TY - JOUR
T1 - Cloning of estrogen receptor alpha and aromatase cDNAs and gene expression in turtles (Chrysemys picta and Pseudemys scripta) exposed to different environments
AU - Marquez, Emily C.
AU - Traylor-Knowles, Nikki
AU - Novillo-Villajos, Apolonia
AU - Callard, Ian P.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2011/9
Y1 - 2011/9
N2 - Reproductive changes have been observed in painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) from a site with known contamination located on Cape Cod, MA, USA. We hypothesize that these changes are caused by exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds and that genes playing a significant role in reproduction are affected. cDNA sequences were determined for estrogen receptor alpha and aromatase in the painted turtle. These genes were measured in our study animals using quantitative PCR. Adult turtles were trapped from our study site (Moody Pond, MP) or a reference site (Washburn Pond) and exposed to laboratory environments containing soil from either site. The red-eared slider (Pseudemys scripta), a pond turtle closely related to the painted turtle, was used to assess neonatal exposure to soil and water from the sites. Our results show an increase in hepatic estrogen receptor, which suggests exposure to estrogenic contaminants. Female turtles from MP appear to have a long-term effect on hepatic ER. Other findings were apparent age-dependent differences in expression of aromatase and ER in the brains of neonate and year-old juvenile turtles. Phylogenetic analyses of the cDNA sequences further support the hypothesis that turtles are in a sister clade to birds and crocodilians.
AB - Reproductive changes have been observed in painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) from a site with known contamination located on Cape Cod, MA, USA. We hypothesize that these changes are caused by exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds and that genes playing a significant role in reproduction are affected. cDNA sequences were determined for estrogen receptor alpha and aromatase in the painted turtle. These genes were measured in our study animals using quantitative PCR. Adult turtles were trapped from our study site (Moody Pond, MP) or a reference site (Washburn Pond) and exposed to laboratory environments containing soil from either site. The red-eared slider (Pseudemys scripta), a pond turtle closely related to the painted turtle, was used to assess neonatal exposure to soil and water from the sites. Our results show an increase in hepatic estrogen receptor, which suggests exposure to estrogenic contaminants. Female turtles from MP appear to have a long-term effect on hepatic ER. Other findings were apparent age-dependent differences in expression of aromatase and ER in the brains of neonate and year-old juvenile turtles. Phylogenetic analyses of the cDNA sequences further support the hypothesis that turtles are in a sister clade to birds and crocodilians.
KW - Aromatase
KW - Environmental contaminants
KW - Estrogen receptor
KW - Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR)
KW - Reptile
KW - Turtle
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U2 - 10.1016/j.cbpc.2011.05.008
DO - 10.1016/j.cbpc.2011.05.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 21664488
AN - SCOPUS:79960951516
VL - 154
SP - 213
EP - 225
JO - Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part - C: Toxicology and Pharmacology
JF - Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part - C: Toxicology and Pharmacology
SN - 1532-0456
IS - 3
ER -