The Publication of the Metropolitan Association of College and University Biologists Winter 2019 Volume 40, Issue 2 51st ANNUAL MACUB CONFERENCE Saturday, October 27, 2018 Queensborough Community College Bayside. New York Winter 2019 In Vivo, Vol 40(2): page 4 Instructions for Authors The Metropolitan Association of IN VIVO is a peer-reviewed journal that is published College & University Biologists three times yearly during the Fall, Winter, and Spring. Serving the Metropolitan New York Area Original research articles in the field of biology in for more than 50 Years addition to original articles of general interest to faculty MACUB 2018-2019 and students may be submitted to the editor to be EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS considered for publication. Manuscripts can be in the PRESIDENT form of a) full length manuscripts, b) mini-reviews or c) Dr. Kathleen Nolan short communications of particularly significant and Saint Francis College timely information. 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Carroll, TREASURER EMERITUS Medgar Evers College Dr. Gerhard Spory Farmingdale State University MEMBER-AT-LARGE EMERITUS In Vivo (Brooklyn) is published by Dr. Michael Palladino The Metropolitan Association of College and Monmouth University University Biologists Brooklyn, NY ISSN: 2639-2658 Winter 2019 In Vivo, Vol 40(2): page 5 https://macub.org In This Issue: MACUB 2018-2019 Executive Board inside cover Instruction for Authors inside cover The Effects of Bisphenol A and Alternatives, Individually and in Combination, on Larval Development of Xenopus laevis (Clawed Frog) by Lisa E. Thottumari, Christina M. Mortellaro, Michael P. Verile, Nicholas F. Antonucci, Frances S. Raleigh and Laura H. Twersky 26 MACUB 2018 Conference - Poster Presentation Award Winners 40 MACUB 2018 Conference Highlights 47 MACUB 2018 Conference - Poster Abstracts 50 MACUB 2018 Conference - Member Presentations 91 Affiliate Members inside back cover Call for Manuscripts Publish your manuscripts in In Vivo Follow the Instructions for Authors on the inside cover and submit your manuscripts electronically to the Editorial Board at [email protected] Winter 2019 In Vivo, Vol 40(2): page 25 The Effects of Bisphenol A and Alternatives, Individually and in Combination, on Larval Development of Xenopus laevis (Clawed Frog)* Lisa E. Thottumari, Christina M. Mortellaro, Michael P. Verile, Nicholas F. Antonucci, Frances S. Raleigh and Laura H. Twersky Department of Biology, Saint Peter’s University, Jersey City, NJ 07306 ABSTRACT Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins which are used in food and drink packaging. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of BPA, a known environmental endocrine disruptor (EED), to those of its replacements, bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF), individually, and in combination, on the development of Xenopus laevis (clawed frog). BPA is known to stimulate cellular responses by binding to estrogen receptors and via other mechanisms. The effects of BPS and BPF are not yet fully understood, however they have been detected in urine samples. The development of X. laevis has been used as a model system due to the transparent larvae and the complete categorization of its development. X. laevis embryos were incubated at the blastula and neurula stages in concentrations of BPA, BPS, and BPF individually and in combination to observe early and larval development. Malformations were observed in BPA, BPS and BPF, especially in combinations. There was also an increased mortality rate in 10 μg/mL BPA. The results of this study provide evidence that BPS and BPF are not safe alternatives to BPA. Key Words: Bisphenol A, Bisphenol F, Bisphenol S, endocrine disruptors, amphibian development Introduction μg/L urine1. Recent studies have shown a downward trend in BPA intake in the Human exposure to bisphenol A USA from 52.82 to 27.62 ng/kg bw/day (BPA), a known environmental during the period of 2003-20142. As the endocrine disruptor (EED), is use of BPA has decreased, alternative widespread. The 2003-2004 National bisphenols, BPS and BPF, have been Health and Nutrition Examination utilized in its place in many products. Survey (NHANES), conducted by the Therefore, it is important to determine Centers for Disease Control and the effects of BPA and its commonly Prevention (CDC), found that BPA was used substitutes, individually and in detected in 95% of the urine samples combination, on human health. examined, at concentrations over 0.1 *Part of this work was presented at the annual meetings of the Society for Developmental Biology (Boston, August 2016) and the American Society for Cell Biology (Philadelphia, December 2017). Winter 2019 In Vivo, Vol 40(2): page 26 Bisphenol A (BPA) is the common including human studies on prenatal name for 2,2-(4,4-dihydroxydiphenol) BPA exposure and early childhood propane. It is an organic molecule made behavior. A study conducted by Braun et up of two phenol rings connected by a al.5, found an association between mean methyl bridge with two methyl groups prenatal BPA concentrations at 16 attached to the central methyl bridge. weeks of gestation and hyperactivity and There are several ways that BPA can be aggressive behavior among the female introduced into the environment; for children. Additionally, other studies have example, factories can discharge BPA examined the increased incidence of directly into the atmosphere and it can infertility, genital tract abnormalities, and also leach from plastic containers into breast cancer and their putative water3. Around 99.9% of domestically causation due to BPA exposure during produced BPA is used by manufacturers early development3. In rhesus as an intermediate in the production of macaques, exposure to BPA during polycarbonate and epoxy resins, flame pregnancy can alter the airway cells of retardants, and other specialty products4. the fetus by increasing the expression of It can be found in adhesives, protective secretory proteins in the fetal airway coatings, powder paints, and paper tissue8. Other studies describing the coatings as well5. Extensive studies have effect of low concentration exposure of been done on exposure to BPA and on BPA on animals show outcomes such as its mechanism of action, leading to the prostate cancer, mammary gland cancer, conclusion that BPA is an EED. Studies decrease of tyrosine hydroxylase initially showed that BPA binds to ERα neurons in sexually dimorphic circuits in and ERβ, two nuclear estrogen the hypothalamus9, onset of estrus receptors, but it still had a lower affinity cyclicity and earlier puberty, increased for the estrogen receptors than estradiol, body weight, genital malformations, and a primary female sex hormone3. many others3. Some of the studies on However, recent studies show that BPA Xenopus laevis larvae have also shown can stimulate cellular responses at low that exposure to BPA can cause head concentrations through other pathways malformations such as shortened and by binding membrane-associated distance between the eyes10, scoliosis11, forms of the estrogen receptors. BPA feminization12, hyperactivity13, anti- has also been found to disrupt thyroid metamorphic