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TIAN Hua, LI Yun, WANG Wei, ZHAO Fei, GAO Su, RU Shaoguo. Sexual characteristics of male guppies Poecilia reticulata serve as effect biomarkers of estrogens[J]. Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 2018, 36(4): 1392-1400

Sexual characteristics of male guppies Poecilia reticulata serve as effect biomarkers of estrogens

TIAN Hua, LI Yun, WANG Wei, ZHAO Fei, GAO Su, RU Shaoguo
College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
Abstract:
Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) are considered a candidate model species for the identification and testing of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Male guppies may be used to address the challenge of making potential linkages between alterations of biomarkers, both at the cellular and organ level, and adverse outcomes. In the present study, a predictive relationship between sex characteristics and reproductive output was observed in male guppies that underwent a long-term toxicity test with 0.5 μg/L 17β-estradiol administered during the juvenile period. Radioimmunoassay and western blot analyses demonstrated that 17β-estradiol exposure caused a significant increase in testicular 17β-estradiol levels as well as the induction of exposure biomarkers, namely hepatic vitellogenin. Exposure to 17β-estradiol also caused a significant decrease in testosterone levels, which consequently reduced the gonadosomatic index, sperm counts, and the coloration index. These changes of male sexual characteristics further translated into adverse influences on reproduction, as measured by a decrease in offspring production and survival rate. Our results suggest that the above-mentioned sexual characteristics of male guppies may be considered potential in vivo biomarkers of estrogen effects on reproduction.
Key words:    effect biomarker|endocrine-disrupting chemical|17β-estradiol|Poecilia reticulata|reproduction|sexual characteristic   
Received: 2017-04-07   Revised:
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Articles by LI Yun
Articles by WANG Wei
Articles by ZHAO Fei
Articles by GAO Su
Articles by RU Shaoguo
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