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Testicular oocytes in wild adult bass (Micropterus spp.) are considered a potential indication of exposure to estrogenic compounds in municipal, agricultural, or industrial wastewater. However, our ability to interpret links between testicular oocyte occurrence in wild fish species and environmental pollutants is limited by our understanding of normal and abnormal gonadal development. We previously reported low-to-moderate testicular oocyte prevalence (7%-38%) among adult male bass collected from Minnesota waters with no known sources of estrogenic compounds. In the present study, two experiments were conducted in which smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) fry were exposed to control water or 17-α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) during gonadal differentiation, then reared in clean water for an additional period. Histological samples were evaluated at several time points during the exposure and grow-out periods, and the sequence and timing of gonadal development in the presence of estrogen were compared with that of control fish. Testicular oocytes were not observed in any control or EE2-exposed fish. Among groups exposed to 1.2 or 5.1 ng/L EE2 in Experiment 1 or 3.0 ng/L EE2 in Experiment 2, ovaries were observed in 100% of fish up to 90 days after exposure ceased, and approximately half of those ovaries had abnormal characteristics, suggesting that they likely developed in sex-reversed males. Groups exposed to 0.1, 0.4, or 1.0 ng/L in Experiment 2 developed histologically normal ovaries and testes in proportions not significantly different from 1:1. These findings suggest that, while presumably able to cause sex reversal, juvenile exposure to EE2 may not be a unique cause of testicular oocytes in wild bass, although the long-term outcomes of exposure are unknown. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1416-1428. © 2022 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA., (© 2022 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.)

Testicular oocytes (TOs) have been found in black bass (Micropterus spp.) from many locations in North America. The presence of TOs is often assumed to imply exposure to estrogenic endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs); however, a definitive causal relationship has yet to be established, and TO prevalence is not consistently low in fish from areas lacking evident EDC sources. This might indicate any of a number of situations: 1) unknown or unidentified EDCs or EDC sources, 2) induction of TOs by other stressors, or 3) testicular oocytes occurring spontaneously during normal development. In the present study, we analyzed TO occurrence in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) from 8 populations in northeastern Minnesota watersheds with differing degrees of human development and, hence, presumed likelihood of exposure to anthropogenic chemicals. Three watersheds were categorized as moderately developed, based on the presence of municipal wastewater discharges and higher human population density (4-81 per km 2 ), and 5 watersheds were minimally developed, with very low human population density (0-1 per km 2 ) and minimal built environment. Testicular tissues from mature fish were evaluated using a semiquantitative method that estimated TO density, normalized by cross-sectional area. Testicular oocyte prevalence and density among populations from moderately developed watersheds was higher than in populations from minimally developed watersheds. However, TO prevalence was unexpectedly high and variable (7-43%) in some populations from minimally developed watersheds, and only weak evidence was found for a relationship between TO density and watershed development, suggesting alternative or more complex explanations for TO presence in smallmouth bass from this region. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:3424-3435. © 2017 SETAC., (© 2017 SETAC.)

Global amphibian declines have often been attributed to disease, but ignorance of the relative importance and mode of action of potential drivers of infection has made it difficult to develop effective remediation. In a field study, here we show that the widely used herbicide, atrazine, was the best predictor (out of more than 240 plausible candidates) of the abundance of larval trematodes (parasitic flatworms) in the declining northern leopard frog Rana pipiens. The effects of atrazine were consistent across trematode taxa. The combination of atrazine and phosphate--principal agrochemicals in global corn and sorghum production--accounted for 74% of the variation in the abundance of these often debilitating larval trematodes (atrazine alone accounted for 51%). Analysis of field data supported a causal mechanism whereby both agrochemicals increase exposure and susceptibility to larval trematodes by augmenting snail intermediate hosts and suppressing amphibian immunity. A mesocosm experiment demonstrated that, relative to control tanks, atrazine tanks had immunosuppressed tadpoles, had significantly more attached algae and snails, and had tadpoles with elevated trematode loads, further supporting a causal relationship between atrazine and elevated trematode infections in amphibians. These results raise concerns about the role of atrazine and phosphate in amphibian declines, and illustrate the value of quantifying the relative importance of several possible drivers of disease risk while determining the mechanisms by which they facilitate disease emergence.

Methoprene (isopropyl (2E,4E)-11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyl-2,4-dodecadienoate) is an insect juvenile hormone agonist that blocks metamorphosis in some insects. Recent evidence suggests that a metabolite, methoprene acid, activates vertebrate retinoid X receptors (RXRs), and may interfere with retinoic acid-regulated developmental processes. Methoprene, methoxy-methoprene acid, and two major breakdown products were tested for their ability to interfere with retinoid-regulated pathways when using transfected cells. The CV-1 cells were transiently transfected with genes encoding RXRs and response elements attached to luciferase reporters, and retinoic acid-sensitive F9 cells were stably transfected with retinoic acid receptor (RAR)/RXR response elements attached a lacZ reporter (Sil-REM/beta-gal-NEO). Experiments confirmed that methoxy-methoprene acid acted as a ligand for RXRs and was capable of activating transcription through RAR/RXR response elements. However, neither methoprene nor the breakdown products, 7-methoxycitronellal and 7-methoxycitronellic acid, activated transcription in transfected CV-1 or F9 cells. Methoprene and methoxy-methoprene acid may interfere with the conversion of all-trans-retinol and all-trans-retinaldehyde to all-trans-retinoic acid in the F9-derived cell line. Methoprene was as effective as the retinol dehydrogenase inhibitor citral in blocking the retinol-induced transcription of RAR/RXR-regulated reporter genes, whereas methoxy-methoprene acid blocked transcription stimulated by retinaldehyde.

Skeletal malformation rates for several frog species were determined in a set of randomly selected wetlands in the north-central USA over three consecutive years. In 1998, 62 sites yielded 389 metamorphic frogs, nine (2.3%) of which had skeletal or eye malformations. A subset of the original sites was surveyed in the following 2 yr. In 1999, 1,085 metamorphic frogs were collected from 36 sites and 17 (1.6%) had skeletal or eye malformations, while in 2000, examination of 1,131 metamorphs yielded 16 (1.4%) with skeletal or eye malformations. Hindlimb malformations predominated in all three years, but other abnormalities, involving forelimb, eye, and pelvis were also found. Northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) constituted the majority of collected metamorphs as well as most of the malformed specimens. However, malformations were also noted in mink frogs (R. septentrionalis), wood frogs (R. sylvatica), and gray tree frogs (Hyla spp.). The malformed specimens were found in clustered sites in all three years but the cluster locations were not the same in any year. The malformation rates reported here are higher than the 0.3% rate determined for metamorphic frogs collected from similar sites in Minnesota in the 1960s, and thus, appear to represent an elevation of an earlier baseline malformation rate.

A cell line stably transfected with reporter genes activated by retinoic acid was used to test a paper mill effluent for the presence of retinoids or components that interfere with retinoic acid-stimulated gene transcription. No retinoids were detected in effluent or control water. However, effluent water significantly decreased reporter activity stimulated by all-trans-retinoic acid, while activity stimulated by 9-cis-retinoic acid was unaffected. In a limited fractionation through a C-18 solid phase-exchange column the inhibitory activity was retained in the aqueous fraction, indicating that the activity was polar.

Bovine sperm motility and respiration were stimulated by the triazine dye Cibacron Blue F3GA (CB), which may operate as a nucleotide mimic. CB stimulation of respiration was half-maximal at about 35 microM and respiration reached maximal levels about 1.5 minutes after CB addition. Respiratory stimulation was preceded by a transient increase in cytosolic cAMP. Sperm cAMP titers were elevated from 5 to 10 pmoles/10(8) cells within 30 seconds of CB addition, but rapidly dropped to a stable level of about 7.5 pmoles/10(8) cells. CB was a potent inhibitor of sperm membrane adenylyl cyclase and inhibited respiration in permeabilized cells. Taken together, the data indicated that CB stimulation was not manifested via the cytosol. In addition, a nonpermeant blue dextran preparation synthesized with CB also stimulated sperm respiration and motility. CB inhibited sperm membrane phosphodiesterase activity, suggesting that the transient pulse of cAMP resulted from CB interaction with this enzyme in the sperm membrane.

The triazine dye Cibacron Blue F3GA stimulated calcium uptake into an ionomycin-sensitive compartment of washed bovine sperm. Cibacron blue-stimulated uptake was not sensitive to nifedipine, diltiazem, or verapamil, but was blocked by transition metals, 1 microM ruthenium red, rotenone, and the protonophore CCCP. Uptake was dependent on the maintenance of energized mitochondria but not on oxidative or substrate level ATP production and was not supported by glycolysis. The cibarcon blue-stimulated uptake was judged by these criteria to be mitochondrial. Uptake in the absence of Cibacron blue was 0.046 +/- 0.008 and 0.268 +/- 0.068 nmol/min/10(8) cells with 0.1 mM Cibacron blue at 15 microM Ca2+. Half-maximal stimulation occurred at 20-25 microM Cibacron blue. Cibacron blue also allowed efflux of mitochondrial calcium in the presence of external calcium. This efflux would be blocked by ruthenium red, Ni2+, and La3+, but not by Co2+, which effectively blocked Cibacron blue-stimulated influx. Permeabilizing the plasma membrane with filipin indicated that Cibacron blue stimulation of mitochondrial calcium uptake operates directly on the mitochondria. Cibacron blue does not stimulate mitochondrial respiration and thus, calcium uptake was not the result of increased mitochondrial flux.

Bovine sperm that were subjected to extended anoxia (2.5 h) in the absence of glycolytic substrates then diluted into oxygenated medium were immotile but metabolically active, producing ATP from lactate via oxidative phosphorylation. In response to anoxia sperm ATP titers dropped from 15-20 mumoles/10(8) cells to 1-2 mumoles/10(8) cells in the first 5 min then remained extremely low until reoxygenation. Cyclic AMP titers declined slowly over the anoxic period, but did not show the same scale of depression as ATP. After dilution and re-oxygenation ATP recovered to pre-anoxia levels within 1 min, and cAMP rose to about the pre-anoxia levels. However, motility, which varied quantitatively and qualitatively between ejaculates prior to anoxic treatment, was substantially depressed after extended anoxia in all cases; progressive motility was almost non-existent in post-anoxic sperm. Addition of isobutylmethylxanthine or Cibacron Blue F3GA, both putative phosphodiesterase inhibitors, stimulated a transient peak of cAMP, which was accompanied by motility stimulation. These techniques provide a protocol to manipulate and dissect the biochemical pathways of motility initiation in mammalian sperm.

Simple media were developed to study the metabolic requirements of bovine embryos up to Day 7 (Day 0 = day of oocyte aspiration) in vitro. Embryos were derived from oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro. At 45 +/- 2 h post insemination, embryos (> or = 2 cells) were randomly allotted to treatments. Examined in experiments 1 and 3 was the effect of pyruvate concentration in the presence of lactate. In the presence of lactate, pyruvate (0.2-5.0 mM) had no effect (p > 0.05) on the percentage of morulae or blastocysts. However, increasing the concentration of hemicalcium L-lactate from 5 mM to 10 mM decreased (p < 0.001) the percentage of embryos reaching the morula or blastocyst stage (experiment 3). Neither magnesium sulfate (0.5 mM) nor EDTA (10 mM) improved embryo development when added to the medium CR1 (experiment 2). Increasing the calcium level to 5 mM or the lactate level to 10 mM had no effect (p > 0.05) on embryo development (experiment 4). However, the interaction of adding calcium and lactate resulted in a decreased (p < 0.05) percentage of morulae. Determined in experiment 6 were the independent effects of pyruvate, lactate, and glucose on embryo development in vitro. As pyruvate or lactate level was increased from 1 to 10 mM, the percentage of blastocysts was decreased (p < 0.05). These experiments indicate that adding pyruvate to a medium containing lactate is not necessary for development of bovine embryos in vitro.

The photoaffinity analog [32P]8-N3 cAMP (8-azido adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate was used to analyze the membrane sidedness of rat sperm cAMP binding proteins during epididymal maturation. Evidence is presented here which supports the hypothesis that 35-45% of the regulatory subunits of the Type I and Type II cAMP-dependent protein kinases are readily available to externally added cyclic nucleotide. It was observed by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and autoradiography that only two rat sperm proteins (Mr = 49K and 55K) were photolabeled which comigrated on gels with partially purified Type I and Type II regulatory subunits, respectively. Both of these photolabeled epididymal sperm proteins were saturated at physiological titers of [32P]8-N3cAMP and photoincorporation of [32P]8-N3 cAMP was specific since other SDS-resolvable sperm proteins did not photoincorporate the analog. Caput and cauda sperm protein photoincorporation could be effectively blocked by low levels of cAMP, but not by cGMP, ATP or GTP. Sperm epididymal maturation coincided with changes in the cAMP-dependent protein kinase subunits since cauda sperm contained more available Type II than did caput sperm. A subcellular analysis of cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunit in head and tail fractions was done for caput and cauda sperm and demonstrated that the tail fractions showed more photo-labeling of both Type I and II regulatory subunits than did the head fractions.

The photoaffinity probe (32P) 8-N3 cAMP was used to label the cAMP binding proteins in washed ejaculated human sperm. Three saturable binding proteins were photolabeled in both intact and disrupted cells with apparent molecular weights of 55,000, 49,000 and 40,000 daltons corresponding to the regulatory subunits of type II and type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-PK) and to an endogenous proteolytic product of the regulatory subunits, respectively. Photoincorporation in the three proteins could be totally blocked by preincubating the cells with cAMP. Cell-free seminal plasma was found to be free of detectable (32P) 8-N3 cAMP-binding proteins. The 8-N, cAMP was also effective in stimulating endogenous cAMP-PK activity in intact and disrupted sperm. A substantial amount of (32P) 8-N3 cAMP binding to types I and II regulatory subunits and cAMP-PK activity was detected on washed intact cells. Intact cells bound 1.80 pmol of (32P) 8-N3 cAMP/mg protein and had cAMP-PK activity of 824 units/10(8) cells. Disrupted cells bound 3.95 pmol (32P) 8-N3 cAMP/mg protein and had a cAMP-PK activity of 2,206 units/10(8) cells. The data presented support the concept of two classes of cAMP receptors being differentially available to externally added (32P) 8-N3 cAMP and proteases. Cellular membrane integrity and membrane sidedness are discussed as possible explanations for the observation reported.

Adenylate kinase (ATP:AMP phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.4.3) activity was detected in the flagella of ejaculated bovine spermatozoa. This activity provided sufficient ATP to produce normal motility in cells permeabilized with digitonin and treated with 0.5 mM MgADP. In the presence of ADP, adenylate kinase activity was inhibited by P1,P5-di(adenosine 5')-pentaphosphate (Ap5A), an adenylate kinase-specific inhibitor, and motility was stopped. ATP-supported motility was not affected by Ap5A. Mitochondrial adenylate kinase activity allowed AMP to stimulate respiration in permeabilized sperm. Adenylate kinase activity in tail fragments was most active in a pH range from 7.6 to 8.4, and a similar pH sensitivity was observed for this enzyme activity in a hypotonic extract of whole sperm. The apparent km of adenylate kinase activity in permeabilized tail fragments was about 1.0 mM ADP in the direction of ATP synthesis. The fluctuation of nucleotide concentrations in normal and metabolically stimulated sperm suggested that adenylate kinase was most active when the cell was highly motile, although adenylate kinase activity did not appear to be coupled strictly with motility.

Plasma membrane vesicles isolated from bovine epididymal and ejaculated spermatozoa have widely different capabilities for transporting Ca2+. Spermatozoa were ruptured by nitrogen cavitation, and the plasma membrane fraction was harvested after low speed and sucrose gradient centrifugation; purity was assessed by marker enzyme analyses, electron microscopy, and sedimentation properties. Plasma membrane vesicles isolated from epididymal sperm accumulate Ca2+ passively at a faster rate and to a greater extent than vesicles prepared from ejaculated sperm. Ca2+ transport across bovine sperm plasma membranes is an ATP-independent, Na+-dependent process that obligatorily exchanges intravesicular Na+ for external Ca2+. The rate of Na+/Ca2+ exchange is significantly lower in ejaculated sperm vesicles than in those of epididymal sperm. Bovine plasma membranes contain little or no Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity. It is suggested that, at the time of ejaculation, calcium flux into bovine sperm is prevented by the interaction of the plasma membrane with putative factors in seminal fluid that specifically interfere with Na+/Ca2+ exchange. We have isolated a protein from seminal plasma that prevents calcium accumulation by bovine epididymal sperm (Rufo, G. A., Jr., Singh, J. P., Babcock, D. F., and Lardy, H. A. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 4627-4632). A protein with properties resembling those of the seminal calcium transport inhibitor is found on the membrane vesicles from ejaculated sperm but not on membranes from epididymal sperm. We conclude that this protein binds strongly to the plasma membrane of bovine sperm and is responsible for preventing calcium uptake by ejaculated sperm.

Treatment of washed, ejaculated bovine sperm with 30 mM sodium fluoride immobilized the cells in a characteristically rigid form. In cells metabolizing endogenous substrates, fluoride decreased respiration by about 60%, but did not inhibit the cells' ability to produce adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) via oxidative phosphorylation and did not block access to endogenous substrates. Fluoride-immobilized sperm maintained maximal ATP titers for at least 60 min, but oligomycin treatment rapidly depleted ATP, indicating that ATP synthesis and metabolism was occurring in immobilized sperm. The putative phosphodiesterase inhibitor caffeine (2.5 mM) restored motility and increased respiration in fluoride-treated sperm, but 8-bromo-adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (8-bromo-cAMP) did not, even though 8-bromo-cAMP stimulated respiration in control (untreated) sperm. Carboxyfluorescein analysis of the intracellular pH of untreated sperm indicated a normal pH of 6.3. Fluoride addition decreased the apparent intracellular pH slightly, but this effect was attributable to dilution. Caffeine did not change internal pH in untreated or fluoride-immobilized sperm. Fluoride did not appear to affect cAMP metabolism, but caffeine increased intracellular cAMP titers by about 35% in both untreated and fluoride-inhibited sperm. However, caffeine treatment did not mimic 8-bromo-cAMP, as analyzed by electrophoresis and autoradiography of sperm proteins labeled with 32P from endogenously generated [32P]ATP. Clearly, caffeine is not stimulating motility in fluoride-treated sperm by affecting the cyclic AMP system. Fluoride also inhibited motility in digitonin-permeabilized sperm by a mechanism that may have involved magnesium depletion, but caffeine had no stimulatory effect on either untreated or fluoride-immobilized, permeabilized sperm.