Identification of estrogen-responsive genes in the testis of sea bream (Sparus auratus) using suppression subtractive hybridization

There is growing evidence that estrogens play important roles in both normal and xenoestrogen disrupted testis physiology. However, the mechanisms and signaling pathways involved, in particular in fish, are largely unknown. We have used suppression subtractive hybridization to isolate 152 candidate estrogen-responsive genes in the testis of male estradiol (E2)-treated sea bream (Sparus aurata). The E2 up-regulation of some of the genes (e.g., choriogenin L and H, vitellogenin I and II, apolipoprotein A-I, fibrinogen β and γ, and thyroid receptor interacting protein 4) was confirmed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in fish treated with 0.1–10 mg/kg E2. Many of these genes are typical E2-induced genes in liver, and this is the first report of its up regulation with E2 in testis. Moreover, low levels of expression were also found for nontreated fish. Hepatic differential expression for these genes was also confirmed, although, contrary to testis, fibrinogen β, and γ were downregulated. The possible significance of these findings in normal testis physiology and in endocrine disruption is discussed