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(18-45) Development of DNA arrays for toxicity evaluation in common carp, Cyprinus Carpio. Moens, Lotte1,2, Del-Favero, Jurgen2, Caturla, Mercè1, De Coen, Wim*,1, 1 RUCA, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, Belgium2 UIA, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium ABSTRACT- Since more than a decade, it has been shown that a variety of man-made chemicals are able to induce endocrine-disrupting effects, and thereby interfere with the embryonic development and physiology of different species. Due to the intrinsic complex nature of the endocrine metabolism and the limited fundamental insights on these pathways in aquatic organisms however, endocrine disruptive effects are hard to characterize. Existing ecotoxicological assays are generally restricted to the measurement of vitellogenin in male fish, but it is evident that this is not sufficient to characterize all possible endocrine disrupting effects of chemicals. Since gene expression can be considered as the basis of all toxicological responses, DNA arrays are a possible alternative to detect toxic effects in a fast and sensitive way. By using DNA chips, one can determine the presence of thousands of gene transcripts simultaneously, which integrates all biochemical alterations that are induced upon exposure in a single analysis. Measurement of this cascade of biomarker responses will allow us to identify toxicant-induced changes in gene expression and to evaluate the specific modes of action of priority pollutants, such as endocrine disruptors. The aim of the present study is the isolation of gender-associated genes in common carp (Cyprinus Carpio). These genes are used in the construction of a DNA-array consisting of endocrine/reproduction-related genes, whose expression can either be induced or suppressed by exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds. In order to isolate the differentially expressed gene transcripts, gender-specific cDNA libraries were generated. Preliminary experiments with estradiol exposed carp indicate that the DNA-array is a useful detection tool to describe the toxicological mode of action of endocrine disruptive chemicals. The potential of this innovative tool in hazard assessments of endocrine disruptors will be discussed. Key words: endocrine disruption, DNA array, cyprinus carpio |
