Carboxin can induce cardiotoxicity in zebrafish embryos

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 233; p. 113318
• Main Authors: Huang, Yong, Wang, Ziqin, Peng, Yuyang, Xu, Rong, Yan, Jiajie, Xiong, Cong, Ma, Jinze, Zhong, Keyuan, Lu, Huiqiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 15.03.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; ATPase activities; Carboxin; Carboxin - metabolism; Cardiotoxicity; Cardiotoxicity - metabolism; Embryo, Nonmammalian - metabolism; Heart failure; Oxidative Stress; Zebrafish - metabolism; Carboxin; Heart failure; Oxidative stress; Cardiotoxicity; ATPase activities
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113318

Carboxin is a heterocyclic systemic fungicide, mainly used to prevent and control grain smut and wheat rust. Although its mammalian toxicity has been reported, its toxicity to acute exposure to aquatic animals is unknown. In our study, we used zebrafish as aquatic organisms to study Carboxin toxicity. Carboxin can cause developmental toxicity and cardiotoxicity in zebrafish embryos. Histopathological staining of cardiac sections reveals structural changes in zebrafish hearts, and fluorescence quantitative PCR results shows the heart developmental genes mRNA expression levels were disrupted significantly. Besides, carboxin can also cause oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in zebrafish embryos. The accumulation of ROS causes mitochondrial damage, which is where ATP energy is produced. So ATPase activities and gene expression level were measured and significantly decreased after exposure to carboxin. From the confocal images, the number of blood cells in the heart were decreased significantly after carboxin exposure. Besides, Carboxin exposure can inhibit myocardial cell proliferation. These are all causes to the heart failure, eventually leading to embryos death. [Display omitted] •Carboxin can cause developmental toxicity and cardiotoxicity in zebrafish embryos.•Carboxin can also cause oxidative stress and ROS accumulation in zebrafish embryos.•Carboxin exposure reduced heart blood cells which is associated with the ATPase activity.•Carboxin exposure can inhibit myocardial cell proliferation.