Evolving trends in steroid hormone receptor research

Recent advances have challenged classical notions regarding the nature of steroid hormone receptors in the cell including localization, activation, configuration, and stability. Molecular biology has revealed a remarkable similarity in the primary structure of a wide variety of receptor classes that goes beyond steroid action. Post-translational modification of a primary unit, expressed in response to genetic conservatism, would appear to assure receptor dynamics specific to hormone-, organ-, and tissue-dependent processes, and may even lead to toxicity and oncogenicity.     

二噁英暴露对成年男性血清类固醇激素的影响

为了解二噁英（PCDD/DFs）对成年男性类固醇激素水平的影响,采用高分辨气相色谱法/高分辨质谱联用法（HRGC/HRMS）及液相色谱-质谱联用法（LC-MS/MS）分析二噁英污染地区成年男性（n=50）及非污染地区成年男性（n=48）血清中9种类固醇激素水平和17种二噁英同类物浓度.结果显示成年男性血清中双氢睾酮、睾酮、雌二醇的水平与部分二噁英同类物浓度存在显著性相关.污染地区成年男性双氢睾酮、睾酮、雌二醇的水平与年龄呈显著性正相关.以上结果表明二噁英暴露导致成年男性类固醇激素中的性激素变化异常.     

围产期二英暴露对学龄前儿童类固醇激素的影响

为揭示围产期二噁英(PCDD/DFs)暴露对学龄前儿童类固醇激素水平的影响.采用液相色谱-质谱联用法(LC-MS/MS)及高分辨气相色谱法/高分辨质谱联用法(HRGC/HRMS)分析二噁英污染地区5岁儿童(n=37)及非污染地区5岁儿童(n=44)血清中8种类固醇激素水平及母乳中17种二噁英同系物浓度.结果显示污染地区男孩血清中睾酮、双氢睾酮、脱氢表雄酮的水平明显低于非污染地区(p0.05).污染地区女孩血清中睾酮、双氢睾酮、脱氢表雄酮、17α-羟孕酮、孕酮的水平明显低于非污染地区(p0.05).上述类固醇激素与部分二噁英同系物浓度存在显著性负相关.以上结果表明围产期二■英暴露导致学龄前儿童类固醇激素水平降低.     

UV体系中3种微量类固醇雌激素的竞争降解及同趋转化

采用UV体系(UV、UV/H2O2和UV/H2O2/TiO2)降解水中同时存在的3种微量类固醇雌激素雌酮(E1)、17-β雌二醇(E2)和17-α乙炔基雌二醇(EE2),结果表明,降解过程均符合一级反应动力学,通过不同UV系统对比发现,关键因素对混合污染降解的影响顺序为H2O2>光强>TiO2.E1光解特性良好,在混合基质中可优势降解;E2和EE2直接光解效果较差,优劣顺序受到光强的影响,光强升高EE2略占优势.H2O2和催化剂TiO2的投加可提高3种物质的降解效果及降解速率常数,但竞争条件下E2和EE2的去除率提高有限.E1,E2和EE2的光化学降解过程具有相似的转化趋势,均可生成与E1结构类似的副产物.     

甾体雌激素废水中优势降解菌的分离及特性

从某避孕药生产厂污水处理站好氧池活性污泥中通过富集驯化,分离到一株降解甾体雌激素(3-甲氧基-17a羟基-1,3,5(10),8(9)-雌甾-4-烯,简称MHE)的细菌ZY3菌株.经形态及16SrDNA序列分析初步鉴定,该菌株属于Raoultella属(Raoultellasp.).经过对ZY3菌株以MHE为唯一碳源生长和降解特性的分析表明,ZY3菌株利用MHE生长的最适温度和pH值分别为35℃和10.0,72h内的最适降解浓度为10mg/L.加入营养物质麦芽糖和蛋白胨能促进菌株对底物的降解,在72h内降解率达到了87%和85%.     

不同硝化负荷MBR去除类固醇雌激素的研究

以雌酮(E1)和17α-乙炔基雌二醇(EE2)2种典型类固醇雌激素为研究对象,考察了不同硝化负荷好氧MBR对其的去除特性.结果表明,硝化负荷为6.19,0.35,10.58mg/(gMLSS·d)的MBR对E1平均去除率分别为72.33%、64.06%和71.77%,去除负荷分别为29.98,23.06,27.66mg/(gMLSS·d);对EE2平均去除率分别为55.40%、42.87%和58.90%,去除负荷分别为22.39,16.54,23.58mg/(gMLSS·d).E1去除效果均优于EE2.MBR硝化负荷与氨氧化细菌之间有较好的线性关系;而SEs去除负荷与氨氧化细菌及硝化负荷之间不满足线性关系.硝化负荷为0.35mg/(gMLSS·d)时,SEs去除负荷较低,硝化负荷达到6.19mg/(gMLSS·d)时,SEs的去除负荷显著提高,而当硝化负荷增加到10.58mg/(gMLSS·d)时,SEs去除负荷不再有效提高.     

Isolation and characterization of a bacterial strain that efficiently degrades sex steroid hormones

A bacterial strain, ZY3, growing on sex steroid hormones as the sole source of carbon and energy was isolated from the sewage treatment plant of a prophylactic steroids factory. ZY3 degrades the 3-methoxy-17β-hydroxy-1,3,5(10),8(9)-δ-4-estren (MHE). This strain was preliminarily identified as Raoultella sp. ZY3 according to its morphology and its 16S rRNA gene sequence. During the experimental period (72 h), the optimum temperature, pH and 3-MHE concentration for the degradation of hydride by the strain ZY3 were 35°C, 10 and 10 mg/L, respectively. The degradation rate of the sex steroid hormones increased to 87% and 85% after the addition of maltose and peptone, respectively. Translated from China Environmental Science, 2005, 25(5): 585–588 [译自: 中国环境科学]     

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency by amniotic fluid steroid analysis

The concentration of 17OH-progesterone was measured in second trimester amniotic fluid samples from 12 mothers who previously had had an infant with congenital adrenal hyper-plasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. In 4 affected pregnancies, the concentrations were more than 2 S.D. higher than those determined in 44 samples from normal pregnancies (mean ± S.D., 8·1 ± 2·4 nmol/1). The remaining 8 pregnancies were predicted to be unaffected based on the results of amniotic fluid concentrations within the normal range. In each instance, the infant was normal. The results indicate that measurement of amniotic fluid 17OH-progester-one concentrations during the second trimester is an accurate prenatal test for 21-hydroxylase deficiency. The results should be supplemented with determination of fetal sex by karyotype analysis on the amniotic fluid cells.     

我国直辖市畜禽养殖排放类固醇激素特征及其潜在污染风险

通过对北京、天津、重庆及上海4个直辖市畜禽养殖的统计分析,借鉴英美等发达国家的相关研究,估算了各直辖市畜禽养殖业类固醇雌激素和雄激素的年排放量,并初步探讨了各市单位耕地面积的类固醇雌激素承载量及类固醇雌激素对地表水体的潜在污染风险.结果表明,4个直辖中,重庆市的雌激素和雄激素年排放量处于4个直辖市之首,2008年两类激素的排放量分别达到1283.0和136.1 kg.北京和上海市类固醇激素总排放量均较10年前有所减少,尤其是上海市,10年间类固醇激素排放量减少了1/3.相反,天津市和重庆市的畜禽养殖业类固醇激素排放量却在增长.北京市单位耕地面积畜禽粪便类固醇雌激素的承载量最大,且明显增大,2008年达到839.1 mg·hm-2,是1998年的1.5倍.根据英国环保署(Environment Agency,United Kingdom)建议的最低可观测效应浓度10 ng·L-1,北京市和天津市的畜禽养殖排泄物有可能对当地地表水系统产生生态危害.在3种类固醇雌激素中,雌酮的排放对耕地承载的贡献最大.因此,各直辖市尤其是北京市和天津市亟需加强规模化养殖业管理,加强畜禽养殖业排污中类固醇激素的去除,保障城市的耕地及地表水生态安全.     

RIA法检测湛江海域军曹鱼体内生长激素及类固醇激素的残留

应用放射免疫分析法(radioimmunoassay, RIA)检测了养殖与野生军曹鱼(Rachycentron canadum)肌肉中生长激素及雌二醇、孕酮、睾酮三种类固醇激素的残留量.结果表明,养殖军曹鱼肌肉中生长激素残留量为4.15×10-9,在野生军曹鱼中未检出.养殖军曹鱼中三种类固醇激素残留量分别为50.92×10-12、2.08×10-9、0.44×10-9,野生军曹鱼中三种类固醇激素残留量分别为29.78×10-12、1.28×10-9、0.08×10-9,养殖军曹鱼中三种类固醇激素的残留量分别是野生军曹鱼的1.71、1.63、5.50倍.     

Offspring sex in a TSD gecko correlates with an interaction between incubation temperature and yolk steroid hormones

We incubated eggs of the Japanese gecko Gekko japonicus at three temperatures, and measured yolk testosterone (T) and 17??-estradiol (E2) levels at three time points in embryonic development (oviposition, 1/3 of incubation, and 2/3 of incubation), to examine whether maternal influence on offspring sex via yolk steroid hormone deposition is significant in the species. Eggs incubated at 24?°C and 32?°C produced mostly females, and eggs incubated at 28?°C almost a 50:50 sex ratio of hatchlings. Female-producing eggs were larger than male-producing eggs. Clutches in which eggs were incubated at the same temperature produced mostly same-sex siblings. Yolk T level at laying was negatively related to eggs mass, and yolk E2/T ratio was positively related to egg mass. Results of two-way ANOVA with incubation temperature and stage as the factors show that: yolk E2 level was higher at 32?°C than at 24?°C; yolk T level was higher, whereas yolk E2/T ratio was smaller, at 28?°C than at 24?°C; yolk E2 and T levels were higher at 2/3 than at 1/3 of incubation. Our data in G. japonucus show that: (1) maternal influence on offspring sex via yolk steroid hormone deposition is significant; (2) incubation temperature affects the dynamics of developmental changes in yolk steroid hormones; (3) influences of yolk steroid hormones on offspring sex are secondary relative to incubation temperature effects; and (4) offspring sex correlates with an interaction between incubation temperature and yolk steroid hormones.     

三丁基锡对蓝子鱼的激素和酶指标及组织显微结构的影响

采用静态暴露方式研究三丁基锡氯化物(TBTCl)对黄斑蓝子鱼(Siganus oramin)的毒性效应.当蓝子鱼暴露于40～4000 ng·L-1 TBTCl中10d或20d后,雌鱼和雄鱼的肝体指数显著升高,鳃、肝脏、脾脏、心脏、皮肤等组织的显微结构发生明显的病理变化;上述病变随毒物暴露剂量或暴露时间的增加而加剧.与对照组相比,暴露10d后,40 ng·L-1组的血浆睾酮水平和400 ng·L-1组的血浆皮质醇水平显著升高,4000ng·L-1组的血浆皮质醇水平显著降低、肝脏谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)活性极显著升高;暴露20d后,各处理组的血浆睾酮和皮质醇水平无显著变化,但40、400 ng·L-1组的肝脏GST活性显著升高.结果提示,肝体指数、肝脏代谢酶活性、血浆皮质醇水平,以及有关组织的病理变化可以作为评估三丁基锡等环境污染物毒性效应的生物指标.     

Occurrence and fate of endogenous steroid hormones, alkylphenol ethoxylates, bisphenol A and phthalates in municipal sewage treatment systems

Steroid hormones, alkylphenol ethoxylates(APEOs) and phthalic acid esters(PAEs) are emerging endocrine disrupting chemicals(EDCs) that can interfere with the endocrine function in organisms at low concentrations. The occurrence, distribution behavior, removal rate and the fate of 31 target EDCs in sewage treatment plants, which consist of various treatment facilities and receiving water in Hong Kong, were investigated. Estrone,nonylphenol-di-ethoxylate and diethyl phthalate were found to be dominant in each group of influent samples with concentrations ranging from 11–33, 747–3945 and 445–4635 ng/L,respectively. Conversely, progesterone, nonylphenol-mono-ethoxylate and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate were the most abundant in dewatered sludge, with concentrations ranging from 0.9–237, 75–19,743 and 4310–37,016 ng/g(dry weight). The removal rates of primary sedimentation and disinfection approaches were lower than 30% for most of the chemicals,while those of activated sludge and reverse osmosis were greater than 80% for more than two-thirds of the compounds, noticeably decreasing the estrogenic risk of sewage discharged into the environment. Steroid hormones were removed via biological degradation, while some APEOs and PAEs adsorbed to the sludge. Victoria Harbor poses a low to medium estrogenic risk mainly contributed by estrone and estradiol and deserves attention.     

Low or absent unconjugated estriol in pregnancy: an indicator for steroid sulfatase deficiency detectable by fluorescence in situ hybridization and biochemical analysis

It has been previously reported that a low or absent maternal serum unconjugated estriol (uE3) level is associated with placental steroid sulfatase (STS) deficiency. Here we report a correlation between patients who present with a very low or absent maternal serum uE3 and a deletion of the STS gene as assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). We studied nine prenatal cases that presented to the clinical laboratory with an abnormal triple screen, specifically low or absent maternal serum uE3 and a 46,XY karyotype. FISH analysis showed complete deletion of a probe containing the STS gene in six cases and one case had a partial deletion (reduced but not absent signal). The remaining two cases were not deleted for the STS probe. All mothers tested whose fetus showed a deletion were shown to be STS deletion carriers using FISH. Biochemical analysis was performed on 7/9 prenatal specimens. All fetuses deleted for the STS probe were also found to be deficient for STS by biochemical analysis of cultured amniotic fluid (5/5). Of the two fetuses not deleted for the STS probe, one was deficient for STS activity, while the other had a normal result. The abnormal result of enzyme deficiency by biochemical analysis in a non-deletion case likely represents a mutation in the STS gene, not detectable by this FISH assay. Postnatal FISH confirmation of the STS deletion was performed in 1/7 cases. Clinical follow-up was available for 4/9 cases following birth. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

壬基酚对斑马鱼精巢组织及性激素合成酶基因表达的影响

壬基酚（NP）是广泛存在于水体中的环境内分泌干扰物,会影响鱼类的生殖和发育.为了解NP影响鱼类精巢发育的分子机制,将成年雄性斑马鱼（Danio rerio）暴露于不同浓度（0、125、250、500μg·L-1）NP下21d,用常规组织学方法研究试验鱼精巢组织结构的变化,并用荧光定量PCR（QRT-PCR）方法检测试验...     

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency by steroid analysis in the amniotic fluid of mid-pregnancy: Comparison with HLA typing in 17 pregnancies at risk for CAH

Amniotic fluid (AF) levels of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) and testosterone (T) were determined at 16–17 weeks in 17 pregnancies at risk for CAH and results compared to 75 normal controls. The fetus was predicted to be unaffected in 12 cases on the findings of normal AF levels of both 17OHP and T and the latter allowed a correct prediction of fetal sex in all instances. HLA typing confirmed normality in 12 cases revealing 5 carriers, 5 homozygous normal and 2 indeterminate. Steroid levels of the 2 groups were similar. Three fetuses were predicted to be CAH affected on unambiguously high levels of 17OHP and T (in female only). HLA typing was in agreement, and the diagnosis was confirmed in 2 abortuses and a female newborn by physical and hormonal studies. In the last 2 cases AF levels of OHP and T were normal but HLA (A/B/C) genotypes were identical to the CAH affected siblings. Normal physical and hormonal findings in the 2 aborted fetuses would exclude the possibility of an in utero virilizing form of CAH. The discrepancy could be explained on the basis that the fetuses had an allelic form of 21-hydroxylase deficiency or on the basis of recombination (not fully tested). It is concluded that a fully informative prenatal diagnosis of CAH should not rely entirely on HLA typing but on hormonal studies.