A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method for the analysis of vitellogenin transcripts in model and nonmodel fish species.

The measurement of vitellogenin (vtg) gene transcription has been shown to be a reliable indicator of exposure to estrogenic compounds. Unfortunately, the relatively poor molecular characterization of North American fish species has hindered its application to a larger number of ecologically important species. The current research aimed to demonstrate specific amplification of vtg gene transcripts in three model (zebrafish, rainbow trout, and medaka) and six nonmodel (emerald shiner, pearl dace, smallmouth bass, creek chub, white sucker, and golden redhorse) fish species.