IN-VIVO ESTROGENIC ACTIVITY OF NONYLPHENOL IN RAINBOW-TROUT

Estrogenic compounds have been shown to induce specific endocrine syst em responses in various species. The protein vitellogenin and its corr esponding mRNA have been shown to be induced by estrogenic chemicals i n aquatic species. In this investigation the estrogenic chemical nonyl phenol was studied in rainbow trout for lethality, estrogenicity, and persistence of effects through the use of reverse transcription polyme rase chain reaction of liver vitellogenin mRNA. These results show tha t nonylphenol produces estrogenic effects in rainbow trout at concentr ations well below the LC50. (C) 1996 Society of Toxicology