title: Behavioral and biochemical adjustments of the zebrafish Danio rerio exposed to the β-blocker propranolol.
abstract: Propranolol (PROP) is a β-blocker prescribed mainly to treat human cardiovascular diseases and as a result of its wide usage and persistence, it is reported in aquatic environments. This study examined whether PROP alters developmental patterns and catecholamine (CA)-regulated processes in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) and if exposure during early life alters the stress response and behaviors of adults. The calculated 48h larva LC50 was 21.6mg/L, well above reported environmental levels (0.01-0.59μg/L). Stressed and PROP-exposed adult zebrafish had reduced testosterone and estradiol levels and exhibited behaviors indicating less anxiety than control fish. Furthermore, adults previously PROP-exposed as embryos/larvae had decreased growth in terms of body length and mass. Finally, these adults showed increased cholesterol and a dose-dependent decrease in testosterone levels compared with unexposed zebrafish. Thus PROP-exposure of zebrafish embryos/larvae alters developmental patterns and CA-regulated processes that may affect normal behaviors and responses to stressors, and at least some of these changes persist in the adult zebrafish.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, and the Collaborative Program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Electronic address: kmitc031@uottawa.ca.
authors.forename: Kimberly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, and the Collaborative Program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000633:toxicity*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011433:Propranolol
keywords: Adrenergic; Propranolol; Stress; β-Blocker