Thifluzamide exposure induced neuro-endocrine disrupting effects in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

• Published in: Archives of toxicology Vol. 95; no. 12; pp. 3777 - 3786
• Main Authors: Yang, Yang, Chang, Jinhe, Wang, Donghui, Ma, Hao, Li, Yuanbo, Zheng, Yongquan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acetylcholinesterase; Acetylcholinesterase - metabolism; Anilides - administration & dosage; Anilides - toxicity; Animals; Aquatic environment; Aquatic organisms; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Danio rerio; Developmental stages; Disruption; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Embryo, Nonmammalian - drug effects; Embryos; Endocrine disruptors; Endocrine Disruptors - administration & dosage; Endocrine Disruptors - toxicity; Environmental Health; Exposure; Fungicides; Fungicides, Industrial - administration & dosage; Fungicides, Industrial - toxicity; Genes; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - drug effects; Hypothalamus; Larva - drug effects; Larvae; Nervous system; Neurotransmitters; Norepinephrine; Norepinephrine - metabolism; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Organ Toxicity and Mechanisms; Pesticides; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Pituitary; Serotonin; Serotonin - metabolism; Thiazoles - administration & dosage; Thiazoles - toxicity; Thyroid; Thyroid gland; Thyroid hormones; Thyroid Hormones - metabolism; Thyroxine; Toxicity; Transcription; Triiodothyronine; Zebrafish; Development; Thifluzamide; Neurotoxicity; Zebrafish embryo; Thyroid disruption
• ISSN: 0340-5761; 1432-0738
• DOI: 10.1007/s00204-021-03158-1

Thifluzamide is widely used fungicide and frequently detected in aquatic system. In this study, the toxicity of fungicide thifluzamide to non-targeted aquatic organisms was investigated for neuroendocrine disruption potentials. Here, zebrafish embryos were exposed to a series of concentrations of thifluzamide for 6 days. The results showed that both the development of embryos/larvae and the behavior of hatched larvae were significantly affected by thifluzamide. Importantly, the decreased activity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and the increased contents of neurotransmitters such as serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE), along with transcriptional changes of nervous system related genes were observed following 4 days exposure to thifluzamide. Besides, the decreased contents of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in whole body, as well as significant expression alteration in hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis associated genes were discovered in zebrafish embryos after 4 days of exposure to thifluzamide. Our results clearly demonstrated that zebrafish embryos exposed to thifluzamide could disrupt neuroendocrine, compromise behavior and induce developmental abnormality, suggesting impact of this fungicide on developmental programming in zebrafish.