Skip to main content
Log in

In vivo effects of 17-β-estradiol on plasma immunoglobulin levels and leukocyte density in zebrafish Danio rerio

  • Biology
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Estradiol, or 17-β-estradiol (E2), the most potent naturally occurring estrogen, is involved in the hormone-immune system interaction in both mammals and fish. However, in vivo studies are largely limited, and little is known about whether E2 exerts similar effects on both female and male zebrafish (Danio rerio). Here, we show exposure of both sexes of D. rerio to 20 nmol/L E2 resulted in a significant increase in Vg1 expression, but caused little damage to the hepatocytes, suggesting that this is the optimum E2 concentration. Also, exposure to 20 nmol/L E2 for 20 days caused a marked increase in plasma IgM levels, but had little influence on the peripheral leukocyte density, providing the first evidence of a hormone-immune system interaction in this species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ansar A S, Penhale W J, Talal N. 1985. Sex hormones, immune responses and autoimmune diseases. Am. J. Pathol., 121(3): 531–559.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ansar A S, Hissong B, Verthelyi D, Donner K, Becker K, Karpuzoglu-Sahin E. 1999. Gender and risk of autoimmune disease. Environ. Health Perspect., 107: 681–686.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen J Y, Chen J C, Wu J I. 2003. Molecular cloning and functional analysis of high density lipoprotein binding protein. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B., 36: 117–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cuesta A, Meseguer J, Esteban M Á. 2008. The antimicrobial peptide hepcidin exerts an important role in the innate immunity against bacteria in the bony fish gilthead seabream. Mol. Immuno., 45(8): 2 333–2 342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cutolo M, Sulli A, Capellino S, Villaggio B, Montagna P, Seriolo B, Straub R H. 2004. Sex hormones influence on the immune system: basic and clinical aspects in autoimmunity. Lupus., 13(9): 635–638.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doeing D C, Borowicz J L, Crockett E T. 2003. Gender dimorphism in differential peripheral blood leucocyte counts in mice using cardiac, tail, foot, and saphenous vein puncture methods. BMC Clin. Pathol., 3: 3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frazier-Jessen M R, Mott F J, Witte P L, Kovacs E J. 1996. Estrogen suppression of connective tissue deposition in a murine model of peritoneal adhesion formation. J. Immunol., 156: 3 036–3 042.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grossman C J. 1985. Interactions between the gonadal steroids and the immune system. Science, 227: 257–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guzmán J M, Sangiao-Alvarellos S, Laiz-Carrión R, Míguez J M, Martín del Río Mdel P, Soengas J L, Mancera J M. 2004. Osmoregulatory action of 17beta-estradiol in the gilthead sea bream Sparus auratus. J. Exp. Zoolog. A. Comp. Exp. Biol., 301(10): 828–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Han D, Denison M S, Tachibana H, Yamada K. 2002. Effects of Estrogenic Compounds on Immunoglobulin Production by Mouse Splenocytes. Biol. Pharm. Bull., 25: 1 263–1 267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hou Y Y, Suzuki Y, Aida K. 1999. Effects of steroid hormones on immunoglobulin M (IgM) in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Fish Physiol. Biochem., 20: 155–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanda N, Tamaki K. 1999. Estrogen enhances immunoglobulin production by human PBMCs. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol., 103: 282–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laemmli U K. 1970. Cleavage of Structural Proteins during the Assembly of the Head of Bacteriophage T4. Nature, 227: 680–685.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laguë é, Tremblaya J J. 2009. Estradiol represses Insulin-like 3 expression and promoter activity in MA-10 Leydig cells. Toxicology, 258: 101–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lange I G, Hartel A, Meyer H H D. 2003. Evolution of oestrogen functions in vertebrates. J. Steroid Biochem., 83: 219–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Law W Y, Chen W H, Song Y L. 2001. Differential in vitro suppressive effects of steroids on leukocyte phagocytosis in two teleosts, tilapia and common carp. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol., 121(2): 163–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Livak K J, Schmittgen T D. 2001. Analysis of relative gene expression data using real-time quantitative PCR and the 2(−ΔΔCt) method. Methods, 25: 402–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olsen N J, Kovacs W J. 1996. Gonadal steroids and immunity. Endocr. Rev., 17: 369–384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saha N R, Usami T, Suzuki Y. 2004. In vitro effects of steroid hormones on IgM-secreting cells and IgM secretion in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Fish Shellfish Immunol., 17(2): 149–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Straub R H. 2007. The complex role of estrogens in inflammation. Endocr. Rev., 28(5): 521–574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tong Y, Shan T, Poh Y K, Yan T, Wang H, Lam S H, Gong Z Y. 2004. Molecular cloning of zebrafish and medaka vitellogenin genes andcomparison of their expression in response to 17β-estradiol. Gene, 328: 25–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Der Ven, L T M, Van Den Brandhof E, Wester P W Vos J H. 2007. Effects Of the estrogen agonist 17β-Estradiol and antagonist tamoxifen in a partial life-cycle assay with zebrafish (Danio rerio). Environ. Toxicol. Chem., 26: 92–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace R A. 1985. Developmental Biology. In: Browder L W ed. Vol. 1. Plenum Pubfishing Corporation. p. 127–177.

  • Wang R, Belosevic M. 1994. Estradiol increases susceptibility of goldfish to Trypanosoma danilewskyi. Dev. Comp. Immunol., 18(5): 377–387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westerfield M. 1995. The zebrafish book: guide for the laboratory use of zebrafish (Danio rerio), 3rd edition. University of Oregon Press, Eugene. p. 1–50.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shicui Zhang  (张士璀).

Additional information

Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (No. 2007ZRB02238), and the Natural Science Foundation of Qingdao Municipality (No. 06-2-2-15-jch)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, L., Zhang, S., Tong, Z. et al. In vivo effects of 17-β-estradiol on plasma immunoglobulin levels and leukocyte density in zebrafish Danio rerio . Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 28, 527–532 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-009-9048-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-009-9048-8

Keyword

Navigation