Meeting Abstract

44.8  Jan. 6  Steroidogenesis Acute Regulatory (StAR) Protein, Aromatase (P450arom), 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta HSD) and Location-associated Differences in Circulating Estradiol Concentrations in Wild Flatfish in the Southern California Bight Environment HAGSTROM, K. R. E.**; REYES, J.A.; PETSCHAUER, D.M.; KELLEY, K.M.; California State University, Long Beach; California State University, Long Beach; California State University, Long Beach; California State University, Long Beach rhagstro@csulb.edu

Worldwide, endocrine disruption has been widely documented in wild, aquatic organisms. Surprisingly, despite the large human population affecting the marine environment of the Southern California Bight (SCB), endocrine disruption has not been well studied or documented in this region. We have uncovered evidence of endocrine disruption of two local flatfish species living in proximity to wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) outfall locations in the SCB. One of the observations is that flatfish residing near WWTP outfalls exhibit higher plasma levels of the female sex steroid, 17beta-estradiol (E2), with males exhibiting as high or higher levels than in females. To assess the underlying cell-molecular mechanisms of the elevated E2, particularly in males, three key steroidogenic enzymes leading to E2 synthesis are under study. Partial cDNAs for StAR, P450arom, and 17-beta HSD in hornyhead turbot (Pleuronichthys verticalis) and English sole (Parophrys vetulus) have been isolated, and their sequences are highly conserved with homologs from piscine and other vertebrate representatives. Results from quantitative real-time RT-PCR assays of gonadal tissues of flatfish from WWTP outfall and reference sites in Santa Monica Bay and Orange County’s San Pedro Shelf will be presented and discussed in terms of potential impacts of anthropogenic contaminants. [Supported by Southern California Sea Grant Program NOAA#NA06OAR4170012, project # CE-17]