research Institute for Environmental Innovation (Suzhou), Tsinghua, Building 16, 101 Business Park, No, 158 Jinfeng Road, New District, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Lee Blaney
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | - Bin Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Research Institute for Environmental Innovation (Suzhou), Tsinghua, Building 16, 101 Business Park, No, 158 Jinfeng Road, New District, Suzhou 215163, China.
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10
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Blazer VS, Gordon S, Jones DK, Iwanowicz LR, Walsh HL, Sperry AJ, Smalling KL. Retrospective analysis of estrogenic endocrine disruption and land-use influences in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 266:129009. [PMID: 33276999 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and its watershed includes river drainages in six states and the District of Columbia. Sportfishing is of major economic interest, however, the rivers within the watershed provide numerous other ecological, recreational, cultural and economic benefits, as well as serving as a drinking water source for millions of people. Consequently, major fish kills and the subsequent finding of estrogenic endocrine disruption (intersex or testicular oocytes and plasma vitellogenin in male fishes) raised public and management concerns. Studies have occurred at various sites within the Bay watershed to document the extent and severity of endocrine disruption, identify risk factors and document temporal and spatial variability. Data from these focal studies, which began in 2004, were used in CART (classification and regression trees) analyses to better identify land use associations and potential management practices that influence estrogenic endocrine disruption. These analyses emphasized the importance of scale (immediate versus upstream catchment) and the complex mixtures of stressors which can contribute to surface water estrogenicity and the associated adverse effects of exposure. Both agricultural (percent cultivated, pesticide application, phytoestrogen cover crops) and developed (population density, road density, impervious surface) land cover showed positive relationships to estrogenic indicators, while percent forest and shrubs generally had a negative association. The findings can serve as a baseline for assessing ongoing restoration and management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicki S Blazer
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA.
| | - Stephanie Gordon
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA.
| | - Daniel K Jones
- U.S. Geological Survey, Utah Water Science Center, West Valley City, UT, 84119, USA.
| | - Luke R Iwanowicz
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA.
| | - Heather L Walsh
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA.
| | - Adam J Sperry
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA.
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648, USA.
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11
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Abdelmoneim A, Clark CL, Mukai M. Fluorescent Reporter Zebrafish Line for Estrogenic Compound Screening Generated Using a CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Knock-in System. Toxicol Sci 2020; 173:336-346. [PMID: 31688941 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfz224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of compounds in our diet and environment are being identified as estrogenic, causing serious and detrimental effects on human, animal, and ecosystem health. Time- and cost-effective biological tools to detect and screen these compounds with potential high-throughput capabilities are in ever-growing demand. We generated a knock-in zebrafish transgenic line with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) driven by the regulatory region upstream of vitellogenin 1 (vtg1), a well-studied biomarker for estrogenic exposure, using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Exposure to 17β-estradiol (E2: 0-625 nM) starting at 4-h post-fertilization in dechorionated embryos resulted in the significant induction of hepatic EGFP with ≥5 nM E2 as early as 3-days post-fertilization. Concentration- and time-dependent increase in the percentage of hepatic EGFP-positive larvae and extent of fluorescence expression, categorized into 3 expression levels, were observed with E2 exposure. A strong correlation between the levels of EGFP mRNA, vtg1 mRNA, and EGFP fluorescence levels were detected. Image analysis of the area and intensity of hepatic EGFP fluorescence resulted in high-fidelity quantitative measures that could be used in automated screening applications. In addition, exposure to bisphenol A (0-30 μM) resulted in quantitative responses showing promise for the use of this transgenic line to assess estrogenic activity of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. These results demonstrate that this novel knock-in zebrafish reporter allows for distinct screening of in vivo estrogenic effects, endpoints of which can be used for laboratory testing of samples for estimation of possible human and environmental risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Abdelmoneim
- Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.,Department of Veterinary Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Cedric L Clark
- Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
| | - Motoko Mukai
- Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
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12
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Spooner DE, Honeyfield DC, Boggs K, Shull D, Wertz T, Sweet S. An Assessment of the Thiamine Status of Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in the Susquehanna River Watershed. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2020. [DOI: 10.1656/045.027.0401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E. Spooner
- Department of Biology, Lock Haven University, 301 W. Church Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745
| | - Dale C. Honeyfield
- United States Geological Survey, Northern Appalachian Research Branch, 176 Straight Run Road, Wellsboro, PA 16901
| | - Kristin Boggs
- United States Geological Survey, Northern Appalachian Research Branch, 176 Straight Run Road, Wellsboro, PA 16901
| | - Dustin Shull
- Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Clean Water, Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg, PA 17105
| | - Tim Wertz
- Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Clean Water, Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg, PA 17105
| | - Stephanie Sweet
- United States Geological Survey, Northern Appalachian Research Branch, 176 Straight Run Road, Wellsboro, PA 16901
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13
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Iwanowicz LR, Smalling KL, Blazer VS, Braham RP, Sanders LR, Boetsma A, Procopio NA, Goodrow S, Buchanan GA, Millemann DR, Ruppel B, Vile J, Henning B, Abatemarco J. Reconnaissance of Surface Water Estrogenicity and the Prevalence of Intersex in Smallmouth Bass ( Micropterus Dolomieu) Inhabiting New Jersey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17062024. [PMID: 32204384 PMCID: PMC7142597 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17062024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The observation of testicular oocytes in male fishes has been utilized as a biomarker of estrogenic endocrine disruption. A reconnaissance project led in the Northeastern United States (US) during the period of 2008–2010 identified a high prevalence of intersex smallmouth bass on or near US Fish & Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges that included the observation of 100% prevalence in smallmouth bass males collected from the Wallkill River, NJ, USA. To better assess the prevalence of intersex smallmouth bass across the state of New Jersey, a tiered reconnaissance approach was initiated during the fall of 2016. Surface water samples were collected from 101 (85 river, 16 lake/reservoir) sites across the state at base-flow conditions for estrogenicity bioassay screening. Detectable estrogenicity was observed at 90% of the sites and 64% were above the US Environmental Protection Agency trigger level of 1 ng/L. Median surface water estrogenicity was 1.8 ng/L and a maximum of 6.9 ng/L E2EqBLYES was observed. Adult smallmouth bass were collected from nine sites, pre-spawn during the spring of 2017. Intersex was identified in fish at all sites, and the composite intersex prevalence was 93.8%. Prevalence across sites ranged from 70.6% to 100%. In addition to intersex, there was detectable plasma vitellogenin in males at all sites. Total estrogenicity in surface water was determined at these fish collection sites, and notable change over time was observed. Correlation analysis indicated significant positive correlations between land use (altered land; urban + agriculture) and surface water estrogenicity. There were no clear associations between land use and organismal metrics of estrogenic endocrine disruption (intersex or vitellogenin). This work establishes a baseline prevalence of intersex in male smallmouth bass in the state of New Jersey at a limited number of locations and identifies a number of waterbodies with estrogenic activity above an effects-based threshold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke R. Iwanowicz
- US Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA; (V.S.B.); (R.P.B.); (L.R.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: 304-724-4550
| | - Kelly L. Smalling
- US Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrence, NJ 08648, USA; (K.L.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Vicki S. Blazer
- US Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA; (V.S.B.); (R.P.B.); (L.R.S.)
| | - Ryan P. Braham
- US Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA; (V.S.B.); (R.P.B.); (L.R.S.)
| | - Lakyn R. Sanders
- US Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA; (V.S.B.); (R.P.B.); (L.R.S.)
| | - Anna Boetsma
- US Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrence, NJ 08648, USA; (K.L.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Nicholas A. Procopio
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science and Research, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA; (N.A.P.); (S.G.); (G.A.B.); (D.R.M.); (B.R.)
| | - Sandra Goodrow
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science and Research, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA; (N.A.P.); (S.G.); (G.A.B.); (D.R.M.); (B.R.)
| | - Gary A. Buchanan
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science and Research, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA; (N.A.P.); (S.G.); (G.A.B.); (D.R.M.); (B.R.)
| | - Daniel R. Millemann
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science and Research, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA; (N.A.P.); (S.G.); (G.A.B.); (D.R.M.); (B.R.)
| | - Bruce Ruppel
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science and Research, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA; (N.A.P.); (S.G.); (G.A.B.); (D.R.M.); (B.R.)
| | - John Vile
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Monitoring and Standards, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA; (J.V.); (B.H.); (J.A.)
| | - Brian Henning
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Monitoring and Standards, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA; (J.V.); (B.H.); (J.A.)
| | - John Abatemarco
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Monitoring and Standards, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA; (J.V.); (B.H.); (J.A.)
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14
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Christiana Grim K, Henderson EE, Wolfe MJ, Wolf JC. Histopathologic Prevalence and Severity of Testicular Oocytes in Smallmouth Bass from Two Archival Collections. JOURNAL OF AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH 2020; 32:32-43. [PMID: 32079041 DOI: 10.1002/aah.10096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
During recent decades, survey studies have documented the widespread presence of oocytes in the testes of male Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu collected from surface waters throughout the United States. There are few published reports of testicular oocytes (TO) in Smallmouth Bass before the 1990s, so it is difficult to know how long this has been occurring. Consequently, this study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and severity of TO occurrence in whole fish specimens from two archival collections-the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Suitland, Maryland, and Cornell University's Museum of Vertebrates in Ithaca, New York. Gonads were excised from 167 preserved male Smallmouth Bass that were originally collected between 1875 and 2004, and routine histologic sections were prepared and examined. The severity of TO was determined using a semiquantitative scoring system. Overall, 52.1% of male Smallmouth Bass were found to have TO. Affected fish had been collected in 11 of the 18 represented states, and TO were found in specimens harvested during decades as early as the 1880s and 1900s. Unfortunately, the small number of samples acquired at the earliest time periods precluded analyses of prevalence and severity trends over time. The results of this study demonstrated that the phenomenon of TO in male Smallmouth Bass is at least a century old and confirmed the widespread nature of this finding throughout the species' historic range. Further research efforts should focus on determining the baseline prevalence of TO in laboratory-reared male Smallmouth Bass that have not been exposed to endocrine active substances or the effects of experimental estrogen exposure on such fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Christiana Grim
- Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Center for Species Survival, Front Royal, Virginia 22630, USA
| | - Eileen E Henderson
- Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - Marilyn J Wolfe
- Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc., Sterling, Virginia 20166, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Wolf
- Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc., Sterling, Virginia 20166, USA
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15
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Hanson ML, Solomon KR, Van Der Kraak GJ, Brian RA. Effects of atrazine on fish, amphibians, and reptiles: update of the analysis based on quantitative weight of evidence. Crit Rev Toxicol 2020; 49:670-709. [DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2019.1701985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark L. Hanson
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Keith R. Solomon
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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16
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Gredar T, Leonardi A, Novak M, Sepčić K, Mali LB, Križaj I, Kostanjšek R. Vitellogenin in the European cave salamander, Proteus anguinus: Its characterization and dynamics in a captive female as a basis for non-destructive sex identification. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2019; 235:30-37. [PMID: 31170475 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2019.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Vitellogenin (Vtg) is a precursor protein of egg yolk proteins in oviparous and ovoviviparous vertebrates. Except in a case of exposure to estrogenic endocrine disruptors, Vtg is a female-specific protein and could be used as a molecular marker for sex identification. This would be especially useful in the case of the endangered European cave salamander Proteus anguinus in which sexes are indistinguishable according to external morphology, which hinders the establishment of a successful captive breeding program. Here we describe the identification, partial characterization, and purification of Vtg from P. anguinus. Vtg was identified in the plasma of a vitellogenic proteus female with visible oocytes. The identification of this protein was accomplished by mass spectrometry analysis. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed proteus Vtg as a mix of 190 kDa isoforms with isoelectric points in the pH range 5.3-6.0. Vtg was purified from proteus blood by gel filtration followed by anion-exchange chromatography. Using specific staining of SDS-PAGE gels, the Vtg was found to be phosphorylated and lipidated. Unlike the case in some other aquatic vertebrates, in P. anguinus, Vtg was not present in detectable amounts in cutaneous mucus. Degradation of oocytes in the captive vitellogenic female was accompanied by simultaneous decrease of Vtg concentration. Over a period of 10 months, the concentration of Vtg dropped from maximal to sub-detectable. Our results show that Vtg is a promising molecular marker for sex identification and ovary maturation in P. anguinus, which could contribute to the development of a viable program for captive reproduction of this unique species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tajda Gredar
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical faculty, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Adrijana Leonardi
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maruša Novak
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical faculty, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Kristina Sepčić
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical faculty, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Lilijana Bizjak Mali
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical faculty, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Igor Križaj
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Rok Kostanjšek
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical faculty, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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17
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Iwanowicz LR, Pinkney AE, Guy CP, Major AM, Munney K, Blazer VS, Alvarez DA, Walsh HL, Sperry A, Braham R, Sanders LR, Smith DR. Temporal evaluation of estrogenic endocrine disruption markers in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) reveals seasonal variability in intersex. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 646:245-256. [PMID: 30055487 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A reconnaissance project completed in 2009 identified intersex and elevated plasma vitellogenin in male smallmouth bass inhabiting the Missisquoi River, VT. In an attempt to identify the presence and seasonality of putative endocrine disrupting chemicals or other factors associated with these observations, a comprehensive reevaluation was conducted between September 2012 and June 2014. Here, we collected smallmouth bass from three physically partitioned reaches along the river to measure biomarkers of estrogenic endocrine disruption in smallmouth bass. In addition, polar organic chemical integrative samples (POCIS) were deployed to identify specific chemicals associated with biological observations. We did not observe biological differences across reaches indicating the absence of clear point source contributions to the observation of intersex. Interestingly, intersex prevalence and severity decreased in a stepwise manner over the timespan of the project. Intersex decreased from 92.8% to 28.1%. The only significant predictor of intersex prevalence was year of capture, based on logistic regression analysis. The mixed model of fish length and year-of-capture best predicted intersex severity. Intersex severity was also significantly different across late summer and early spring collections indicating seasonal changes in this metric. Plasma vitellogenin and liver vitellogenin Aa transcript abundance in males did not indicate exposure to estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals at any of the four sample collections. Analysis of chemicals captured by the POCIS as well as results of screening discrete water samples or POCIS extracts did not indicate the contribution of appreciable estrogenic chemicals. It is possible that unreported changes in land-use activity have ameliorated the problem, and our observations indicate recovery. Regardless, this work clearly emphasizes that single, snap shot sampling for intersex may not yield representative data given that the manifestation of this condition within a population can change dramatically over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke R Iwanowicz
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, USA.
| | - A E Pinkney
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Annapolis, MD, USA
| | - C P Guy
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Annapolis, MD, USA
| | - A M Major
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New England Field Office, Concord, NH, USA
| | - K Munney
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New England Field Office, Concord, NH, USA
| | - V S Blazer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, USA
| | - D A Alvarez
- US Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - H L Walsh
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, USA
| | - A Sperry
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, USA
| | - R Braham
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, USA
| | - L R Sanders
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, USA
| | - D R Smith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, USA
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18
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Survey of Intersex (Testicular Oocytes) in Black Crappie Collected from the Illinois River Waterway. JOURNAL OF FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 2018. [DOI: 10.3996/032018-jfwm-021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Researchers have documented intersex (testicular oocytes) in male fishes in many species worldwide and prevalence of the condition is strongly related to exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds in aquatic ecosystems. There is no available knowledge about the incidence of intersex in Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus, an important North American sport fish. The objective of this survey was to investigate the prevalence and distribution of the intersex condition in Black Crappie collected from portions of the Illinois River waterway. We collected and examined 83 Black Crappie. We observed testicular oocytes in 22 individuals (27% intersex), representing the first documentation of intersex condition in wild Black Crappie. The number of oocytes that we observed in intersex Black Crappie ranged from 1 to 67. We documented intersex in individuals collected from all habitats, but there were no significant differences in the prevalence of the condition (Kruskal–Wallis P = 0.56) or the number of oocytes present (P = 0.25) in intersex males from the different habitats. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance indicated that morphometric parameters varied significantly among locations (P = 0.0001), but did not vary significantly between intersex and normal males. We have little information about the current distribution of endocrine-disrupting compounds in the specific regions where we collected Black Crappie for our study. However, we believe our study represents a valuable effort to detect the condition in an important sport fish and lays a foundation for future research.
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19
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Blazer VS, Walsh HL, Shaw CH, Iwanowicz LR, Braham RP, Mazik PM. Indicators of exposure to estrogenic compounds at Great Lakes Areas of Concern: species and site comparisons. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2018; 190:577. [PMID: 30191322 PMCID: PMC6133019 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-018-6943-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Adverse effects resulting from potential exposure of wild fishes to estrogenic endocrine disruptors were assessed at seven United States Great Lakes Areas of Concern using biomarkers ranging from organismal (gonadosomatic indices) to tissue/plasma (histology, plasma vitellogenin) and molecular (hepatic gene transcripts) levels. Biomonitoring was conducted on pelagic, top predator species, largemouth Micropterus salmoides and smallmouth M. dolomieu bass and benthic, omnivorous white sucker Catostomus commersonii. Seasonal (spring and fall) comparisons were conducted at select sites. Intersex (testicular oocytes), plasma vitellogenin, and hepatic vitellogenin transcripts were commonly observed in bass species. Testicular oocyte severity was positively, although weakly, correlated with plasma vitellogenin, hepatic transcripts of vitellogenin, estrogen receptor α, and estrogen receptor β2, while negatively correlated with androgen receptor β and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. No testicular oocytes were observed in white sucker; however, plasma vitellogenin and hepatic vitellogenin transcripts were commonly detected in the males. The results demonstrate the importance of utilizing multiple endpoints to assess exposure to estrogenic compounds as well as the importance of choosing sensitive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicki S. Blazer
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV USA
| | - Heather L. Walsh
- College of Agriculture and Forestry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506 USA
| | - Cassidy H. Shaw
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV USA
| | - Luke R. Iwanowicz
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV USA
| | - Ryan P. Braham
- College of Agriculture and Forestry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506 USA
| | - Patricia M. Mazik
- U.S. Geological Survey, Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506 USA
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