Effects of benzo(a)pyrene exposure on killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) aromatase activities and mRNA.

ABSTRACT: Cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19) plays an important role in steroid homoeostasis by converting androgens to estrogens. To evaluate the effects of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a model carcinogenic PAH and AhR ligand, on aromatase mRNA expression and enzyme activity, adult Fundulus were exposed to water-borne BaP (1 and 10 microg/L) for 15 days, and embryos were exposed to 10 microg/L for 10 days. Effects of BaP were examined by tissue, gender, and season in adults. Constitutively, the sexes did not have significantly different CYP19A2 mRNA levels, however females had higher brain aromatase activity. Female control killifish had more than 700-fold more CYP19A1 mRNA in their gonads compared to males. Within brain tissue of both sexes, there was 100-fold more CYP19A2 mRNA compared to CYP19A1. In ova

SUBMITTER: Patel MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1940838 | biostudies-literature | 2006 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature