title: Vitamin E reduces endosulfan-induced toxic effects on morphology and behavior in early development of zebrafish (Danio rerio).
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate if vitamin E (α-TOC) modulates the developmental toxicity of the pesticide endosulfan (ESF), using a modified zebrafish embryotoxicity test (ZET). Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were exposed from 6 to 72 h post fertilization (hpf) to either ESF (0.1-50 mg/L) or α-TOC (0.01-3 mM) alone or in combination. The effects of these exposures on embryonic morphology, larval behavior and antioxidant gene expression were analyzed. Phenotypic analysis at 48 hpf showed that ESF led to a dose-dependent increase in embryonic deformities, including axis malformations, pericardial edema and reduced pigmentation. Co-exposure of ESF with α-TOC (1-3 mM) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced ESF-induced embryonic malformations. Exposure to solely α-TOC did not affect rates of survival or malformations. Behavior studies showed that ESF caused hyperactivity at 5 days post fertilization, indicating a developmental neurotoxic effect. The ESF-induced hyperactivity was ameliorated by α-TOC. Elevated ESF concentrations caused down-regulation of the antioxidant genes cuzn-sod, gpx1a and cat, suggesting that ESF promoted oxidative stress in the embryos. α-TOC did not prevent the ESF-induced dysregulation of these genes. These results demonstrate that α-TOC protects against phenotypic and behavioral effects caused by ESF but did not rescue ESF-induced aberrations in antioxidant gene expression.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), PO Box 2029, NO-5817 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), PO Box 2029, NO-5817 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rasinger
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), PO Box 2029, NO-5817 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Thorstensen
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), PO Box 2029, NO-5817 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Penglase
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), PO Box 2029, NO-5817 Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: Stale.Ellingsen@uib.no.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ellingsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D004726:Endosulfan / Q000633:toxicity*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007306:Insecticides; D014810:Vitamin E; D004726:Endosulfan
keywords: Endosulfan; Neural development; Neurotoxicity; Vitamin E; Zebrafish