title: Reproduction impairment and endocrine disruption in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) after waterborne exposure to TBOEP.
abstract: Tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) is widely used as a substitute of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). It has been frequently measured at concentrations of micrograms per liter (μg/L) in surface waters and waste water. However, limited information is available about the reproduction toxicology of TBOEP. In this study, adult zebrafish pairs were exposed to TBOEP at concentrations of 0, 5, 50, and 500μg/L for 21days. The effects on reproduction, hormone concentration, transcription of genes along the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, and gonadal development were investigated. After exposure to TBOEP, plasma concentrations of 17β-estradiol were significantly increased in both sexes of fish, while increase of testosterone was observed only in male fish. Transcription of genes along the HPG axis was significantly influenced by exposure to TBOEP in both male and female fish. Moreover, TBOEP decreases the average number of eggs production, as well as hatching success and survival rates in offspring. Histological examination shows inhibition of oocyte maturation in females and retardation spermiation in males, respectively. The results demonstrate that TBOEP could disturb the sex hormone balance by altering regulatory circuits of the HPG axis, affect gonadal development, eventually leading to disruption of reproductive performance and the development of progeny.
authors.affiliation: College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Qinglong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430014, China.
authors.forename: Ding
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.affiliation: College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Liqin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Health Productioon of Fisherise in Huhan Province, Changde 415000, China; Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Chunsheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China. Electronic address: whtjwjh@163.com.
authors.forename: Jianghua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006066:Gonads / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C013320:tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate
keywords: Endocrine disruption; Organophosphate flame retardants; Reproduction impairment; Tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate; Zebrafish