Vitellogenin (Vtg) is the major egg-yolk precursor protein in oviparous organisms normally synthesised only in mature females. In males and juveniles, the vtg gene, although present, is silent, but its hepatic expression may be activated by xenoestrogens. Surprisingly, its induction and potential consequences in non-hepatic tissues remain unexplored. Here we test the hepatic and testicular response of vtg expression in adult male rainbowfish Melanotaenia fluviatilis exposed to either 1, 3, 5 lg/L 17bestradiol or 100, 500 lg/L 4-n-nonylphenol for 24–96 h. Significant increase in the expression level of vtg mRNA in the liver and testes of exposed males was observed. The early (24 h), sensitive and reliable detection of the vtg induction using qPCR demonstrates the assay’s robustness to monitor xenobiotic exposure particularly in smaller fish like rainbowfish, an emerging indicator species. Whilst, the ectopic induction of vtg mRNA in testes suggests a more complex Vtg pathway

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences
Research Group:	Fisheries sciences
Research Field:	Fish physiology and genetics
Objective Division:	Environmental Management
Objective Group:	Marine systems and management
Objective Field:	Assessment and management of benthic marine ecosystems
UTAS Author:	Patil, JG (Dr Jawahar Patil)
ID Code:	86085
Year Published:	2013
Web of Science® Times Cited:	7
Deposited By:	NC Marine Conservation and Resource Sustainability
Deposited On:	2013-08-22
Last Modified:	2018-03-17
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