Abstract:
The full-length cDNAs of estrogen receptors,
ERα,
ERβ,
ERβ1 and
ERβ2, were cloned from Xingguo red carp (
Cyprinus carpio var singuonensis, Cs). The amino acid sequence of Cs ERs shared the highest identity with their counterparts of three cyprinid species. The
ERs highly expressed in the liver, ovary and intestines of female Cs. In male Cs,
ERα and
ERβ mRNAs were mainly expressed in liver, and
ERβ1 and
ERβ2 mainly observed in intestine and testis, respectively. The mRNA level of
ERα mRNAs was significantly up-regulated in in liver of Juveniles (150 dph) exposed to different concentrations (0.01, 0.1 and 1 nmol/L) of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) for 1 and 2 weeks. The hepatic
ERβ mRNA expression was dramatically increased by EE2 exposure, and
ERβ1 mRNA expression was suppressed by EE2 for 1 and 2 weeks. The expression of
ERβ2 mRNA was suppressed in the 1-week group with the highest suppression at 0.01 nmol/L of EE2. This study showed that EE2 differently regulated the expression of four ERs genes in liver. Compared to
ERβ,
ERβ1 and
ERβ2,
ERα is a more sensitive biomarker for short-term (1-2 week) EE2 exposure.