It has been reported that endocrine disrupter compounds (EDCs) interfere with the endocrine system, mimicking the action of sex steroid hormones in different species of mollusks. Prosobranchs are frequently used as a reliable bioindicator to evaluate EDC exposure. In this article, we evaluate the effects of the xenoestrogen 4-n-nonylphenol (NP) in the prosobranch gastropod Patella caerulea, which exhibits protandrous hermaphroditism as its reproductive strategy. We isolated a partial sequence of a GnRH-like molecule from the gonads of Patella caerulea. The deduced amino acid sequence is highly homologous to that reported for the Lottia gigantea GnRH. Patella caerulea GnRH (pGnRH) mRNA expression is widespread in both male and female germ lines during gametogenesis. We suggest pGnRH as a novel biomarker for the early assessment of presence of EDCs and monitoring short and long-term impacts on Patella caerulea community structure.
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1 February 2013
The Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH)-Like Molecule in Prosobranch Patella caerulea: Potential Biomarker of Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in Marine Environments
Emilia De Lisa,
Francesca Carella,
Gionata De Vico,
Anna Di Cosmo
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Zoological Science
Vol. 30 • No. 2
February 2013
Vol. 30 • No. 2
February 2013
4-n-nonylphenol (NP)
biomarker
GnRH-like molecule
Patella caerulea
prosobranch
xenoestrogen