Vitellogenin in winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) from Long Island Sound and Boston Harbor

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Estuaries; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1352777· OSTI ID:6656324

Pereira, J J; Ziskowski, J; Mercaldo-Allen, R; Kuropat, C; Leudke, D; Gould, E ^[1]

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1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Milford, CT (United States)

Vitellogenin is an egg-yolk precursor protein in teleosts which is crucial to the survival of larvae. Manufactured in the liver, where pollutants are known to accumulate, and transported to the ovary by the blood, its synthesis by the liver or uptake by the gonad can be compromised by accumulation of xenobiotics. In three studies, winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) blood samples were taken to determine normal levels of vitellogenin during the reproductive cycle, and to learn how its production might be affected in degraded environments. Specifically, these studies followed the seasonal cycle of vitellogenin production in winter flounder through monthly sampling at relatively clean (Shoreham, New York) and degraded areas (Black Rock and New Haven harbors, Connecticut) in Long Island Sound; examined the relationship between parental vitellogenin levels and survival of offspring by sampling fish that had been spawned at the Milford Laboratory for a reproductive success study; and determined the effect of gross liver lesions on vitellogenin production by sampling flounder from Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, which have been reported to have a high prevalence of liver tumors. Blood vitellogenin levels were determined by measuring alkali-labile phosphate (ALP). Large fish (>30 cm) from the two degraded sites had elevated serum ALP levels relative to those from the clean area. Lowered total ovarian lipid levels in large fish from Black Rock Harbor suggested impaired vitellogenin uptake. There were no significant differences in serum ALP among the small ([le]30 cm) fish from the three sampling sites. Boston Harbor flounder with gross liver lesions had lower ALP values than fish without such lesions. There were no significant differences in ALP values among the spawned fish. 43 refs., 7 figs., 6 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6656324
• Journal Information: Estuaries; (United States), Journal Name: Estuaries; (United States) Vol. 15:3; ISSN ESTUDO; ISSN 0160-8347
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
ESTUARIES
FISHES
GLANDS
GONADS
HARBORS
LARVAE
LIVER
LONG ISLAND SOUND
MASSACHUSETTS
NEOPLASMS
NEW YORK
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
POLLUTANTS
POLLUTION
PROTEINS
REPRODUCTION
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION
XENOBIOTICS