Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Molecular Targets Of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-P-Dioxin (Tcdd) Within The Zebrafish Ovary: Insights Into Tcdd-Induced Endocrine Disruption And Reproductive Toxicity, Tisha C. King Heiden, Craig Struble, Matthew L. Rise, Martin J. Hessner, Reinhold J. Hutz, Michael J. Carvan Iii

Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

TCDD is a reproductive toxicant and endocrine disruptor, yet the mechanisms by which it causes these reproductive alterations are not fully understood. In order to provide additional insight into the molecular mechanisms that underlie TCDD's reproductive toxicity, we assessed TCDD-induced transcriptional changes in the ovary as they relate to previously described impacts on serum estradiol concentrations and altered follicular development in zebrafish. In silico computational approaches were used to correlate candidate regulatory motifs with observed changes in gene expression. Our data suggest that TCDD inhibits follicle maturation via attenuated gonadotropin responsiveness and/or depressed estradiol biosynthesis, and that interference of estrogen-regulated …