SANDERS, , M.B.*; BILLINGHURST, , Z.; DEPLEDGE, , M.H.; CLARE, , A.S; University of Plymouth, U.K.; Plymouth Environmental Research Centre, U.K.; Plymouth Environmental Research Centre, U.K; University of Newcastle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, U.K.: Vitellin-like proteins in larval Crustacea: potential biomarkers of xeno-oestrogen exposure

While the ability of xeno-oestrogens, like 4-n-nonylphenol (4-NP), to disrupt the natural hormonal systems of aquatic vertebrates is well known, evidence for comparable endocrine disrupting effects in decapod crustaceans, particularly during their larval development, remains scarce. In this investigation, a polyclonal antiserum raised against an apolipovitellin purified from the mature ovaries of the intertidal prawn, Palaemon elegans, was found to be immunoreactive with a 86 kDa polypeptide (IRP) present in all the larval and early postlarval stages. An indirect ELISA technique, developed to quantify the levels of the immunoreactive proteins present in the soluble protein fraction of homogenates of P. elegans larvae, found the quantity of the IRP varied between 0.47-0.67 ng µl^-1 depending on stage. Exposure of P. elegans larvae to 4-NP at the environmentally realistic concentrations of 0.2-20 µg L^-1, resulted in a significant, concentration independent, increase in IRP levels of 13-18%. Conversely, exposure to comparable concentrations of the natural oestrogen, 17β-oestradiol (E₂), significantly reduced IRP levels by up to 11% in a similar concentration independent manner. Significant fluctuations in IRP levels were correlated with exposure to 4-NP and E₂. However, with the exception of a slight reduction in the survival of larvae exposed to 4-NP at 2 µg L^-1, neither 4-NP nor E₂ had any significant effect on the development, growth or survival of P. elegans larvae.