Gaurav Pratibha, Joshi Megha, Chaube Radha, Jiwatram Gautam Geeta
Zoology Department, M.M.V, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Bioinformatics Department, M.M.V, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 24;15(1):14307. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-92226-y.
Toxicogenomics study reveals information of gene activity and proteins within the particular cells or tissue of an organism in response to toxic substances. 4-Nonylphenol is a potent environmental contaminant and endocrine disruptor. This study elucidates the toxic and xeno-estrogenic effect of 4-Nonylphenol from the cellular level to the gene level by in vivo and in silico approach. In vivo, studies show that exposure of 4-Nonylphenol at a low dose 64µgL and a high dose of 160µgL for 30 days to 60 days of duration during pre-spawning to the spawning period in testes of Heteropneustes fossilis causes cellular level toxicity i.e., dose and duration dependent clumping of spermatocytes. Dose and duration-dependent decrease in superoxide dismutase(SOD), Catalase, glutathione peroxidase(GPx) and increase in lipid peroxidase (LPO) level in testes. There was a dose and duration-dependent decrease in total antioxidant status and increased level of total oxidant status in the testicular tissue of H. fossilis along with an increase in cortisol level 0.4-NP caused alteration in antioxidant enzyme levels impedes the first line of defense mechanism in the body of an organism. There was a dose-dependent increase in necrosis percentage in testicular cells, cell death, and an increase in total ROS (reactive oxygen species) in a dose-dependent manner in testicular cells of H. fossilis. 4-NP causes gene level toxicity i.e., increased DNA migration or DNA fragmentation. Upregulation of gene expression of gonadal aromatase (CYP19a1a) and downregulation of the 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3-β HSD) gene in testes were observed. In silico studies also confirmed the interacting potency of 4-NP with steroid enzyme 3- β HSD and CYP19a1a. Present investigations shows that exposure to water bodies contaminated with xenoestrogens like 4-NP has significantly reduced reproductive parameters like fertilization, fecundity, hatching, and larval survival in numerous fish species.4-NP causes alteration in gene expression of the proteins which are very crucial for reproduction and maintenance of maleness. Due to chronic exposure to 4-NP, it becomes a toxicant causing tissue cell death. So, the harmful impact of 4-NP on reproduction in teleost fish is concerning, not just for the fish themselves but for the entire ecosystem. Therefore, efforts should be made to reduce the contamination of water bodies with xenoestrogens.
毒理基因组学研究揭示了生物体特定细胞或组织内基因活性和蛋白质在接触有毒物质时的信息。4-壬基酚是一种强效环境污染物和内分泌干扰物。本研究通过体内和计算机模拟方法,从细胞水平到基因水平阐明了4-壬基酚的毒性和外源性雌激素效应。在体内,研究表明,在印度胡鲶睾丸产卵前期到产卵期,以64µgL的低剂量和160µgL的高剂量暴露于4-壬基酚30天至60天,会导致细胞水平的毒性,即精子细胞出现剂量和时间依赖性的聚集。睾丸中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPx)的水平呈剂量和时间依赖性降低,脂质过氧化物(LPO)水平升高。印度胡鲶睾丸组织中的总抗氧化状态呈剂量和时间依赖性降低,总氧化状态水平升高,同时皮质醇水平升高。0.4-NP导致抗氧化酶水平改变,阻碍了生物体体内的第一道防御机制。印度胡鲶睾丸细胞中的坏死百分比、细胞死亡呈剂量依赖性增加,睾丸细胞中的总活性氧(ROS)也呈剂量依赖性增加。4-NP导致基因水平的毒性,即DNA迁移增加或DNA片段化。观察到睾丸中性腺芳香化酶(CYP19a1a)基因表达上调,3-β-羟基类固醇脱氢酶(3-β HSD)基因表达下调。计算机模拟研究也证实了4-NP与类固醇酶3-β HSD和CYP19a1a的相互作用能力。目前的研究表明,接触受4-NP等外源性雌激素污染的水体,已显著降低了许多鱼类的繁殖参数,如受精率、繁殖力、孵化率和幼体存活率。4-NP会导致对繁殖和维持雄性特征至关重要的蛋白质的基因表达发生改变。由于长期接触4-NP,它成为一种导致组织细胞死亡的毒物。因此,4-NP对硬骨鱼繁殖的有害影响令人担忧,不仅关乎鱼类本身,还关乎整个生态系统。所以,应努力减少水体中外源性雌激素的污染。