title: TBBPA induces developmental toxicity, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in embryos and zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio).
abstract: Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is currently one of the most frequently used brominated flame retardants and can be considered as a high production volume chemical. In this study, zebrafish embryos and larvae served as a biological model to evaluate TBBPA-induced developmental toxicity, oxidative stress, oxidant-associated gene expression, and cell apoptosis. Abnormalities, including hyperemia and pericardial edema, were induced in zebrafish larvae. The results showed that toxicity endpoints such as hatching rate, survival rate, malformation rate, and growth rate had a significant dose-response relationship with TBBPA. Further studies revealed that TBBPA did not alter the enzyme activities of Copper/Zinc Superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathioneperoxidase (GPx) at 0.10 mg/L, but decreased activities following exposure to 0.40, 0.70, and 1.00 mg/L. Despite the significantly decreased gene expression of Cu/Zn-SOD, CAT, and GPx1a in the 1.00 mg/L treatment group, other treatments (0.10, 0.40, 0.70 mg/L) did not alter gene expression. Moreover, Acridine orange staining results showed that apoptotic cells mainly accumulated in the brain, heart, and tail, indicating possible TBBPA-induced brain, cardiac, and blood circulation system impairment in zebrafish embryos and larvae. Histological analysis also showed evidence of obvious heart impairment in TBBPA-treated groups. This study provides new evidence on the developmental toxicity, oxidative stress, and apoptosis of embryos and zebrafish larvae, which is important for the evaluation of environmental toxicity and chemical risk. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1241-1249, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences/Key Laboratory of Pesticide Environmental Assessment and Pollution Control, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Nanjing, 210042, China.
authors.forename: Shengmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences/Key Laboratory of Pesticide Environmental Assessment and Pollution Control, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Nanjing, 210042, China.
authors.forename: Guixiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences/Key Laboratory of Pesticide Environmental Assessment and Pollution Control, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Nanjing, 210042, China.
authors.forename: Jining
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences/Key Laboratory of Pesticide Environmental Assessment and Pollution Control, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Nanjing, 210042, China.
authors.forename: Shenghu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences/Key Laboratory of Pesticide Environmental Assessment and Pollution Control, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Nanjing, 210042, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences/Key Laboratory of Pesticide Environmental Assessment and Pollution Control, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Nanjing, 210042, China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C020806:tetrabromobisphenol A
keywords: TBBPA; apoptosis; developmental toxicity; oxidative stress; zebrafish