title: Zinc oxide nanoparticles alter hatching and larval locomotor activity in zebrafish (Danio rerio).
abstract: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) are extensively used in various consumer products such as sunscreens and cosmetics, with high potential of being released into aquatic environments. In this study, fertilized zebrafish (Danio rerio) eggs were exposed to various concentrations of ZnO NP suspensions (control, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, and 10mg/L) or their respective centrifuged supernatants (0.03, 0.01, 0.08, 0.17, 0.75, and 1.21mg/L dissolved Zn ions measured) until reaching free swimming stage. Exposure to ZnO NP suspensions and their respective centrifuged supernatants caused similar hatching delay, but did not cause larval mortality or malformation. Larval activity level, mean velocity, and maximum velocity were altered in the groups exposed to high concentrations of ZnO NP (5-10mg/L) but not in the larvae exposed to the supernatants. To evaluate possible mechanism of observed effects caused by ZnO NP, we also manipulated the antioxidant environment by co-exposure to an antioxidant compound (N-acetylcysteine, NAC) or an antioxidant molecule suppressor (buthionine sulfoximine, BSO) with 5mg/L ZnO NP. Co-exposure to NAC did not alter the effects of ZnO NP on hatchability, but co-exposure to BSO caused further hatching delay. For larval locomotor activity, co-exposure to NAC rescued the behavioral effect caused by ZnO NP, but co-exposure to BSO did not exacerbate the effect. Our data indicated that toxicity of ZnO NP cannot be solely explained by dissolved Zn ions, and oxidative stress may involve in ZnO NP toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, National Dong Hwa University, Pingtung 944, Taiwan; Department of Research and Planning, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung 944, Taiwan. Electronic address: tehaochen@nmmba.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Te-Hao
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, National Dong Hwa University, Pingtung 944, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, National Dong Hwa University, Pingtung 944, Taiwan; Department of Biology, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung 944, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Jie
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Meng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects*; D053758:Nanoparticles; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D013550:Swimming; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000254:growth & development; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D015034:Zinc Oxide
keywords: Behavior; Development; Nanoparticles; Zebrafish; Zinc oxide