Hepatic gene expression profiling in zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to the fungicide chlorothalonil.
Chlorothalonil (tetrachloroisophtalonitrile) is a fungicide that is widely used on agricultural crops around the world and as such, it is a ubiquitous aquatic contaminant. Despite high usage, the effects of this fungicide on non-target aquatic organisms have not been fully investigated. The aim of the present study was to (1) determine the effects of chlorothalonil toxicity on adult male zebrafish (Danio rerio) and (2) characterize the effects of chlorothalonil on gene expression patterns in the liver using two different concentrations of the fungicide, 0.007mg/L (environmentally-relevant) and 0.035mg/L (sublethal). These concentrations were selected from range-finding experiments that showed that zebrafish survival was significantly different from control animals at concentrations higher than 0.035mg/L but not below. Male zebrafish in both treatments of chlorothalonil showed a decrease in liversomatic index. A commercial D. rerio microarray (4×44K) was used to determine gene expression profiles in male zebrafish liver following a 96h toxicological assay. Microarray analysis revealed that males exposed to both 0.007mg/L or 0.035mg/L of chlorothalonil showed increased transcriptional sub-networks related to cell division and DNA damage and decreased expression of gene networks associated with reproduction, immunity, and xenobiotic clearance. This study improves knowledge regarding whole animal exposures to chlorothalonil and identifies molecular signaling cascades that are sensitive to this fungicide in the fish liver.
Canadian Rivers Institute, Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB E2L 4L5, Canada; CIAD, AC Mazatlan Unit for Aquaculture and Environmental Management, Mazatlán 82000, Sinaloa, Mexico. Electronic address: anny.sanchez@estudiantes.ciad.mx.
Anny B
AB
Sánchez Garayzar
Canadian Rivers Institute, Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB E2L 4L5, Canada.
Paulina A
PA
Bahamonde
Canadian Rivers Institute, Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB E2L 4L5, Canada; Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
Christopher J
CJ
Martyniuk
CIAD, AC Mazatlan Unit for Aquaculture and Environmental Management, Mazatlán 82000, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Miguel
M
Betancourt
Canadian Rivers Institute, Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB E2L 4L5, Canada; COSIA, Suite 1700, 520 5th Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 3R7, Canada.
Kelly R
KR
Munkittrick
D000818:Animals; D019295:Computational Biology; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000494:pharmacology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000187:drug effects*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D009570:Nitriles; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C005806:tetrachloroisophthalonitrile
Chlorothalonil; Microarray; Pesticides; Toxicity; Transcriptomics