Short-term exposure to benzo[a]pyrene disrupts reproductive endocrine status in the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) on reproductive endocrine disruption and explore the preliminary mechanisms in crustaceans. In this study, sexually mature female Portunus trituberculatus were exposed to 0, 0.1, 0.5 and 2.5 μg/L B[a]P for 10 days. The following were investigated: (1) Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) and oocyte diameter, (2) steroid concentrations in ovary and hemolymph, and (3) mRNA levels of genes involved in sex steroid synthesis (3β-HSD,17β-HSD) or reproduction (estrogen receptor (ER), OUT (Ovarian tumor gene) domain containing ubiquitin aldehyde-binding protein 1 (OTUB1), vitellogenin (VTG),vasa). B[a]P exposure caused significant reductions in the GSI and oocyte diameter in the crabs. Furthermore, 17β-estradiol (E2), testosterone (T) and progesterone (P) levels were inhibited significantly while 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD mRNA expressions were also decreased in a dose-dependent manner at day 10, which suggests that B[a]P can disrupt sex steroid levels through steroid synthesis pathways. In addition, high levels of B[a]P activated transcription of OTUB1 while suppressed ER and VTG expression, which indicates that exposure to waterborne B[a]P could interfere with ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and subsequently affect ER and ER-mediated gene expression. We also observed a reduction in vasa gene expression reflecting the negative effect of B[a]P on oocyte development in the molecular level. This study is the first to demonstrate in vivo B[a]P toxicity in the reproductive endocrine system of female P. trituberculatus and provided a scientific basis of the decline in crustacean populations.

• Authors: Jianmin Wen, Luqing Pan
• Journal: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP (Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol) 2015 Aug-Sep Vol. 174-175 Pg. 13-20 ISSN: 1532-0456 [Print] United States
• PMID: 26080309 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Endocrine Disruptors
• Gonadal Steroid Hormones
• RNA, Messenger
• Ubiquitin
• Water Pollutants, Chemical
• Benzo(a)pyrene
• Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex

Topics

• Animals
• Benzo(a)pyrene (toxicity)
• Brachyura (drug effects, genetics)
• Crustacea (drug effects, genetics)
• Endocrine Disruptors (toxicity)
• Female
• Gene Expression (drug effects, genetics)
• Gonadal Steroid Hormones (genetics)
• Oocytes (drug effects)
• Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex (drug effects, genetics)
• RNA, Messenger (drug effects, genetics)
• Reproduction (drug effects, genetics)
• Shellfish
• Swimming
• Ubiquitin (genetics)
• Water Pollutants, Chemical (toxicity)