Fathead minnow vitellogenin:: Complementary DNA sequence and messenger RNA and protein expression after 17β-estradiol treatment

Induction of vitellogenin (VTG) in oviparous animals has been proposed as a sensitive indicator of environmental contaminants that activate the estrogen receptor. In the present study, a sensitive ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) for VTG messenger RNA (mRNA) was developed for the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), a species proposed for routine endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) screening. The utility of this method was compared with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) specific for fathead minnow VTG protein. Assessment of the two methods included kinetic characterization of the plasma VTG protein and hepatic VTG mRNA levels in male fathead minnows following intraperitoneal injections of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) at two dose levels (0.5. 5.0 mg/kg). Initial plasma E2 concentrations were elevated in a dose-dependent manner but returned to normal levels within 2 d. Liver VTG mRNA was detected within 4 h, reached a maximum around 48 h, and returned to normal levels in about 6 d. Plasma VTG protein was detectable within 16 h of treatment, reached maximum levels at about 72 h, and remained near these maximum levels for at least 18 d. While the RPA was about 1,000 times more sensitive than the ELISA, the ELISA appears superior for routine screening tests. The ELISA method is relatively simple to perform and, because males lack a clearance mechanism for VTG, the protein remains at relatively high concentrations in the plasma for an extended period of time. As part of the development of the RPA, the complementary DNA (cDNA) sequence for fathead minnow VTG was determined and the deduced amino acid sequence compared with VTG sequences for other fish species.