Vitellogenin, zona radiata protein, cathepsin D and heat shock protein 70 as biomarkers of exposure to xenobiotics

Abstract

The antagonistic and/or synergistic effects of different chemical compounds were examined in the marine teleost, Gobius niger, by testing a series of biomarkers involved in fish reproduction. Among the biomarkers analysed, vitellogenin (VTG) and zona radiata proteins (ZRP) are key molecules involved in reproduction, widely used to detect the presence of pollutants in the marine environment, while heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and cathepsin D (CATD) have recently been introduced as bioindicators of endocrine disruption. The detection of VTG and ZRP in the plasma of wild male specimens is universally accepted as an early warning signal of environmental pollution. The evaluation of VTG, ZRP and CATD expression demonstrated the oestrogenic effect of nonylphenol on both male and female fish; on the contrary beta-naphthoflavone behaves mainly as an anti-oestrogen although, when co-injected with compounds with oestrogenic activity, it enhances ZRP gene expression. Regarding the chaperone, all treatments stressed the fish, inducing an increase in HSP70 gene transcription. The results obtained underlined the importance of testing the effects of compound mixtures: fish in the wild are subjected to a blend of chemicals and the effects observed derive from the synergic or antagonistic interactions of these compounds.

Keywords: :

• Gobius niger
• nonylphenol
• oestradiol
• beta-naphthoflavone
• endocrine disruptors
• molecular biology

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a ‘Fondi di Ateneo 2003, 2004, Università Politecnica delle Marche’ grant awarded to O.C. The authors wish to thank Mr Angelo Maradonna for kindly supplying the fish and the staff of Oce.AN Spin Off for help in animal care.