title: Sublethal exposure to crude oil during embryonic development alters cardiac morphology and reduces aerobic capacity in adult fish.
abstract: Exposure to high concentrations of crude oil produces a lethal syndrome of heart failure in fish embryos. Mortality is caused by cardiotoxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), ubiquitous components of petroleum. Here, we show that transient embryonic exposure to very low concentrations of oil causes toxicity that is sublethal, delayed, and not counteracted by the protective effects of cytochrome P450 induction. Nearly a year after embryonic oil exposure, adult zebrafish showed subtle changes in heart shape and a significant reduction in swimming performance, indicative of reduced cardiac output. These delayed physiological impacts on cardiovascular performance at later life stages provide a potential mechanism linking reduced individual survival to population-level ecosystem responses of fish species to chronic, low-level oil pollution.
authors.affiliation: University of Alaska-Fairbanks Fisheries Division, University of Alaska-Fairbanks Juneau Center, Juneau, AK 99801, USA.
authors.forename: Corinne E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hicken
authors.forename: Tiffany L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Linbo
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.forename: Maryjean L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Stekoll
authors.forename: Stanley D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Tracy K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.forename: Nathaniel L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Incardona
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D010578:Petroleum / Q000633:toxicity*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000378:metabolism*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System