Analysis of vitellogenin by histochemical method as an indicator of estrogenic effect in male Danio rerio exposed to metals

Abstract

Several chemicals present in the aquatic environment have the ability to alter the endocrine system of aquatic organisms, including the metals cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn). In males, a tool to analyze this effect is the vitellogenin (VTG) detection, a protein with defined function in the yolk production and subsequent aid to embryo-larval development. This protein is produced just by females and can be detected by simple and cheap methods such as histochemical method. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the capacity of Cd and Zn to induce VTG production in Danio rerio males and determine whether the histochemical labeling method is efficient to study estrogenic effects in this species. For this, D. rerio adult males were exposed chronically (21 days) to 0.25 and 1 μg/L of Cd and 120 and 180 μg/L of Zn, values allowed by the Brazilian and American legislation to aquatic life protection. After which, the organisms were submitted to a histological process as preparation to liver VTG marking by histochemical method and subsequent qualitative analysis of this protein in zebrafish’s liver. After analyzes, it was possible observed that Cd and Zn are capable of inducing VTG production in D. rerio males and that the histochemistry method is efficient for detection of estrogenic effects in this species.