Vitellogenin biomarker

Garcia-Reyero N, Raldua D, Quiros L, Llaveria G, Cerda J, Barcelo D, Grimalt JO, Pina B (2004) Use of vitellogenin mRNA as a biomarker for endocrine disruption in feral and cultured fish. Anal Bioanal Chem 378 670-675... 

An important question in this area relates to the widespread use of exposure biomarker responses for monitoring effluents and receiving waters for endocrine disrupter activity. In oviparous species, vitellogenin is the major example of such a... 

These effects are irreversible and can be reproduced in fish in the laboratory. The male fish have now been found to produce a protein (vitellogenin, found in the yolk of eggs) that is normally produced only by female fish in response to the female hormone (oestrogen). Vitellogenin is produced by male fish both in polluted rivers and in the laboratory when they are exposed to known endocrine disruptors. The protein is used as a biomarker for this effect (see box). 

Blaise, C., Gagne, F., Pellerin, J. and Hansen, P.-D. (1999) Determination of vitellogenin-like properties in Mya arenaria hemolymph (Saguenay Fjord, Canada) a potential biomarker for endocrine disruption. Environ. Toxicol., 14, 455-465. 

V. Applications of vitellogenin as a biomarker for detection of estrogenic activity... 

Assessment of the estrogenic impacts of EDCs requires development of sensitive, simple, and accurate assay systems for evaluating their bioactivity. Several estrogen-regulated proteins have been utilized as biomarkers of exposure of fish and wildlife to EDCs. The yolk precursor protein, vitellogenin (Vg), has been used most frequently for such assessments. In oviparous vertebrates, Vg is produced by the liver of maturing females in response to E2, secreted into the bloodstream, and then taken up... 

Cheek, A., T. Brouwer, S. Carroll, S. Manning, J. McLachlan and M. Brouwer. Experimental evaluation of vitellogenin as a predictive biomarker of reproductive disruption. Environ. Health Perspect. 109 681 -690, 2001. 

Heppell, S.A., N.D. Denslow, L.C. Folmar and C.V. Sullivan. Universal assay of vitellogenin as a biomarker for environmental estrogens. Environ. Health Perspect. 103 9—15, 1995. 

Palmer, B.D. and K.W. Selcer. Vitellogenin as a biomarker for xenobiotic estrogens a review. In Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment Biomarkers and Risk Assessment, ASTM STP 1306, Vol. 5, edited by D.A. Bengtson and D.S. Henshel, pp. 3-21, 1996. 

Tyler, C.R., B. van der Eerden, S. Jobling, G. Panter and J.P. Sumpter. Measurement of vitellogenin, a biomarker for exposure to estrogenic chemicals, in a wide variety of cyprinid fish. J. Comp. Physiol. 166B 418-426, 1996. 

Reference should be made to the vitellogenin assay that has been used as a biomarker for estrogenic effects in fish (Section 7.6.1). 

Biomarkers The observation of biological responses can also be used as an indication of EDC exposure. In studies where fish have been exposed to sewage the results have indicated that sewage effluent was estrogenic in nature. Exposed fish experienced a rapid and pronounced increase in their plasma vitellogenin concentrations. Rainbow trout and wild roach populations from various river sites have shown evidence of vitellogenin induction. Quantification of... 

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