Zhao Haiyan, Li Tongyao, Li Chenyang, Xiong Zijun, Rong Weiya, Cao Lu, Chen Gen, Liu Qing, Liu Yu, Wang Xianzong, Liu Shaozhen
College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, China.
College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Resource Utilization and Breeding, Jinzhong, 030801, China.
Aquat Toxicol. 2025 Mar;280:107266. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107266. Epub 2025 Feb 2.
17α-Methyltestosterone (MT), an environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), is widely present in aquatic environments, posing potential threats to the health of aquatic organisms. This study aimed to explore the protective effects of Vitamin C (VC) against MT-induced intestinal injury in Carassius auratus and evaluate the optimal VC dosage. C. auratus were exposed to 50 ng/L MT with 0, 25, 50, and 150 mg/kg VC for 7, 14, and 21 d. Intestinal pathological changes were assessed using paraffin sections, digestive enzyme activity was measured, RT-qPCR was used to analyze the expression of genes related to the intestinal barrier and inflammation, and 16S rDNA sequencing was conducted to evaluate the intestinal flora. MT exposure caused villus damage, vacuolization, and free lymphocytes. Additionally, it upregulated TNF-α and Claudin-12 expression and downregulated IL-10, Occludin, and Muc2 expression, exacerbating intestinal inflammation, damaging barrier function, and reducing digestive enzyme activity. VC at 25 and 50 mg/kg significantly alleviated MT-induced damage by restoring villus length and mitigating the downregulation of anti-inflammatory factors and tight junction protein-related genes while inhibiting TNF-α mRNA expression. 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that MT disrupted the intestinal flora and increased the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Acinetobacter, whereas VC promoted Lactobacillus production and enhanced digestive enzyme activity. We hypothesize that MT exposure promotes the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestines, leading to inflammation and damage to the mucosal barrier. 25 and 50 mg/kg VC can mitigate MT-induced intestinal injury by regulating the intestinal microbiota and have potential protective effects.
17α-甲基睾酮（MT）是一种环境内分泌干扰物（EDC），广泛存在于水生环境中，对水生生物的健康构成潜在威胁。本研究旨在探讨维生素C（VC）对MT诱导的鲫鱼肠道损伤的保护作用，并评估最佳VC剂量。将鲫鱼暴露于50 ng/L MT中，并分别添加0、25、50和150 mg/kg VC，持续7、14和21天。使用石蜡切片评估肠道病理变化，测量消化酶活性，采用RT-qPCR分析与肠道屏障和炎症相关基因的表达，并进行16S rDNA测序以评估肠道菌群。MT暴露导致绒毛损伤、空泡化和游离淋巴细胞。此外，它上调了TNF-α和Claudin-12的表达，下调了IL-10、Occludin和Muc2的表达，加剧了肠道炎症，破坏了屏障功能并降低了消化酶活性。25和50 mg/kg的VC通过恢复绒毛长度、减轻抗炎因子和紧密连接蛋白相关基因的下调，同时抑制TNF-α mRNA表达，显著减轻了MT诱导的损伤。16S rDNA测序显示，MT破坏了肠道菌群，增加了不动杆菌等有害细菌的丰度，而VC促进了乳酸杆菌的产生并增强了消化酶活性。我们推测，MT暴露促进了肠道中有害细菌的生长，导致炎症和黏膜屏障损伤。25和50 mg/kg的VC可以通过调节肠道微生物群减轻MT诱导的肠道损伤，并具有潜在的保护作用。
