Comparison of nonylphenol effect on Vitellogenin and Zona pellucida3.1 genes expression changes in liver, spleen, gill and muscle tissues of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus)

The effect of nonylphenol on vitellogenin and zona pellucida 3.1 expressions in the liver, spleen, gill and muscle tissues of the juvenile Persian sturgeon were investigated. The fish were initially injected per kilogram of their body weights with 100mg nonylphenol, 5mg 17 beta estradiol, and 2ml peanut oil carrier agent (respectively, for the main treatment, positive and negative controls), and had the extracted RNA of their tissues converted into cDNA. Afterwards, RT-PCR reaction for each tissue sample was done separately. Results showed vitellogenin gene was expressed only in the liver, but zona pellucid 3.1 gene was expressed in the liver as well as the spleen of the fish exposed to nonylphenol and 17 beta estradiol. No vitellogenin gene in the spleen, gill and muscle was expressed; no gene for zona pellucida 3.1 was either observed in the gill and muscle. The expression rate of vitellogenin gene was 9.95±2.48 for the treatment with 17 beta estradiol and 2.85 ± 0.35 with nonylphenol; the expression rate of zona pellucida 3.1 was 9/98 ± 2/51 for exposed treatment with 17 beta estradiol and 3.37±0.35 for the treatment with nonylphenol. In conclusion, considering the meaningful effect of nonylphenol on vitellogenin and zona pellucid 3.1 expression in liver and spleen, it could be used for detection of xenoestrogen biomarker in the Persian sturgeon.