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Effects of BPF on steroid hormone homeostasis and gene expression in the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis of zebrafish

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Abstract

Bisphenol F (BPF) has been frequently detected in various environmental compartments, and previous studies found that BPF exhibits similar estrogenic and anti-androgenic effects on the mammalian endocrine system to those of bisphenol A (BPA). However, the potential disrupting effects of BPF on aquatic organisms and the underling disrupting mechanisms have not been investigated. In this study, the potential disrupting mechanisms of BPF on the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis and liver were probed by employing the OECD 21-day short-term fecundity assay in zebrafish. The results show that BPF exposure (1 mg/L) impaired the reproductive function of zebrafish, as exemplified by alterations to testicular and ovarian histology of the treated zebrafish. Homogenate testosterone (T) levels in male zebrafish decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, and 17β-estradiol (E2) levels increased significantly when fish were exposed to 0.1 and 1 mg/L BPF. The real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to examine gene expression in the HPG axis and liver. Hepatic vitellogenin expression was significantly upregulated in males, suggesting that BPF possesses estrogenic activity. The disturbed hormone balance was enhanced by the significant changes in gene expression along the HPG axis. These alterations suggest that BPF leads to adverse effects on the endocrine system of teleost fish, and that these effects were more prominent in males than in females.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (General Program) (No. BK20151100), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21507038), and Graduate Research and Innovation Projects of Jiangsu Province (No. KYLX15_0813).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, No.30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing, 210009, China

    Qian Yang, Wenjuan Ren, Yingwen Chen & Shubao Shen

  2. Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, No. 8 Jiangwangmiao Steet, Nanjing, 210042, China

    Qian Yang, Xianhai Yang, Jining Liu & Wenjuan Ren

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  1. Qian Yang
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  2. Xianhai Yang
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  3. Jining Liu
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  4. Wenjuan Ren
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  5. Yingwen Chen
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  6. Shubao Shen
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Correspondence to Jining Liu or Yingwen Chen.

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Responsible editor: Cinta Porte

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Yang, Q., Yang, X., Liu, J. et al. Effects of BPF on steroid hormone homeostasis and gene expression in the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis of zebrafish. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 21311–21322 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9773-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9773-z

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