@article{lee pow_tilahun_creech_law_cope_kwak_rice_aday_kullman_2017, title={Windows of Susceptibility and Consequences of Early Life Exposures to 17β–estradiol on Medaka (Oryzias latipes) Reproductive Success}, volume={51}, ISSN={0013-936X 1520-5851}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ACS.EST.7B01568}, DOI={10.1021/acs.est.7b01568}, abstractNote={Estrogens and estrogen mimics are commonly found in surface waters and are associated with deleterious effects in fish populations. Impaired fertility and fecundity in fish following chronic exposures to estrogens and estrogen mimics during critical windows in development are well documented. However, information regarding differential reproductive effects of exposure within defined developmental stages remains sparse. In this study, reproductive capacity was assessed in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) after exposure to two concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E2β; 2 ng/L and 50 ng/L) during four distinct stages of development: gonad development, gonad differentiation, development of secondary sex characteristics (SSC) and gametogenesis. Exposure to E2β did not adversely impact survival, hatch success, growth, or genotypic ratios. In contrast, exposure to 50 ng/L E2β during SSC development altered phenotypic ratios and SSC. Exposure to both E2β treatments reduced reproductive capacity (fertility, fecundity) by 7.3-57.4% in adult medaka breeding pairs, with hindrance of SSC development resulting in the largest disruption in breeding capacity (51.6-57.4% decrease) in the high concentration. This study documents differential effects among four critical stages of development and provides insight into factors (window of exposure, exposure concentration and duration of exposure period) contributing to reproductive disruption in fish.}, number={9}, journal={Environmental Science & Technology}, publisher={American Chemical Society (ACS)}, author={Lee Pow, Crystal S.D. and Tilahun, Kedamawit and Creech, Kari and Law, J. Mac and Cope, W. Gregory and Kwak, Thomas J. and Rice, James A. and Aday, D. Derek and Kullman, Seth W.}, year={2017}, month={Apr}, pages={5296–5305} } @article{lee pow_law_kwak_cope_rice_kullman_aday_2017, title={Endocrine active contaminants in aquatic systems and intersex in common sport fishes}, volume={36}, ISSN={0730-7268}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ETC.3607}, DOI={10.1002/etc.3607}, abstractNote={AbstractMale fish are susceptible to developing intersex, a condition characterized by the presence of testicular oocytes. In the present study, the relationship between intersex and exposure to estrogenic endocrine active contaminants (EACs) was assessed for 2 genera of sport fish, Micropterus and Lepomis, at 20 riverine sites. Seasonal trends and relationships between EACs and intersex (prevalence and severity) were examined at varying putative sources of EACs throughout North Carolina, identified as point sources, nonpoint sources, and reference sites. Intersex was identified in both genera, which was documented for the first time in wild‐caught Lepomis. Intersex was more prevalent (59.8%) and more severe (1.6 mean rank) in Micropterus, which was highly correlation to EACs in sediment. In contrast, intersex was less common (9.9%) and less severe (0.2 mean rank) in Lepomis and was highly correlated to EACs in the water column. The authors found that concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, industrial EACs, and estrogens were highest at point source sites; however, no source type variation was identified in the prevalence or severity of intersex, nor were there seasonal trends in intersex or EAC concentrations. The authors’ results associate genus‐specific prevalence of intersex with specific EAC classes in common sport fishes having biological, ecological, and conservation implications. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:959–968. © 2016 SETAC}, number={4}, journal={Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Lee Pow, Crystal S.D. and Law, J. Mac and Kwak, Thomas J. and Cope, W. Gregory and Rice, James A. and Kullman, Seth W. and Aday, D. Derek}, year={2017}, month={Apr}, pages={959–968} } @article{pow_yost_aday_kullman_2016, title={Sharing the Roles: An Assessment of Japanese Medaka Estrogen Receptors in Vitellogenin Induction}, volume={50}, ISSN={["1520-5851"]}, DOI={10.1021/acs.est.6b01968}, abstractNote={Teleost fish express at least three estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes. To date, however, the individual role of these ER subtypes in regulating expression of estrogen responsive genes remains ambiguous. Here, we investigate putative roles of three ER subtypes in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes), using vitellogenin (VTG) I and II as model genes. We identify specific ligand/receptor/promoter dynamics, using transient transactivation assays that incorporate luciferase reporters comprising 3kb promoter/enhancer regions of medaka VTGI and VTGII genes. Four steroidal estrogens (17β-estradiol, estrone, estriol, and 17α-estradiol) were tested in these assays. Results indicate that all three medaka ERs (mERs) are capable of initiating transactivation of both VTG I and II, with ERβ2 exhibiting greatest activity. Promoter deletion analysis suggests that ligand-specific receptor transactivation and utilization of regional-specific estrogen response elements may be associated with differential activities of each medaka ER. Further, cluster analysis of in vivo gene expression and in vitro transactivation suggests that all three ER subtypes putatively play a role in up-regulation of VTG. Results illustrate that preferential ligand/receptor/promoter interactions may have direct implications for VTG gene expression and other ER-mediated regulatory functions that are relevant to the risk assessment of estrogenic compounds.}, number={16}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY}, author={Pow, Crystal S. D. Lee and Yost, Erin E. and Aday, D. Derek and Kullman, Seth W.}, year={2016}, month={Aug}, pages={8886–8895} } @article{sackett_pow_rubino_aday_cope_kullman_rice_kwak_law_2015, title={Sources of endocrine-disrupting compounds in North Carolina waterways: A geographic information systems approach}, volume={34}, ISSN={0730-7268}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ETC.2797}, DOI={10.1002/etc.2797}, abstractNote={AbstractThe presence of endocrine‐disrupting compounds (EDCs), particularly estrogenic compounds, in the environment has drawn public attention across the globe, yet a clear understanding of the extent and distribution of estrogenic EDCs in surface waters and their relationship to potential sources is lacking. The objective of the present study was to identify and examine the potential input of estrogenic EDC sources in North Carolina water bodies using a geographic information system (GIS) mapping and analysis approach. Existing data from state and federal agencies were used to create point and nonpoint source maps depicting the cumulative contribution of potential sources of estrogenic EDCs to North Carolina surface waters. Water was collected from 33 sites (12 associated with potential point sources, 12 associated with potential nonpoint sources, and 9 reference), to validate the predictive results of the GIS analysis. Estrogenicity (measured as 17β‐estradiol equivalence) ranged from 0.06 ng/L to 56.9 ng/L. However, the majority of sites (88%) had water 17β‐estradiol concentrations below 1 ng/L. Sites associated with point and nonpoint sources had significantly higher 17β‐estradiol levels than reference sites. The results suggested that water 17β‐estradiol was reflective of GIS predictions, confirming the relevance of landscape‐level influences on water quality and validating the GIS approach to characterize such relationships. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;9999:1–9. © 2014 SETAC}, number={2}, journal={Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Sackett, Dana K. and Pow, Crystal Lee and Rubino, Matthew J. and Aday, D. Derek and Cope, W. Gregory and Kullman, Seth and Rice, James A. and Kwak, Thomas J. and Law, Mac}, year={2015}, month={Jan}, pages={437–445} }