title: Endocrine, teratogenic and neurotoxic effects of cyanobacteria detected by cellular in vitro and zebrafish embryos assays.
abstract: Cyanobacteria contain various types of bioactive compounds, which could cause adverse effects on organisms. They are released into surface waters during cyanobacterial blooms, but there is little information on their potential relevance for effects in vivo. In this study presence of bioactive compounds was characterized in cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa (Chroococcales), Planktothrix agardhii (Oscillatoriales) and Aphanizomenon gracile (Nostocales) with selected in vitro assays. The in vivo relevance of detected bioactivities was analysed using transgenic zebrafish embryos tg(cyp19a1b-GFP). Teratogenic potency was assessed by analysis of developmental disorders and effects on functions of the neuromuscular system by video tracking of locomotion. Estrogenicity in vitro corresponded to 0.95-54.6 ng estradiol equivalent(g dry weight (dw))(-1). In zebrafish embryos, estrogenic effects could not be detected potentially because they were masked by high toxicity. There was no detectable (anti)androgenic/glucocorticoid activity in any sample. Retinoid-like activity was determined at 1-1.3 μg all-trans-retinoic acid equivalent(g dw)(-1). Corresponding to the retinoid-like activity A. gracile extract also caused teratogenic effects in zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, exposure to biomass extracts at 0.3 gd wL(-1) caused increase of body length in embryos. There were minor effects on locomotion caused by 0.3 gd wL(-1)M. aeruginosa and P. agardhii extracts. The traditionally measured cyanotoxins microcystins did not seem to play significant role in observed effects. This indicates importance of other cyanobacterial compounds at least towards some species or their developmental phases. More attention should be paid to activity of retinoids, estrogens and other bioactive substances in phytoplankton using in vitro and in vivo bioassays.
authors.affiliation: RECETOX - Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jonas
authors.affiliation: UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.affiliation: UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fetter
authors.affiliation: RECETOX - Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Eliska
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sychrova
authors.affiliation: RECETOX - Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Novakova
authors.affiliation: UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ortmann
authors.affiliation: RECETOX - Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benisek
authors.affiliation: RECETOX - Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ondrej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adamovsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Veterinary Sciences and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Giesy
authors.affiliation: RECETOX - Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: hilscherova@recetox.muni.cz.
authors.forename: Klara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hilscherova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D046890:Aphanizomenon / Q000737:chemistry; D001681:Biological Assay; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D046931:Microcystis / Q000737:chemistry; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D009498:Neurotoxins; D013723:Teratogens
keywords: Blue-green algae; Estrogenicity; Fish; Retinoid-like activity; Teratogenicity