Expression profiles of the gene retinoid X receptor in <italic>Parafossarulus striatulus </italic>(freshwater snail) exposed to environmental hormones

Abstract

<p indent="0mm">Retinoid X receptor (RXR) is an important gene with various roles in the regulation of sex development and endocrine behavior in mollusks. To reveal the regulatory effect of environmental hormones on RXR gene expression in mollusks, the RXR gene was cloned from <italic>Parafossarulus striatulus</italic> using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and rapid-amplification of cDNA ends, and then primers were designed based on the previous construction of the RXR transcriptome of <italic>P</italic>.<italic> striatulus</italic>. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to quantify the expression level of the RXR gene in <italic>P</italic>.<italic> striatulus</italic> exposed to environmental hormones. The expression of the RXR gene was first inhibited and then increased after E2 treatment, but was first induced and then inhibited after MT treatment. The results indicate that environmental hormones may have toxicological effects on <italic>P</italic>.<italic> striatulus</italic>. At the molecular level, the results provide an analytical method to determine the effects of environmental hormones on RXR and the associated regulation of endocrine behavior of mollusks, and to establish a basis for molecular informatics analysis.