Application of a targeted endocrine q-PCR panel to monitor the effects of pollution in southern California flatfish

Current environmental monitoring programs focus primarily on legacy contaminants identified in the past as priority pollutants. Many new chemicals including so-called contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are being widely dispersed into the environment and the development of sensitive tools that can screen endocrine responses and monitor the harmful effects of pollutants has become a priority. We developed a focused quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) panel containing key endocrine gene targets for investigation of the effects of contaminants on transcriptional patterns in the demersal marine flatfish, hornyhead turbot (Pleuronichthys verticalis). An additional objective was to develop this tool so that it had broad applicability for monitoring endocrine disruption in other sentinel species, including California flatfish. This endocrine q-PCR panel was validated by studying transcriptional perturbations in 2 important sentinel species, hornyhead turbot and English sole (Parophrys vetulus), both sampled from sewage outfall and reference coastal waters in Southern California. In addition, the cross species utility of the endocrine q-PCR panel was examined by its application to the study of gene expression changes in laboratory male zebrafish (Danio rerio) following exposure to 17-β estradiol and 4-nonylphenol.