Effects of synthetic polycyclic musks on estrogen receptor, vitellogenin, pregnane X receptor, and cytochrome P450 3A gene expression in the livers of male medaka (Oryzias latipes)

This study demonstrates the effects of synthetic polycyclic musks such as Galaxolide (HHCB), Tonalide (AHTN), Traseolide (ATII), Celestolide (ADBI), Phantolide (AHMI) and Cashmeran (DPMI), both on the early life stage and on gene expression in the livers of male medaka (Oryzias latipes). The toxicity ranking (the 96-h median lethal concentration) of the chemicals tested on 24-h-old medaka. larvae descended in the order HHCB (0.95 mg/L) = ATII (0.95 mg/L) > AHTN (1.0 mg/L) > AHMI (1.2 mg/L) > ADBI (2.0 mg/L) >> DPMI (12 mg/L), indicating high acute toxicity of these compounds on the early life stages of medaka. Expression analysis of hepatic vitellogenin (VTG) protein showed potential estrogenic effects upon the addition of AHTN and HHCB, indicative of the induction of VTG synthesis in the livers of male medaka. We also investigated mRNA expression levels of two estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes (ER alpha and beta), two VTGs (VTG I and 11), pregnane X receptor (PXR), and two cytochromes P450 (CYP) 3As (CYP3A38 and 3A40) in the livers of male medaka treated with AHTN and HHCB at 5, 50 and 500 mu g/L Quantitative real-time PCR analyses revealed that hepatic ERa, VTG I, VTG II, and CYP3A40 mRNA responded to 500 mu g/L of AHTN and/or HHCB after 3 days exposure, whereas no effects of these compounds on ER beta, PXR, and CYP3A38 mRNA transcription were observed. These results suggest that certain polycyclic musks, including AHTN and HHCB, induce the expression levels of hepatic ER alpha and VTG mRNA/protein and modulate expression levels of CYP3A40 mRNA in the livers of male medaka. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.