ORCID Profile
0000-0001-8855-0485
Current Organisation
South China Normal University
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.AQUATOX.2015.01.006
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of progestins on the sex differentiation of zebrafish by measuring the sex ratio and transcriptions of genes related to sex differentiation (Amh, Dmrt1, Figa, Sox9a and Sox9b genes) as well as sex hormone levels and transcriptional expression profiles along the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes in juvenile zebrafish. Exposure of zebrafish to 4, 33, 63ngL(-1) progesterone (P4) or 4, 34, 77ngL(-1) norgestrel (NGT) started at 20 days post fertilization (dpf) and ended at 60 dpf. The results showed that exposure to P4 caused a significant increase in proportion of females as well as significant down-regulation of Amh gene and up-regulation of Figa at a concentration of 63ngL(-1). However, the shift in the sex ratio toward males was observed following exposure to 34 and 77ngL(-1) NGT, which came along with the significant induction of Dmrt1 gene and inhibition of Figa gene. The sex hormones in exposed fish were measured with estrone being detected only in the fish exposed to the highest P4 concentration whereas estradiol and androstenedione were detected only in the fish of the control and lowest NGT concentration. Furthermore, the increase in females was associated with the significant up-regulation of several key genes controlling the synthesis of sex hormones (i.e., Cyp17, Cyp19a1a and Hsd3b) following exposure to 63ngL(-1) P4 whereas the significant down-regulation of Cyp11a1, Cyp17, Cyp19a1a and Hsd3b genes was observed in the male-biased populations caused by 34 and 77ngL(-1) NGT. The overall results imply that both P4 and NGT could significantly affect sex differentiation in zebrafish, and that changes may be reflected by altered sex hormone levels and transcriptional expression profiles of genes related to synthesis of sex hormones.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 13-07-2018
Abstract: Synthetic progestins are widely used in human and veterinary medicine. They can enter aquatic environments mainly via wastewater discharge and agricultural runoff, thus affecting fish populations in receiving waters. Here, we investigated the chronic effects of dydrogesterone (DDG) on zebrafish from 21 to 140 days post-fertilization (dpf) at 3.39, 33.1, and 329 ng L
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.CBPC.2013.03.003
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the hormonal effects of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in vitro on recombinant yeasts and in vivo on mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). The in vitro bioassays for (anti-)androgenic activities showed that TBBPA had a weak androgenic activity in vitro with recombinant yeast systems carrying human androgen receptor (hAR). In the in vivo bioassays, the gene expression patterns of vitellogenin (Vtg), estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ), and androgen receptors (ARα and ARβ) in adult males and juveniles after exposure to TBBPA for 60 days were evaluated. Significant up-regulation of Vtg, ERα, and ERβ mRNAs was observed in the liver after exposure to 500 nM of TBBPA. In the testis, the lowest concentration of TBBPA (50 nM) markedly induced Vtg, ERβ, and ARβ mRNA expression, but the same concentration significantly inhibited ARα mRNA expression. In addition, in juveniles, 100 nM of TBBPA significantly up-regulated the expression of Vtg, ERβ, and ARα mRNAs. However, TBPPA did not cause histological alterations in the liver and testis of adult male mosquitofish. The results from this present study suggest that TBBPA could display low but multiple hormonal activities despite its low toxicity to mosquitofish.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-04-2012
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2011
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-02-2017
DOI: 10.1007/S00128-017-2046-1
Abstract: Little information has so far been known on the effects of synthetic progestogen dydrogesterone (DDG) in organisms like fish. This study aimed to investigate the effects of DDG on the transcriptional and biochemical alterations in zebrafish eleuthero-embryos. Zebrafish eleuthero-embryos were analyzed for the transcriptional alterations by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and biochemical changes by attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FITR) after 144 h exposure to DDG. The results of qPCR analysis showed that DDG exposure significantly suppressed the transcriptions of target genes involved in hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, while it induced the expression of target genes mRNA belonging to hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis. In addition, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy analysis showed that the biochemical alterations of protein, nucleic acid and lipid were observed following DDG treatment. The finding from this study suggests that DDG exposure could have potential multiple effects in fish.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 16-02-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.CBPC.2013.05.001
Abstract: The molecular mechanisms that mediate fish reproduction and detoxification in response to steroid hormones were studied by using adult male western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) as sentinel species. The expression patterns of three vitellogenins (VtgA, VtgB and VtgC), two estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ), two androgen receptors (ARα and ARβ), metallothionein (MT) and cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) in the liver and testis of adult male mosquitofish were assessed through exposure treatments with progesterone (P), testosterone (T) and 17β-estradiol (E2), alone and in combination for eight days. The results showed that expression patterns of Vtg subtype, ER subtype, AR subtype, MT and CYP1A genes in male mosquitofish varied according to tissue and specific hormone stress. Vtg subtype mRNA expression was induced in the liver in E2-added treatments, and an up-regulation of ERα mRNA expression was also observed. In addition, hormone treatments increased three Vtg subtype mRNA expression levels in the testis, at least to some extent. All hormone treatments significantly inhibited ERα, ERβ and ARβ mRNA expression in the testis. Some of hormone treatments could affect MT and CYP1A gene expression in mosquitofish. In general, multiple hormone treatments showed different effects on target gene expression compared with corresponding hormone alone. The results from the present study provided valuable information on the toxicological effects of steroid hormones in mosquitofish.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2019.06.170
Abstract: Selenite(IV) and selenate(VI) are the major species of Se in the seleniferous aquatic ecosystem. The redistribution of Se in the water/sediment microcosm by bioturbation remains largely unknown. In this study, the redistribution of Se in the water/sediment microcosm by the benthic oligochaete Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri was assessed. The worms were exposed to 2-40 μg/g dry weight of Se(IV) or Se(VI) in the sediment (diet) for 2 months. The changes in the Se levels in different compartments of the microcosm (sediment, overlying water, and worms) were quantified after 2 weeks and 2 months. The subcellular distribution of Se in the worms were also evaluated. Finally, the volatilization of Se from the two Se sources was estimated. The results showed that Se concentration in the overlying water and Se bioaccumulation in the worms were increased with Se levels in the sediments. Approximately 1.6-9.8% of Se was volatilized in the absence of the worms and was intensified in the presence of the worms (2.1-25.7%). The subcellular distribution witnessed high levels of Se in the cell debris (>60%). Se(IV) and Se(VI) differ in their bioaccumulation, redistribution and the effects on the growth of the worms. Our results suggest that the bioturbation by benthos play an essential role in the redistribution of Se in the water/sediment microcosm.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2016.04.127
Abstract: This study investigated toxic effects in mosquitofish from two urban rivers of South China impacted by municipal effluents by using multiple biomarkers including fish morphology, biochemical indicators and transcriptional responses, and explored potential cause-effect relationship with a list of chemicals (metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and pesticides). The results showed significant alterations in metallothionein (MT) protein and mRNA expression in mosquitofish collected from the two rivers and a strong association between MT protein and mRNA expression levels and heavy metals in the river water. Both ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity and cytochromes P450 1A (CYP1A) mRNA expression were significantly enhanced in mosquitofish at most s ling sites. There existed a strong correlation between EROD activity and CYP1A mRNA expression levels, but no clear correlations between these responses and PAHs in the river water possibly because of the presence of many other agonists of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in the two rivers. Significant acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition was observed in mosquitofish brain s les. The pesticides in the two rivers showed an influence on the AChE activity, which was also found to be significantly negatively correlated to fipronil concentrations. Moreover, the result also indicates that metals and pesticides present in the two rivers might cause the observed estrogenic and androgenic effects in mosquitofish. The findings from this study clearly showed morphological, biochemical and transcriptional responses in mosquitofish due to chemical contamination of the two urban rivers. This multi-biomarker approach using mosquitofish can be applied to evaluate contamination of riverine environments.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2018.10.202
Abstract: Dydrogesterone (DDG) is a synthetic progestin broadly used in human and veterinary medicine and has been widely detected in aquatic environments. However, its potential effects on aquatic organisms are little documented. Here we investigate the short-term effects of DDG on the transcriptional and histological responses in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). Adult zebrafish were exposed to 32.0, 305 and 2490 ng L
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2019.05.231
Abstract: Domestic wastewaters are an important source of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the receiving aquatic environment. Most rural domestic wastewaters (RDWs) in China have been directly discharged into the aquatic environment without any treatment. Here we studied the effects of RDWs on the western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) from two rural rivers receiving untreated RDWs. Mosquitofish s les were collected at 5 s ling sites along two rivers during dry and wet seasons. Sex ratios, secondary sex characteristics and transcriptional levels of target genes related to the endocrine system in adult females and males were determined. In parallel, various pollutants including steroid hormones, phenolic compounds, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals were measured in the water s les at all sites. The results showed that the androgenic effects in the fish were evidenced by significant increase in male to female ratio in fish populations at two s ling sites and by the presence of modified hemal spines in females at four s ling sites when compared to the reference site. The males from the two rivers had increased Vtg mRNA expressions with a maximal 6.2-fold increase relative to the reference site and a delayed development of hemal spines. The redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that some physiological parameters were related to steroid hormones, phenolic compounds and PAHs. The findings from this study suggest that RDWs can lead to masculinization in females and feminization in males.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2012
DOI: 10.1016/J.CBPA.2012.02.006
Abstract: To assess the adverse toxicological effects of steroid hormones on western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), 180 adult females were exposed to in idual or binary combinations of progesterone (1μg/L), testosterone (1μg/L) and 17β-estradiol (1μg/L) for eight days. The expression patterns of vitellogenin, estrogen receptor, androgen receptor, metallothionein, and cytochrome P450 1A genes in mosquitofish varied according to tissue as well as the specificity of steroids. Treatment by progesterone or testosterone alone inhibited target gene expression in the livers. The expression levels of both vitellogenin A and vitellogenin B mRNAs were up-regulated by17β-estradiol, and a parallel induction of estrogen receptor α mRNA expression was also observed in the livers. In addition, 17β-estradiol treatment alone suppressed androgen receptor α, metallothionein and cytochrome P450 1A mRNA expression in the livers. In general, multiple hormone treatments had different effects on target gene expression compared with corresponding hormone alone. The results demonstrate that steroid hormones cause multiple biological responses including the expression of vitellogenin, estrogen receptor and androgen receptor mRNA in the hormone signaling pathways and the expression of metallothionein and cytochrome P450 1A mRNA in the xenobiotic signaling pathway.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.ECOENV.2019.03.021
Abstract: Natural and synthetic estrogens and progestins are present in the various aquatic environments, leading to potential exposure of aquatic organisms to their mixtures. However, very little is known about their combined effects in aquatic organisms. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of binary mixtures of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) by measuring transcriptional changes of up to 42 selected target genes related to hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and circadian rhythm signaling in zebrafish (Danio rerio) eleuthero-embryos. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to E2 and P4 alone or in combination at concentrations between 45 and 5217 ng L
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2015.01.062
Abstract: Progesterone (P4) has been reported in surface water, and it may have adverse effects on aquatic organisms. This study provided the transcriptional effects of P4 during the early development of zebrafish. Zebrafish embryos were exposed for 144 h post fertilization (hpf) to 0, 6, 45 and 90 ng L(-1) P4, and transcriptional expression profiles of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes were assessed every day. For the receptor signaling pathways, P4 significantly induced the transcript of Pgr gene above 45 ng L(-1) at 72 and 144 hpf, but inhibited its transcript above 6 ng L(-1) at 96 and 120 hpf. A significant up-regulation of Vtg1 mRNA was observed at 6 ng L(-1) P4 or higher at 24, 96 and 144 hpf. For the steroidogenic pathways, the transcriptional expression of Cyp11a1 and Hsd17b3 mRNAs was mediated by 6 ng L(-1) P4 or higher according to different exposure time points. In addition, P4 resulted in a significant induction of Cyp19a1a and Cyp11b mRNA expression while it caused a significant inhibition of Hsd11b2 mRNA expression above 6 ng L(-1). For the other target genes related to hypothalamic and pituitary hormones, P4 mainly modulated the transcripts of Gnrh2, Fshb and Lhb genes at 6 ng L(-1) or higher. The overall results from the present study indicate that P4 at environmentally relevant concentrations could cause the potential effects on zebrafish reproductive and adrenal endocrine systems by interfering with the HPG and HPA axes.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVPOL.2014.12.026
Abstract: We investigated the bioaccumulation of antibiotics in bile, plasma, liver and muscle tissues of wild fish from four rivers in the Pearl River Delta region. In total, 12 antibiotics were present in at least one type of fish tissues from nine wild fish species in the four rivers. The mean values of log bioaccumulation factors (log BAFs) for the detected antibiotics in fish bile, plasma, liver, and muscle tissues were at the range of 2.06-4.08, 1.85-3.47, 1.41-3.51, and 0.48-2.70, respectively. As the digestion tissues, fish bile, plasma, and liver showed strong bioaccumulation ability for some antibiotics, indicating a different bioaccumulation pattern from hydrophobic organic contaminants. Human health risk assessment based on potential fish consumption indicates that these antibiotics do not appear to pose an appreciable risk to human health. To the best of our knowledge, this is first report of bioaccumulation patterns of antibiotics in wild fish bile and plasma.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-02-2021
No related grants have been discovered for Guo-Yong Huang.