Sustained high temperature increases the vitellogenin response to 17α-ethynylestradiol in mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus)

Abstract

Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus), an estuarine fish of the western Atlantic, were acclimated to three salinities (0, 16 or 32ppt) or three temperatures (10, 20 or 26°C) and exposed to nominal 50 or 250ng/L 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) for 14 days. In a separate experiment, fish were exposed to the same levels of EE2 and were subjected to a 1h heat shock (20–30°C) on the 14th day and allowed to recover for 20h. We were interested in whether or not susceptibility to EE2 exposure, as indicated by increases in vitellogenin (vtg) gene expression would change with high and low salinity, warm or cold temperature acclimation or acute heat shock. We also investigated the potential role of heat shock proteins (HSPs) under these conditions. Liver vtg1 mRNA was significantly induced in male mummichog exposed to 50 and 250ng/L EE2, but salinity acclimation or acute heat shock did not further affect this induction. Males acclimated to 26°C and exposed to 250ng/L EE2 induced 3.5-fold more vtg1 mRNA than EE2 exposed males acclimated to 10°C. HSP90 and HSP70 protein were largely unaffected by EE2 exposure. Our findings suggest that mummichog are more susceptible to EE2 under sustained temperature increases that may occur seasonally or with warming of coastal waters.