Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, global warming and reproductive health in fishes

• Grant number: 15/50465-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2016
• End date: August 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Agreement: Texas Tech University
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Shohei Hattori
• Grantee: Ricardo Shohei Hattori
• Principal researcher abroad: Reynaldo Patiño
• Institution abroad: Texas Tech University (TTU), United States
• Host Institution: Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/17612-9 - Genetic characterization, sex control, and germ cell transplantation in salmonids stocks from Estação Experimental de Salmonicultura de Campos do Jordão, AP.JP

Abstract

Environmental stressors such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and globally rising temperatures can impact gonadal sex or gamete production in vertebrates. While data from our laboratories and others suggest that the action of these stressors in teleost fishes can be mediated by disruption of thyroid hormone, stress hormone and melatonin production patterns, the physiological-molecular mechanisms of these actions and their interaction with the classical hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis are not well understood. In this study, the effects of EDCs and thermal stress on thyroid and melatonin signaling will be examined in the biomedical animal modal, Zebrafish and the aquaculture species, Rainbow Trout. The expression of key genes involved in I-IPG, thyroid hormone, melatonin, and thermal stress signaling will be determined to characterize mechanisms. The information generated will be relevant to an assessment of the impacts of EDCs and global warming on the reproductive health of wild fishes. In addition, a better understanding of sex differentiation and gametogenesis may bring new options for improving current aquaculture technologies. (AU)