Assessing the impact of 4-nonylphenol and 17β-estradiol on growth, steroidogenesis and vitellogenin expression in juvenile manila clams: Implications for endocrine disruption

Peipei Liu; Qichao Fan; Jingjing Miao; Lu Wang; Shanshan Jiang; Luqing Pan

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107303

Assessing the impact of 4-nonylphenol and 17β-estradiol on growth, steroidogenesis and vitellogenin expression in juvenile manila clams: Implications for endocrine disruption

Mar Environ Res. 2025 Jun 18:210:107303. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107303. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Peipei Liu¹, Qichao Fan², Jingjing Miao³, Lu Wang², Shanshan Jiang², Luqing Pan²

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Maricultural, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development, Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Ecosystem and Bioresource, Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, 536000, China.
² Key Laboratory of Maricultural, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Maricultural, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China. Electronic address: jmiao@ouc.edu.cn.

PMID: 40577888
DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107303

Abstract

The contamination of marine sediments by endocrine-disruptive contaminants (EDCs) represents a global threat to marine ecosystems. Among these pollutants, 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) and 17β-estradiol (E2) are particularly noted for their potent endocrine-disrupting effects in aquatic organisms. This study employed juvenile Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum), with genetically determined sexes, as model organisms in a 14-day exposure experiment. The clams were exposed to 4-NP and E2 at concentrations of 0 (control), 0.1, 1, and 10 μg/L. We primarily investigated the effects on steroidogenesis and vitellogenin (VTG) expression, which are key factors in assessing endocrine disruption. Results showed that 4-NP inhibited shell growth at all tested concentrations, and increased free E2 in tissues levels were observed in clams exposed to 0.1 μg/L of 4-NP on both the 7th and 14th days. Conversely, E2 did not significantly affect free E2 in tissues levels. Notably, exposure to 1 μg/L 4-NP significantly upregulated mRNA expression of genes involved in the steroidogenesis pathway (GnRH, CYP17, and 17β-HSD) in genetically female juveniles. Both male and female juveniles showed increased VTG mRNA expression after 4-NP exposure. These findings confirm the endocrine-disrupting potential of 4-NP, particularly affecting genetically female juveniles. The alterations in key genes involved in steroidogenesis and the upregulation of VTG expression highlight the vulnerability of bivalves to EDCs. This study underscores the importance of VTG expression as a reliable biomarker for assessing the estrogenic impacts and action mechanisms of EDCs in juvenile bivalves.

Keywords: 4-Nonylphenol; Endocrine disruption; Estradiol; Juvenile; Ruditapes philippinarum; Vitellogenin.