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Sex steroid receptor evolution and signalling in aquatic invertebrates

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Abstract

In vertebrate reproductive endocrinology sex steroids play a pivotal role via binding to receptors. However, information on the origin and relevance of sex steroids in invertebrates is limited. This review highlights current literature on steroid receptors in aquatic invertebrates and reports on some new findings. It has been shown that invertebrates of the deuterostome clade, such as Acrania and Echinodermata, respond to estrogens and androgens and, at least in Branchiostoma, an estrogen receptor has been cloned. Within the protostomes, most findings are related to aquatic molluscs. Sex steroid receptor-like proteins are abundant in gastropods, bivalves and cephalopods and also sex hormone signalling shows partial similarity to the deuterostomes. In ecdysozoans, however, the impact of sex steroids is still a matter of debate even though there is evidence on the presence of estrogen receptor-like proteins in Crustacea and on physiological effects of estrogens in both Nematoda and Crustacea. Recent findings suggest the presence of an estrogen receptor α-like protein of unclear physiological role in Gammarus fossarum (Crustacea). Binding studies revealed the crustacean Hyalella azteca to possess specific binding sites only for androgens but not for estrogens suggesting a possible limitation to functional androgen receptors in this species. Further studies have to be conducted to shed more light into the discussion about the controversy about sex steroid receptors in invertebrates.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the XEHOGAMM research consortium, which rendered the inclusion of previously unpublished material possible. Funding on own research was provided by the German Federal Environmental Agency (UBA, No 299 65 221/05) and the EU consortium COMPRENDO (EVK1-CT-2002-00129). We are also indebted to Dr. T. Knigge, Université du Havre, France and two anonymous reviewers for hints on most recent literature.

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  1. Animal Physiological Ecology, University of Tübingen, Konrad-Adenauer-Strasse 20, D-72072, Tuebingen, Germany

    Heinz-R. Köhler, Martin Schirling, Anna L. Reye & Rita Triebskorn

  2. Department Endocrinology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany

    Werner Kloas

  3. Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany

    Werner Kloas & Ilka Lutz

  4. Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany

    Jan-S. Langen & Gilbert Schönfelder

  5. Steinbeis-Transfer Center for Ecotoxicology and Ecophysiology, Rottenburg, Germany

    Rita Triebskorn

  6. Institute of Hydrobiology, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany

    Roland Nagel

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  1. Heinz-R. Köhler
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Correspondence to Heinz-R. Köhler.

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Köhler, HR., Kloas, W., Schirling, M. et al. Sex steroid receptor evolution and signalling in aquatic invertebrates. Ecotoxicology 16, 131–143 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-006-0111-3

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