Effects of 17-beta estradiol and 4-nonylphenol on phase II electrophilic detoxification pathways in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) liver.

The effects of in vivo exposure to a natural and synthetic estrogen upon three hepatic phase II enzyme pathways involved in cellular protection against reactive intermediates were investigated in the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). The pathways analyzed included glutathione S-transferases (GST), glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis and NAD(P)H-dependent quinone reductase (QR). Following exposure to 17-beta estradiol (E2, a model natural estrogen; 2 mg/kg, i.p.) or 4-nonylphenol (NP, a model synthetic estrogen; 5 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, i.p.), serum vitellogenin concentrations in male fish were markedly increased. Exposure to E2 did not affect steady-state GST-A mRNA expression, although GST catalytic activity toward 1-chloro 2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) was elevated at 48 h post-injection. In addition, the rates of bass liver GST-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (GST-4HNE) conjugation were elevated by E2 exposure at all timepoints. In contrast, exposure to NP decreased steady-state GST-A mRNA levels, but did not alter GST catalytic activities. Hepatic GSH levels were not significantly affected by exposure to either compound, although a trend towards increased GSH biosynthesis was observed with both compounds. Although bass liver quinone reductase catalyzed 2,6-dichloroindophenol (DCP) reduction, unlike in rodents, these catalytic activities were not inhibited by dicoumarol. Exposure to 5 mg/kg NP significantly increased hepatic QR activities. Collectively, our data suggest that exposure to E2 or NP alters the ability of largemouth bass to biotransform environmental chemicals through glutathione S-transferase and quinone reductase catalytic pathways.