Binding Affinities of Hepatic Nuclear Estrogen Receptors for Genistein in Channel Catfish

Abstract

Soybean meal, the major protein source used in commercial feeds for channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, contains natural phytoestrogens known as isoflavones, many of which have been found to be endocrine disruptors. This study investigated whether genistein (an isoflavone) in a soybean-based diet would increase plasma vitellogenin (Vtg) concentrations and whether it would compete with estradiol (E₂) for binding sites on adult channel catfish hepatic estrogen receptors (ERs). Three-year-old channel catfish males and females were fed a casein-based diet (control) or a soybean-based diet. The genistein concentrations were 93.2 ng/g and 415,800 ng/g in the control and soybean diets, respectively. The binding specificity of the ERs was assessed by binding-affinity studies. In order of decreasing binding affinity, ethinylestradiol > E₂ > genistein > testosterone, demonstrating that the hepatic ERs in channel catfish bind estrogens and genistein more than androgens. No significant differences in affinity (K_d ) were observed for hepatic ERs in male or female catfish fed the soybean diet compared with those fed the control diet. Significant increases in binding capacity (B _max) for males fed the soybean diet (158 ± 15 fmol/mg protein) were evident compared with males fed the control diet (73 ± 4 fmol/mg protein). Genistein competed with [³H]E₂ for hepatic ERs in both the male and female channel catfish. The relative binding affinities in male ERs were higher (2.72) than those in female ERs (1.17) for genistein. Because diets of farm-raised channel catfish are routinely composed of high quantities of soybean meal, the findings that genistein stimulates Vtg production in male channel catfish and binds to the ERs in both male and female channel catfish suggest that dietary genistein could alter production traits. However, further research to elucidate the effects of genistein on catfish reproduction is necessary to determine the impact of this phytoestrogen on catfish physiology.