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Teratogenic Effects of Chronic Treatment with Corticosterone on Tadpoles of Xenopus laevis
Author(s) -
Lorenz Claudia,
Opitz Robert,
Lutz Ilka,
Kloas Werner
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04429.x
Subject(s) - xenopus , medicine , endocrinology , corticosterone , hormone , biology , prolactin , thyroid , gene , biochemistry
The present study investigated effects of chronic treatment with corticosterone (B) on larval development of the amphibian Xenopus laevis . Tadpoles (stage 51) were treated with B (100, 500 nmol/L), 50 mg/L of the anti‐thyroidal substance ethylenethiourea (ETU), and a combination of ETU (50 mg/L) plus B (500 nmol/L) to address corticosteroid effects in the presence or absence of thyroid hormones (TH). ETU‐treated tadpoles displayed developmental arrest, reduced levels of TH receptor ß (TRß) and prolactin (PRL) mRNAs, but increased expression of thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSHß). Tadpoles exposed to B were characterized by asynchrony of metamorphic tissue remodeling and decreased mRNA expression of corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF). Cotreatment of ETU and B reversed the effects of ETU on PRL and TSHß expression but did not alter ETU effects on development and TRß expression. Our findings confirm that chronic treatment with high doses of corticosteroids has teratogenic effects on developing tadpoles and additionally suggest a stimulatory effect of B on gene expression of the antimetamorphic pituitary hormone PRL.