Sex and gametogenesis stage are strong drivers of gene expression in Mytilus edulis exposed to environmentally relevant plasticiser levels and pH 7.7

Mincarelli, Luana; Chapman, Emma C.; Rotchell, Jeanette M.; Turner, Alexander; Wollenberg Valero, Katharina C.

Abstract

Plastic pollution and changes in oceanic pH are both pressing environmental issues. Little emphasis, however, has been placed on the influence of sex and gametogenesis stage when investigating the effects of such stressors. Here, we examined histology and molecular biomarkers of blue mussels Mytilus edulis exposed for 7days to a pH 7.7 scenario (− 0.4 units) in combination with environmentally relevant concentrations (0, 0.5 and 50µg/L) of the endocrine disrupting plasticiser di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). Through a factorial design, we investigated the gametogenesis cycle and sex-related expression of genes involved in pH homeostasis, stress response and oestrogen receptor-like pathways after the exposure to the two environmental stressors. As expected, we found sex-related differences in the proportion of developing, mature and spawning gonads in histological sections. Male gonads also showed higher levels of the acid–base regulator CA2, but females had a higher expression of stress response-related genes (i.e. sod, cat, hsp70). We found a significant effect of DEHP on stress response-related gene expression that was dependent on the gametogenesis stage, but there was only a trend towards downregulation of CA2 in response to pH 7.7. In addition, differences in gene expression between males and females were most pronounced in experimental conditions containing DEHP and/or acidified pH but never the control, indicating that it is important to consider sex and gametogenesis stage when studying the response of mussels to diverse stressors.

Citation

Mincarelli, L., Chapman, E. C., Rotchell, J. M., Turner, A., & Wollenberg Valero, K. C. (in press). Sex and gametogenesis stage are strong drivers of gene expression in Mytilus edulis exposed to environmentally relevant plasticiser levels and pH 7.7. Environmental science and pollution research, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-23801-3

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 20, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Nov 2, 2022
• Deposit Date: Oct 26, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 4, 2022
• Journal: Environmental Science and Pollution Research
• Print ISSN: 0944-1344
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-23801-3
• Keywords: M. edulis; DEHP; pH; Sex differences; Gametogenesis stage; Stress response; Carbonic anhydrase; Oestrogen receptor-like
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4105016