Liu Peipei, Fan Qichao, Miao Jingjing, Wang Lu, Jiang Shanshan, Pan Luqing
Key Laboratory of Maricultural, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development, Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Ecosystem and Bioresource, Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, 536000, China.
Key Laboratory of Maricultural, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
Mar Environ Res. 2025 Sep;210:107303. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107303. Epub 2025 Jun 18.
The contamination of marine sediments by endocrine-disruptive contaminants (EDCs) represents a global threat to marine ecosystems. Among these pollutants, 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) and 17β-estradiol (E2) are particularly noted for their potent endocrine-disrupting effects in aquatic organisms. This study employed juvenile Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum), with genetically determined sexes, as model organisms in a 14-day exposure experiment. The clams were exposed to 4-NP and E2 at concentrations of 0 (control), 0.1, 1, and 10 μg/L. We primarily investigated the effects on steroidogenesis and vitellogenin (VTG) expression, which are key factors in assessing endocrine disruption. Results showed that 4-NP inhibited shell growth at all tested concentrations, and increased free E2 in tissues levels were observed in clams exposed to 0.1 μg/L of 4-NP on both the 7th and 14th days. Conversely, E2 did not significantly affect free E2 in tissues levels. Notably, exposure to 1 μg/L 4-NP significantly upregulated mRNA expression of genes involved in the steroidogenesis pathway (GnRH, CYP17, and 17β-HSD) in genetically female juveniles. Both male and female juveniles showed increased VTG mRNA expression after 4-NP exposure. These findings confirm the endocrine-disrupting potential of 4-NP, particularly affecting genetically female juveniles. The alterations in key genes involved in steroidogenesis and the upregulation of VTG expression highlight the vulnerability of bivalves to EDCs. This study underscores the importance of VTG expression as a reliable biomarker for assessing the estrogenic impacts and action mechanisms of EDCs in juvenile bivalves.
内分泌干扰污染物（EDCs）对海洋沉积物的污染是对海洋生态系统的全球威胁。在这些污染物中，4-壬基酚（4-NP）和17β-雌二醇（E2）因其对水生生物具有强大的内分泌干扰作用而尤为引人注目。本研究采用具有遗传决定性别特征的菲律宾蛤仔幼体作为模式生物，进行了为期14天的暴露实验。蛤仔分别暴露于浓度为0（对照）、0.1、1和10μg/L的4-NP和E2中。我们主要研究了对类固醇生成和卵黄蛋白原（VTG）表达的影响，这是评估内分泌干扰的关键因素。结果表明，在所有测试浓度下，4-NP均抑制贝壳生长，在第7天和第14天暴露于0.1μg/L 4-NP的蛤仔中观察到组织中游离E2水平升高。相反，E2对组织中游离E2水平没有显著影响。值得注意的是，暴露于1μg/L 4-NP显著上调了遗传雌性幼体中参与类固醇生成途径的基因（GnRH、CYP17和17β-HSD）的mRNA表达。4-NP暴露后，雄性和雌性幼体的VTG mRNA表达均增加。这些发现证实了4-NP的内分泌干扰潜力，尤其对遗传雌性幼体有影响。参与类固醇生成的关键基因的改变以及VTG表达的上调突出了双壳贝类对EDCs的脆弱性。本研究强调了VTG表达作为评估EDCs对双壳贝类幼体雌激素影响和作用机制的可靠生物标志物的重要性。
