Estrogen‐like response of perfluorooctyl iodide in male medaka (Oryzias latipes) based on hepatic vitellogenin induction

Using the in vivo male medaka model, we investigated the estrogen‐like response of perfluorooctyl iodide (PFOI) which is a potential source of perfluorinated carboxylic acids. Using real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the expression levels of related estrogenic genes including estrogenic receptor α (ERα), ERβ, vitellogenin I (VTG I), and VTG II in the livers of male medaka exposed to PFOI were analyzed. The results showed that PFOI upregulated the expression levels of the tested genes in a dose‐dependent manner. VTG protein levels increased in both dose‐ and time‐dependent manners due to PFOI exposure. The results suggested that PFOI is a potential estrogenic compound. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 28: 571–578, 2013.