Methoprene photolytic compounds disrupt zebrafish development, producing phenocopies of mutants in the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway.
Environmental chemicals have been proposed to impact endocrine or retinoid pathways, causing developmental abnormalities in humans and other vertebrates. Presented evidence shows that exposure of zebrafish embryos to sunlight-induced photolytic products of the pesticide methoprene results in developmental defects in the head, heart, pectoral fins, and somites, and in spinal motor and optic nerve axons. Exposed embryos are phenocopies of zebrafish you-type mutants and, as in the mutant sonic-you, show underexpression of the signaling protein sonic hedgehog. Reduced expression of sonic hedgehog is also displayed in embryos treated with the retinoic acid synthesis inhibitor citral. This study identifies citral-related compounds as embryonic signaling disruptors of potential environmental concern.
Smith
Denice G
DG
Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science, Christopher Newport University, 1 University Place, Newport News, VA 23606, USA.
Wilburn
Claudia
C
McCarthy
Robert A
RA
D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects; D047108:Embryonic Development; D004627:Embryonic Induction / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D006728:Hormones / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000633:toxicity; D007605:Juvenile Hormones / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000633:toxicity; D008726:Methoprene / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000633:toxicity*; D009154:Mutation; D010575:Pesticides / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000633:toxicity; D010641:Phenotype; D010782:Photolysis; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000002:abnormalities*
D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D006728:Hormones; D007605:Juvenile Hormones; D010575:Pesticides; D015534:Trans-Activators; D008726:Methoprene