Despite cyclopenta-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (CP-PAHs) have been detected in the environment, the ability of CP-PAH to induce cellular and tissue responses remains poorly characterized. In this study, xenoestrogen-associated responses (mRNA levels of estrogen receptor
![]()
, ER
![]()
, and
zona radiata protein,
Zrp) and xenobiotic effects (CYP1A mRNA) have been investigated in liver of juvenile rainbow trout after short-term treatment (8 and 24 h) with following compounds administered singly: cyclopenta[
c]phenanthrene (CP[
c]Ph); its derivatives, 5A-CP[
c]Ph; 5A6M-CP[
c]Ph; 5A9M-CP[
c]Ph; B[
c]Ph, a structurally similar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; B[
a]P, a model CYP1A inducer; and zearalenone (ZEA), naturally occurring ligand for ER. The CYP1A mRNA expression after 24 h of exposure with CP[
c]Ph or its derivatives, except 5A9M-CP[
c]Ph, was 3–9-fold higher compared to controls (
P < 0.05), but it was less than that caused by B[
a]P (65-fold up regulation;
P < 0.01). Moreover, neither of the CP-PAH compounds modulated liver ER
![]()
or
Zrp mRNA levels as compared to effects associated with ZEA. Interestingly, a treatment with this ER-ligand, caused moderate but significant increase of CYP1A mRNA expression (about 2.5-fold;
P < 0.05). The finding that ZEA is capable of acting as either estrogenic and xenobiotic compound, should be further explored in a more detailed and differently designed experiment.