Effects of atrazine and chlorpyrifos on DNA methylation in the brain and gonad of the common carp

Houjuan Xing; Chao Wang; Hongda Wu; Dechun Chen; Shu Li; Shiwen Xu

doi:10.1016/j.cbpc.2014.11.002

Effects of atrazine and chlorpyrifos on DNA methylation in the brain and gonad of the common carp

Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol. 2015 Feb:168:11-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2014.11.002. Epub 2014 Nov 18.

Authors

Houjuan Xing¹, Chao Wang², Hongda Wu³, Dechun Chen⁴, Shu Li⁵, Shiwen Xu⁶

Affiliations

¹ College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, 59 Mucai Street, Harbin 150030, China; Animal Health Supervision Institute of Heilongjiang Province, 243 Haping Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150069, PR China.
² College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, 59 Mucai Street, Harbin 150030, China.
³ Institute of Animal Science, Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Heilongjiang Province, 368 Xuefu Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150086, PR China.
⁴ College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, 59 Mucai Street, Harbin 150030, China.
⁵ College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, 59 Mucai Street, Harbin 150030, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, 59 Mucai Street, Harbin 150030, China. Electronic address: lishu@neau.edu.cn.
⁶ College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, 59 Mucai Street, Harbin 150030, China. Electronic address: shiwenxu@neau.edu.cn.

PMID: 25460047
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2014.11.002

Abstract

DNA methylation is known to play an important role in the regulation of gene expression in animal. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of atrazine (ATR), chlorpyrifos (CPF) and combined ATR/CPF exposure on DNA methylation in the brain and gonad of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). The carp were sampled after a 40-d exposure to CPF and ATR, individually or in combination, followed by a 40-d recovery to measure the levels of global DNA methylation and the expression of methylation enzymes (DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and methylcytosine binding domain 2 (MBD2)) in the brain and gonad tissues. The results revealed that a significant global DNA hypomethylation in the common carp exposed to ATR, CPF and their mixture was observed compared to the control fish. The MBD2 mRNA expression was up-regulated in the brain and gonad of the common carp exposed to ATR, CPF and their mixture, in contrast, the DNMTs mRNA expression was down-regulated. The information regarding the effects of ATR and CPF on DNA methylation status generated in this study is important for pesticides toxicology evaluation. However, the effect of ATR and CPF on the methylation status of specific genes, as well as its detailed mechanism requires further investigation.

Keywords: DNA methylation; Fish; Pesticides; Principal component analysis; Western blot; mRNA.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Atrazine / adverse effects*
Brain / drug effects*
Brain / metabolism
Carps / metabolism*
Chlorpyrifos / adverse effects*
DNA Methylation / drug effects*
DNA Modification Methylases / metabolism
DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
Down-Regulation / drug effects
Gene Expression / drug effects
Gonads / drug effects*
Gonads / metabolism
Herbicides / adverse effects
Insecticides / adverse effects
RNA, Messenger / metabolism
Water Pollutants, Chemical / adverse effects

Substances

DNA-Binding Proteins
Herbicides
Insecticides
MBD2 protein
RNA, Messenger
Water Pollutants, Chemical
DNA Modification Methylases
Chlorpyrifos
Atrazine