A. Arukwe et al., FISH ZONA RADIATA (EGGSHELL) PROTEIN - A SENSITIVE BIOMARKER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ESTROGENS, Environmental health perspectives, 105(4), 1997, pp. 418-422
Environmental estrogens have recently caused great concern because of
their ability to mimic natural hormones and influence vital endocrine
functions in humans and wildlife. The induction of vitellogenin (Vtg)
synthesis by environmental estrogens in viviparous vertebrates has bee
n proposed as an effective and sensitive biomarker of estrogenicity. I
mmunochemical analysis of plasma from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) ex
posed to 4-nonylphenol (NP) or to effluent from oil refinery treatment
plant (ORTP), shows that NP and ORTP effluent induces Vtg and zona ra
diata proteins (Zrp) in a dose-dependent manner. However, Zrp-beta cro
ss-reactive proteins are more responsive than Zrp-alpha, Zrp-gamma, an
d Vtg. The sensitivity of Zrp induction points to the zona radiata pro
teins as alternate biomarkers of estrogenicity.