Disease outbreaks, skin lesions, mortality events, and reproductive abnormalities have been observed in wild populations of centrarchids. The presence of estrogenic endocrine disrupting compounds (EEDCs) has been implicated as a potential causal factor for these effects. The effects of prior EEDC exposure on immune response were examined in juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) exposed to a potent synthetic estrogen (17α-ethinylestradiol, EE2) at a low (EE2Low, 0.87 ng/L) or high (EE2High, 9.08 ng/L) dose for 4 weeks, followed by transfer to clean water and injection with an LD40 dose of the Gram-negative bacteria Edwardsiella piscicida. Unexpectedly, this prior exposure to EE2High significantly increased survivorship at 10 d post-infection compared to solvent control or EE2Low-exposed, infected fish. Both prior exposure and infection with E. piscicida led to significantly reduced hepatic glycogen levels, indicating a stress response resulting in depletion of energy stores. Additionally, pathway analysis for liver and spleen indicated differentially expressed genes associated with immunometabolic processes in the mock-injected EE2High treatment that could underlie the observed protective effect and metabolic shift in EE2High-infected fish. Our results demonstrate that exposure to a model EEDC alters metabolism and immune function in a fish species that is ecologically and economically important in North America.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Title | Exposure to 17α-ethinylestradiol results in differential susceptibility of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) to bacterial infection |
| DOI | 10.1021/acs.est.2c02250 |
| Authors | Jessica Kristin Leet, Justin Greer, Catherine A. Richter, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Edward Spinard, Jacquelyn McDonald, Carla M. Conway, Robert W. Gale, Donald E. Tillitt, John Hansen |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Environmental Science and Technology |
| Index ID | 70237730 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Columbia Environmental Research Center; Leetown Science Center; Western Fisheries Research Center |
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Physiological and molecular endpoints observed in juvenile largemouth bass in response to an estrogen (17α-ethinylestradiol) and subsequently a bacterial challenge (Edwardsiella piscicida) exposure under laboratory conditions.
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- Data
Physiological and molecular endpoints observed in juvenile largemouth bass in response to an estrogen (17α-ethinylestradiol) and subsequently a bacterial challenge (Edwardsiella piscicida) exposure under laboratory conditions.
Physiological and molecular endpoints observed in juvenile largemouth bass in response to an estrogen (17α-ethinylestradiol) and subsequently a bacterial challenge (Edwardsiella piscicida) exposure under laboratory conditions. Also included are water quality and chemical concentration data. - Connect
Jessica K Leet, PhD
Research ToxicologistEmailPhoneCathy Richter, PhD
Supervisory Research Molecular BiologistEmailPhoneLuke R Iwanowicz, Ph.D. (Former Employee)
Research BiologistCarla M Conway
Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Microbiology)EmailPhoneRobert Gale, PhD (Former Employee)
Research ChemistDonald Tillitt, PhD
Research ToxicologistEmailPhone