An emerging water contaminant, semicarbazide, exerts an anti-estrogenic effect in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2014 Sep;93(3):280-8. doi: 10.1007/s00128-014-1305-7. Epub 2014 Jun 15.

Abstract

To determine the endocrine disrupting effect of semicarbazide, an emerging water contaminant, the changes in transcript levels of hepatic estrogen-response genes including vitellogenin-1 (vtg-1), estrogen receptor α (ERα), and estrogen receptor β (ERβ) were measured in male and female zebrafish exposed to semicarbazide with or without exogenous 17β-estradiol (E2). Exposure of male zebrafish to semicarbazide for 96 h or 28 days resulted in no significant induction in hepatic vtg-1, ERα, or ERβ mRNA expression, indicating that semicarbazide has no estrogenic effect. However, a remarkable anti-estrogenic effect of semicarbazide was demonstrated: semicarbazide treatment of female zebrafish for 96 h and 28 days resulted in significant decreases in transcript levels of vtg-1, ERα, and ERβ, as well as decreases in the gonadosomatic index level after 28 days. Moreover, semicarbazide exposure significantly inhibited the induction of vtg-1, ERα and ERβ mRNA by E2 when male zebrafish were co-exposed for 28 days.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Endocrine Disruptors / metabolism
  • Endocrine Disruptors / toxicity*
  • Estradiol / metabolism
  • Estrogens / metabolism
  • Female
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism*
  • Semicarbazides / toxicity*
  • Vitellogenins / metabolism*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / metabolism
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity*
  • Zebrafish / metabolism

Substances

  • Endocrine Disruptors
  • Estrogens
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Semicarbazides
  • Vitellogenins
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • carbamylhydrazine
  • Estradiol