title: Effects of uranium on the metabolism of zebrafish, Danio rerio.
abstract: The increasing demand for nuclear energy results in heightened levels of uranium (U) in aquatic systems which present a potential health hazard to resident organisms. The aim of this study was to mechanistically assess how chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of U perturbs the complex interplay between feeding, growth, maintenance, maturation and reproduction throughout the life-cycle of an individual. To this end we analysed literature-based and original zebrafish toxicity data within a same mass and energy balancing conceptual framework. U was found to increase somatic maintenance leading to inhibition of spawning as well as increase hazard rate and costs for growth during the early life stages. The fish's initial conditions and elimination through reproduction greatly affected toxico-kinetics and effects. We demonstrate that growth and reproduction should be measured on specific individuals since mean values were hardly interpretable. The mean food level differed between experiments, conditions and individuals. This last 'detail' contributed substantially to the observed variability by its combined effect on metabolism, toxic effects and toxico-kinetics. The significance of this work is that we address exactly how these issues are related and derive conclusions which are independent of experimental protocol and coherent with a very large body of literature on zebrafish eco-physiology.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Radionuclide Ecotoxicology, PRP-ENV/SERIS/LECO, Institute of Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Caradache, Building 186, BP3, 13115 St-Paul-lez-Durance Cedex, France. Electronic address: starr-light.augustine@irsn.fr.
authors.forename: Starrlight
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Augustine
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Radionuclide Ecotoxicology, PRP-ENV/SERIS/LECO, Institute of Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Caradache, Building 186, BP3, 13115 St-Paul-lez-Durance Cedex, France. Electronic address: beatrice.gagnaire@irsn.fr.
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gagnaire
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Radionuclide Ecotoxicology, PRP-ENV/SERIS/LECO, Institute of Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Caradache, Building 186, BP3, 13115 St-Paul-lez-Durance Cedex, France. Electronic address: christelle.adam-guillermin@irsn.fr.
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adam-Guillermin
authors.affiliation: Department of Theoretical Biology, Vrije Universiteit, de Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: bas.kooijman@vu.nl.
authors.forename: Sebastiaan A L M
authors.initials: SALM
authors.lastname: Kooijman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007700:Kinetics; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014501:Uranium / Q000633:toxicity*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000633:toxicity*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D014501:Uranium