• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2002

Effect of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) on vitellogenin (VTG) production and estrogen ($E_2$)-estrogen receptor (ER) binding affinity were examined in primary hepatocyte cultures of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Hepatocytes were pre-cultured for 2 days; subsequently, $E_2$( 2$\times$$10^{-6}$/ M) and 2,4-D ($10^{-9}~10^{-6}/M$) were simultaneously added to the incubation medium. They were cultured for more than 5 days. VTG and $E_2$-ER binding affinities were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and ELISA, respectively. 2,4-D concentration used had no appreciable effect on the morphology, viability, and DNA content of hepatocytes in culture. It had also no effect on VTG production. However, it interfered with $E_2$-ER binding affinity, which was reduced with increasing concentration of 2,4-D. The affinity was inhibited by 25 and 30% at $10^{-7}$ M and $10^{-6}$ M of 2,4-D, respectively. This result suggested that although 2,4-D had no effect on VTG production, it acted as reno-estrogenic contaminant in ER.