Japanese medaka exposed to gold nanoparticles: Only embryonic exposure generates irreversible hatching failure, developmental failure, and mortality of sac-fry.
This study evaluated irreversible toxicity effects of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) during the short-term (only embryonic stage) and long-term (both embryo and sac-fry stages) exposures of Japanese ricefish, Oryzias latipes (medaka) embryos and sac-fry. Embryos and sac-fry exposed to AuNPs at 8 and 15days post-fertilization exhibited mortality, developmental failure, and abnormal appearance, and sac-fry additionally exhibited hatching failure and abnormal behavior. Embryos damaged by AuNPs during the embryonic stages failed to hatch and died, despite being raised under AuNP-free conditions after embryonic exposure. This study demonstrates that AuNPs have irreversible effects on O. latipes embryos and sac-fry, including the embryonic stages, regardless of the length of exposure. This result may be critical for predicting the potential continuous effects of AuNPs when the exposure duration of fish is short but includes the embryonic stages. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to test the toxicity of AuNP exposure on the embryos and sac-fry of O. latipes.
Department of Environmental Science, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: godessoflove@naver.com.
Yu-Jin
YJ
Shin
Department of Environmental Science, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ciel0001@hotmail.com.
Sun-Hwa
SH
Nam
Department of Environmental Science, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: anyjoo@konkuk.ac.kr.
Youn-Joo
YJ
An
D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects*; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects*; D006046:Gold / Q000506:poisoning*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000506:poisoning*; D009990:Oryzias / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development*
D006046:Gold
Embryonic exposure; Fish embryo; Gold nanoparticles; Oryzias latipes; Sac-fry