Expression of VTG and CYP1A biomarkers in Zosterisessor ophiocephalus sampled in different areas of the Venice Lagoon

The Venice Lagoon is a transitional environment on the Adriatic coast influenced by such human activities as agriculture, industry and tourism. Several studies carried out in the last years have demonstrated the presence of a wide range of contaminants in the Venice Lagoon. Biomonitoring in the lagoon environment plays an important role in strategies and actions to identify, control and reduce the environmental threats. Biomarkers monitored in this study are VTG (Vitellogenin) and CYP1A. VTG is produced in the liver of sexually mature female fish in response to endogenous estrogens. CYP1A represents the most intensively studied P450 gene in fish and its expression is induced by a wide variety of lipophilic contaminants. In the present study we used Western blot and Real Time PCR techniques to detect the expression of VTG and CYP1A in plasma and liver of a goby fish, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus, sampled in different areas of the Venice Lagoon, possibly interested by different pollution entities. Our results evidenced that VTG expression was detectable in adult male of Z. ophiocephalus collected from the different sites evidencing high toxicological risk probably due to endocrine disrupting chemicals. Moreover, the highest levels of CYP1A were observed in animals sampled at the Porto Marghera site showed that this site, which is influenced by the presence of the industrial area and the city of Venice, is the most highly impacted area of the lagoon. VTG and CYP1A induction in fish can be useful biosensors for environmental pollution monitoring.