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Torres-Ruiz M, de Alba Gonzalez M, Cañas Portilla AI, Coronel R, Liste I, González-Caballero MC. Effects of nanomolar methylmercury on developing human neural stem cells and zebrafish Embryo. Food Chem Toxicol 2024; 188:114684. [PMID: 38663761 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2024.114684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to mercury and its organic form methylmercury (MeHg), is of great concern for the developing nervous system. Despite available literature on MeHg neurotoxicity, there is still uncertainty about its mechanisms of action and the doses that trigger developmental effects. Our study combines two alternative methodologies, the human neural stem cells (NSC) and the zebrafish (ZF) embryo, to address the neurotoxic effects of early exposure to nanomolar concentrations of MeHg. Our results show linear or nonmonotonic (hormetic) responses depending on studied parameters. In ZF, we observed a hormetic response in locomotion and larval rotation, but a concentration-dependent response for sensory organ size and habituation. We also observed a possible delayed response as MeHg had greater effects on larval activity at 5 days than at 24 h. In NSC cells, some parameters show a clear dose dependence, such as increased apoptosis and differentiation to glial cells or decreased neuronal precursors; while others show a hormetic response: neuronal differentiation or cell proliferation. This study shows that the ZF model was more susceptible than NSC to MeHg neurotoxicity. The combination of different models has improved the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of toxicity and possible compensatory mechanisms at the cellular and organismal level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Torres-Ruiz
- Environmental Toxicology Unit, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km. 2,2., Majadahonda, Madrid, 28220, Spain.
| | - Mercedes de Alba Gonzalez
- Environmental Toxicology Unit, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km. 2,2., Majadahonda, Madrid, 28220, Spain
| | - Ana I Cañas Portilla
- Environmental Toxicology Unit, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km. 2,2., Majadahonda, Madrid, 28220, Spain
| | - Raquel Coronel
- Unidad Funcional de Investigación de Enfermedades Crónicas (UFIEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Biología de Sistemas, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Liste
- Unidad Funcional de Investigación de Enfermedades Crónicas (UFIEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mª Carmen González-Caballero
- Environmental Toxicology Unit, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km. 2,2., Majadahonda, Madrid, 28220, Spain.
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2
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Qiu X, Su Z, Gao J, Cui Y, Dong K, Chen K, Zhao RJ, Wang S, Wu T, Shi Y. Sex-specific impacts of thimerosal on the behaviors and brain monoaminergic systems in zebrafish (Danio rerio). AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 271:106921. [PMID: 38615580 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.106921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Thimerosal (THI) is the most widely used form of organic mercury in pharmaceutical and personal care products, and has become a major source of ethylmercury pollution in aquatic ecosystems. However, knowledge about its potential risk to aquatic species is limited. In this study, zebrafish were exposed to THI for 7 days, and variations in their behavioral traits, brain monoaminergic neurotransmitter contents, and related gene expression were investigated. After the 7-day exposure, THI reduced locomotor activity and thigmotaxis in males but not females. Exposure to THI increased the social interaction between females but decreased that between males. The THI exposure also significantly reduced the serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, dopamine (DA), and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid contents in the brain of males, but only significantly decreased the DA content in females. Correlation analysis revealed that the neurochemical alterations in the brain of zebrafish play critical roles in the behavioral abnormalities induced by THI exposure. Moreover, THI also significantly altered the expression of some genes associated with the synthesis, metabolism, and receptor binding of 5-HT and DA in the brain of zebrafish. The differences in these gene expressions between female and male zebrafish exposed to THI seem to be an important mechanism underlying their sex-specific responses to this chemical. This is the first report on the sex-specific effects of THI on behaviors and brain monoaminergic neurotransmitter contents in zebrafish, which can further improve our understanding of its toxic effects on teleost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuchun Qiu
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China.
| | - Zhen Su
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Jiarui Gao
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Yiming Cui
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Kejun Dong
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Kun Chen
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Ru-Jin Zhao
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Songmei Wang
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Tao Wu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yanhong Shi
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China.
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3
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Liu H, Jiang L, Xu S, Wang C, Sun J. Quercetin prevents methylmercury-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in the cerebral cortex of mice. Drug Chem Toxicol 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38647114 DOI: 10.1080/01480545.2024.2341888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) exposure can cause nerve damage and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial dysfunction is mainly mediated by mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial dynamics disorders. Quercetin (QE) plays an important role in activating silencing information regulator 2 related enzyme 1 (SIRT1), and SIRT1 activates peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-γ co-activator 1α (PGC-1α), which can regulate mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial dynamics. The main purpose of this study was to explore the alleviating effects of QE on MeHg-induced nerve damage and mitochondrial dysfunction. The results showed that QE could reduce the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the loss of membrane potential induced by MeHg. Meanwhile, QE activated SIRT1 activity and SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway, improved mitochondrial biogenesis and fusion and reduced mitochondrial fission. In summary, we hypothesized that QE prevents MeHg-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by activating SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haihui Liu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Liujiangshan Jiang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Si Xu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Jingyi Sun
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, PR China
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Chapelle V, Lambert J, Deom T, Tessier E, Amouroux D, Silvestre F. Early-life exposure to methylmercury induces reversible behavioral impairments and gene expression modifications in one isogenic lineage of mangrove rivulus fish Kryptolebias marmoratus. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 258:106474. [PMID: 36893699 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a ubiquitous bioaccumulative neurotoxicant present in aquatic ecosystems. It is known to alter behaviors, sensory functions and learning abilities in fish and other vertebrates. Developmental and early-life stages exposure to MeHg can lead to brain damage with immediate consequences on larvae behavior, but may also induce long term effects in adults after a detoxification period. However, very little is known about developmental origin of behavioral impairment in adults due to early exposure to MeHg. The aim of this study is to assess whether early-life MeHg exposure induces immediate and/or delayed effects on behaviors, related genes expression and DNA methylation (one of epigenetic mechanisms). To reach this goal, newly hatched larvae of mangrove rivulus fish, Kryptolebias marmoratus, were exposed to two sub-lethal concentrations of MeHg (90 μg/L and 135 µg/L) for 7 days, and immediate and delayed effects were assessed respectively in 7 dph (days post-hatching) and 90 dph fish. This species naturally produces isogenic lineages due to its self-fertilizing reproduction system, which is unique among vertebrates. It allows to study how environment stressors can influence organism's phenotype while minimizing genetic variability. As results, both MeHg exposures are associated with a decreased foraging efficiency and thigmotaxis, and a dose-dependent reduction in larvae locomotor activity. Regarding molecular analysis in larvae whole bodies, both MeHg exposures induced significant decreased expression of DNMT3a, MAOA, MeCP2 and NIPBL, and significant increase of GSS, but none of those genes underwent methylation changes in targeted CpGs. None of significant behavioral and molecular impairments observed in 7-dph larvae were found in 90-dph adults, which highlight a distinction between immediate and delayed effects of developmental MeHg exposure. Our results suggest implications of aminergic system and its neurotransmitters, redox/methylation trade-off and possibly other epigenetic mechanisms in MeHg neurotoxicity underlying behavioral alterations in rivulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Chapelle
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Adaptive Physiology, Institute of Life, Earth, and the Environment, University of Namur, 61 Rue de Bruxelles, 5000, Namur, Belgium.
| | - J Lambert
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Adaptive Physiology, Institute of Life, Earth, and the Environment, University of Namur, 61 Rue de Bruxelles, 5000, Namur, Belgium
| | - T Deom
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Adaptive Physiology, Institute of Life, Earth, and the Environment, University of Namur, 61 Rue de Bruxelles, 5000, Namur, Belgium
| | - E Tessier
- Université de Pau et des Pays de L'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physicochimie pour l'Environnement et les Matériaux, Pau, France
| | - D Amouroux
- Université de Pau et des Pays de L'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physicochimie pour l'Environnement et les Matériaux, Pau, France
| | - F Silvestre
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Adaptive Physiology, Institute of Life, Earth, and the Environment, University of Namur, 61 Rue de Bruxelles, 5000, Namur, Belgium
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5
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Gut as the target tissue of mercury and the extraintestinal effects. Toxicology 2023; 484:153396. [PMID: 36521575 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2022.153396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is harmful to the environment and human health. The gut plays important roles as the biological, chemical, mechanical, and immune barriers in animals and human beings. It has been known that Hg can be absorbed and methylated/demethylated in the gut, on the other hand, the impacts of Hg to the gut (especially the gut microbiota) is less studied. This review paper summarizes the impacts of inorganic Hg (IHg) and methyl Hg (MeHg) on gut barriers and the extraintestinal effects (damage to other organs such as the liver and brain). Both IHg and MeHg were found to cause intestinal microbial disorders, abnormal metabolites production, tight junction damage, and immune responses in the gut. The damage to the gut also contributed to the extraintestinal effects like the hepatotoxicity by IHg and the neurotoxicity by MeHg. In all, it is proposed that the gut should be considered as an important target tissue of Hg exposure, and the regulation of gut microbiota may have the potential for the prevention and control of the toxicity of Hg.
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6
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Silva Brito R, Canedo A, Farias D, Rocha TL. Transgenic zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an emerging model system in ecotoxicology and toxicology: Historical review, recent advances, and trends. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 848:157665. [PMID: 35907527 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an alternative model system for drug screening, developing new products, and assessing ecotoxic effects of pollutants and biomonitor species in environmental risk assessment. However, the history and current use of transgenic zebrafish lines in ecotoxicology and toxicology studies remain poorly explored. Thus, the present study aimed to summarize and discuss the existing data in the literature about the applications of transgenic zebrafish lines in ecotoxicology and toxicology. The articles were analyzed according to publication year, journal, geographic distribution, and collaborations. Also, the bioassays were evaluated according to the tested chemical, transgenic lines, development stage, biomarkers, and exposure conditions (i.e., concentration, time, type, and route of exposure). Revised data showed that constitutive transgenic lines are the main type of transgenic used in the studies, besides most of uses embryos and larvae under static conditions. Tg(fli1: EGFP) was the main transgenic line, while the GFP and EGFP were the main reporter proteins. Transgenic zebrafish stands out in assessing vasotoxicity, neurotoxicity, systemic toxicity, hepatoxicity, endocrine disruption, cardiotoxicity, immunotoxicity, hematotoxicity, ototoxicity, and pancreotoxicity. This review showed that transgenic zebrafish lines are emerging as a suitable in vivo model system for assessing the mechanism of action and toxicity of chemicals and new biotechnology products, and the effects of traditional and emerging pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaella Silva Brito
- Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Aryelle Canedo
- Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Davi Farias
- Laboratory for Risk Assessment of Novel Technologies (LabRisk), Center of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Thiago Lopes Rocha
- Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
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7
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Glazer L, Brennan CH. Developmental Exposure to Low Concentrations of Methylmercury Causes Increase in Anxiety-Related Behaviour and Locomotor Impairments in Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10961. [PMID: 34681620 PMCID: PMC8535691 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222010961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a ubiquitous pollutant shown to cause developmental neurotoxicity, even at low levels. However, there is still a large gap in our understanding of the mechanisms linking early-life exposure to life-long behavioural impairments. Our aim was to characterise the short- and long-term effects of developmental exposure to low doses of MeHg on anxiety-related behaviours in zebrafish, and to test the involvement of neurological pathways related to stress-response. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to sub-acute doses of MeHg (0, 5, 10, 15, 30 nM) throughout embryo-development, and tested for anxiety-related behaviours and locomotor activity at larval (light/dark locomotor activity) and adult (novel tank and tap assays) life-stages. Exposure to all doses of MeHg caused increased anxiety-related responses; heightened response to the transition from light to dark in larvae, and a stronger dive response in adults. In addition, impairment in locomotor activity was observed in the higher doses in both larvae and adults. Finally, the expressions of several neural stress-response genes from the HPI-axis and dopaminergic system were found to be disrupted in both life-stages. Our results provide important insights into dose-dependent differences in exposure outcomes, the development of delayed effects over the life-time of exposed individuals and the potential mechanisms underlying these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilah Glazer
- Nanchang Joint Programme, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Caroline H. Brennan
- Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK;
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Lin X, Zhao J, Zhang W, He L, Wang L, Chang D, Cui L, Gao Y, Li B, Chen C, Li YF. Acute oral methylmercury exposure perturbs the gut microbiome and alters gut-brain axis related metabolites in rats. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2020; 190:110130. [PMID: 31918252 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.110130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollutants like methylmercury (MeHg) can bring devastating neurotoxicity to animals and human beings. Gut microbiota has been found to demethylate MeHg and promote the excretion of Hg through feces. However, the impacts of MeHg on gut microbiota and metabolites related to gut-brain interactions were less studied in mammals. The object of this study was to investigate the impacts of acute MeHg exposure on gut microbiome and metabolites together with its impact on gut integrity and related biological responses in rats. Rats were exposed to MeHg through oral administration and were sacrificed after 24 h 16 S rRNA gene sequencing was used to study the perturbance to gut microbiome and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used for metabolomics profiling. It was found that gut was one of the target tissues of MeHg. MeHg induce the changes of intestinal microbial community structure and induce the regulating neuron activity change of intestinal neurotransmitters and metabolites on intestinal neurotransmitters and metabolites regulating the neuron activity. This was supported by the increased BDNF level. These findings may suggest a potential new mechanism regarding the neurotoxicity of MeHg. The protocols used in this study may also be applied to understand the neurotoxicity of other environmental neurotoxins like Pb, Mn, polychlorinated biphenyls, and pesticides, etc and to screen the neurotoxicity of emerging environmental contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; State Environmental Protection Engineering Centre for Mercury Pollution Prevention and Control, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Beijing Metallomics Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jiating Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; State Environmental Protection Engineering Centre for Mercury Pollution Prevention and Control, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Beijing Metallomics Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; State Environmental Protection Engineering Centre for Mercury Pollution Prevention and Control, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Beijing Metallomics Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lina He
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; State Environmental Protection Engineering Centre for Mercury Pollution Prevention and Control, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Beijing Metallomics Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Liming Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; State Environmental Protection Engineering Centre for Mercury Pollution Prevention and Control, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Beijing Metallomics Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Dunhu Chang
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China.
| | - Liwei Cui
- State Environmental Protection Engineering Centre for Mercury Pollution Prevention and Control, Beijing Advanced Sciences and Innovation Centre, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101407, China
| | - Yuxi Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; State Environmental Protection Engineering Centre for Mercury Pollution Prevention and Control, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Beijing Metallomics Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Bai Li
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; State Environmental Protection Engineering Centre for Mercury Pollution Prevention and Control, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Beijing Metallomics Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chunying Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yu-Feng Li
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; State Environmental Protection Engineering Centre for Mercury Pollution Prevention and Control, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Beijing Metallomics Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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Cao M, Song F, Yang X, Peng L, Cheng Y, Zheng Q, Liang Y, Wang C. Identification of Potential Long Noncoding RNA Biomarker of Mercury Compounds in Zebrafish Embryos. Chem Res Toxicol 2019; 32:878-886. [PMID: 30912647 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.9b00029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Heavy metal pollution elicits severe environmental concern and health problem worldwide. Mercury is considered as a ubiquitous pollutant due to its versatile application in medicine, industry, and cosmetics. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts greater than 200 nt without protein-encoding function. However, little is known about the mechanism of heavy metals-induced noncoding RNA changes in aquatic organisms. To reveal the epigenetic mechanism of mercury toxicity in zebrafish embryos and explore novel specific mercury-toxicological biomarkers, several well-studied lncRNAs were screened by real-time PCR, and the spatial-temporal expression of lncRNAs biomarker was evaluated by in situ hybridization. The nerve systems of zebrafish embryos were evaluated by detecting locomotor behavior and the expression of neuro-genes. We identified a mercury responsive lncRNA, metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (malat1), among five candidate lncRNAs. HgCl2, MeHg, PbCl2, CdCl2, and K2CrO4 exposure assay showed that malat-1 was a mercury specific induced lncRNAs. Malat1 was highly expressed in the brain region, eyes, and notochord of developing zebrafish embryos after exposure to mercury compounds. HgCl2 showed neurobehavior disturbance and changed neuro-genes expression pattern in zebrafish larvae. This study provides a biological method to detect inorganic or organic mercury using malat1 as a novel biomarker of mercury contamination and also clues for the exploration of neurotoxicity mechanism of mercury compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxi Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100085 , P. R. China
| | - Fei Song
- School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering , Wuhan Institute of Technology , Wuhan 430205 , China
| | - Xue Yang
- School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering , Wuhan Institute of Technology , Wuhan 430205 , China
| | - Lei Peng
- School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering , Wuhan Institute of Technology , Wuhan 430205 , China
| | - Yang Cheng
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Wuhan University of Science and Technology , Wuhan 430081 , China
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Cassar S, Beekhuijzen M, Beyer B, Chapin R, Dorau M, Hoberman A, Krupp E, Leconte I, Stedman D, Stethem C, van den Oetelaar D, Tornesi B. A multi-institutional study benchmarking the zebrafish developmental assay for prediction of embryotoxic plasma concentrations from rat embryo-fetal development studies. Reprod Toxicol 2019; 86:33-44. [PMID: 30876927 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 12/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Predicting embryotoxicity of pharmaceutical compounds or industrial chemicals is crucial for public safety. Conventional studies which monitor embryo-fetal development in rats and rabbits are costly and time consuming. Alternative assays which are simpler and less costly are being pursued. The purpose of this research was to assess the capacity for the zebrafish development assay to predict mammalian plasma levels that are embryotoxic. Previously published data on rat plasma levels associated with embryotoxicity were used to guide concentration ranges for each of 25 chemicals dissolved in the media bathing developing zebrafish embryos. Embryotoxic media concentrations were compared to embryotoxic rat plasma concentrations. Assays were conducted in parallel at multiple sites as a consortium effort through the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI). Considering results from all sites, the zebrafish embryo development assay predicted (within 1-log) the rat maternal exposure levels associated with embryotoxicity 75% of the time.
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11
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Nielsen KM, Zhang Y, Curran TE, Magnuson JT, Venables BJ, Durrer KE, Allen MS, Roberts AP. Alterations to the Intestinal Microbiome and Metabolome of Pimephales promelas and Mus musculus Following Exposure to Dietary Methylmercury. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:8774-8784. [PMID: 29943971 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b01150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a global contaminant, which may be microbially transformed into methylmercury (MeHg), which bioaccumulates. This results in potentially toxic body burdens in high trophic level organisms in aquatic ecosystems and maternal transfer to offspring. We previously demonstrated effects on developing fish including hyperactivity, altered time-to-hatch, reduced survival, and dysregulation of the dopaminergic system. A link between gut microbiota and central nervous system function in teleosts has been established with implications for behavior. We sequenced gut microbiomes of fathead minnows exposed to dietary MeHg to determine microbiome effects. Dietary exposures were repeated with adult CD-1 mice. Metabolomics was used to screen for metabolome changes in mouse brain and larval fish, and results indicate effects on lipid metabolism and neurotransmission, supported by microbiome data. Findings suggest environmentally relevant exposure scenarios may cause xenobiotic-mediated dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, contributing to neurotoxicity. Furthermore, small-bodied teleosts may be a useful model species for studying certain types of neurodegenerative diseases, in lieu of higher vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin M. Nielsen
- Department of Biological Sciences and Advanced Environmental Research Institute , University of North Texas , 1155 Union Circle , Denton , Texas 76203 , United States
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics , University of North Texas Health Science Center , 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd. , Fort Worth , Texas 76107 , United States
| | - Thomas E Curran
- Department of Biological Sciences and Advanced Environmental Research Institute , University of North Texas , 1155 Union Circle , Denton , Texas 76203 , United States
| | - Jason T Magnuson
- Department of Biological Sciences and Advanced Environmental Research Institute , University of North Texas , 1155 Union Circle , Denton , Texas 76203 , United States
| | - Barney J Venables
- Department of Biological Sciences and Advanced Environmental Research Institute , University of North Texas , 1155 Union Circle , Denton , Texas 76203 , United States
| | - Katherine E Durrer
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics , University of North Texas Health Science Center , 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd. , Fort Worth , Texas 76107 , United States
| | - Michael S Allen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics , University of North Texas Health Science Center , 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd. , Fort Worth , Texas 76107 , United States
| | - Aaron P Roberts
- Department of Biological Sciences and Advanced Environmental Research Institute , University of North Texas , 1155 Union Circle , Denton , Texas 76203 , United States
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Puga S, Cardoso V, Pinto-Ribeiro F, Pacheco M, Almeida A, Pereira P. Brain morphometric profiles and their seasonal modulation in fish (Liza aurata) inhabiting a mercury contaminated estuary. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 237:318-328. [PMID: 29499575 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.02.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a potent neurotoxicant known to induce important adverse effects on fish, but a deeper understanding is lacking regarding how environmental exposure affects the brain morphology and neural plasticity of specific brain regions in wild specimens. In this work, it was evaluated the relative volume and cell density of the lateral pallium, hypothalamus, optic tectum and molecular layer of the cerebellum on wild Liza aurata captured in Hg-contaminated (LAR) and non-contaminated (SJ) sites of a coastal system (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal). Given the season-related variations in the environment that fish are naturally exposed, this assessment was performed in the winter and summer. Hg triggered a deficit in cell density of hypothalamus during the winter that could lead to hormonal dysfunctions, while in the summer Hg promoted larger volumes of the optic tectum and cerebellum, indicating the warm period as the most critical for the manifestation of putative changes in visual acuity and motor-dependent tasks. Moreover, in fish from the SJ site, the lateral pallium relative volume and the cell density of the hypothalamus and optic tectum were higher in the winter than in summer. Thus, season-related stimuli strongly influence the size and/or cell density of specific brain regions in the non-contaminated area, pointing out the ability of fish to adapt to environmental and physiological demands. Conversely, fish from the Hg-contaminated site showed a distinct seasonal profile of brain morphology, presenting a larger optic tectum in the summer, as well as a larger molecular layer of the cerebellum with higher cell density. Moreover, Hg exposure impaired the winter-summer variation of the lateral pallium relative size (as observed at SJ). Altogether, seasonal variations in fish neural morphology and physiology should be considered when performing ecotoxicological studies in order to better discriminate the Hg neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sónia Puga
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine (EM), Campus of Gualtar, University of Minho, 4750-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Vera Cardoso
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine (EM), Campus of Gualtar, University of Minho, 4750-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Filipa Pinto-Ribeiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine (EM), Campus of Gualtar, University of Minho, 4750-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Mário Pacheco
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Armando Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine (EM), Campus of Gualtar, University of Minho, 4750-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Patrícia Pereira
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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Puga S, Pereira P, Pinto-Ribeiro F, O'Driscoll NJ, Mann E, Barata M, Pousão-Ferreira P, Canário J, Almeida A, Pacheco M. Unveiling the neurotoxicity of methylmercury in fish (Diplodus sargus) through a regional morphometric analysis of brain and swimming behavior assessment. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2016; 180:320-333. [PMID: 27780124 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2016.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Revised: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The current study aims to shed light on the neurotoxicity of MeHg in fish (white seabream - Diplodus sargus) by the combined assessment of: (i) MeHg toxicokinetics in the brain, (ii) brain morphometry (volume and number of neurons plus glial cells in specific brain regions) and (iii) fish swimming behavior (endpoints associated with the motor performance and the fear/anxiety-like status). Fish were surveyed for all the components after 7 (E7) and 14 (E14) days of dietary exposure to MeHg (8.7μgg-1), as well as after a post-exposure period of 28days (PE28). MeHg was accumulated in the brain of D. sargus after a short time (E7) and reached a maximum at the end of the exposure period (E14), suggesting an efficient transport of this toxicant into fish brain. Divalent inorganic Hg was also detected in fish brain along the experiment (indicating demethylation reactions), although levels were 100-200 times lower than MeHg, which pinpoints the organic counterpart as the great liable for the recorded effects. In this regard, a decreased number of cells in medial pallium and optic tectum, as well as an increased hypothalamic volume, occurred at E7. Such morphometric alterations were followed by an impairment of fish motor condition as evidenced by a decrease in the total swimming time, while the fear/anxiety-like status was not altered. Moreover, at E14 fish swam a greater distance, although no morphometric alterations were found in any of the brain areas, probably due to compensatory mechanisms. Additionally, although MeHg decreased almost two-fold in the brain during post-exposure, the levels were still high and led to a loss of cells in the optic tectum at PE28. This is an interesting result that highlights the optic tectum as particularly vulnerable to MeHg exposure in fish. Despite the morphometric alterations reported in the optic tectum at PE28, no significant changes were found in fish behavior. Globally, the effects of MeHg followed a multiphasic profile, where homeostatic mechanisms prevented circumstantially morphometric alterations in the brain and behavioral shifts. Although it has become clear the complexity of matching brain morphometric changes and behavioral shifts, motor-related alterations induced by MeHg seem to depend on a combination of disruptions in different brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sónia Puga
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus of Gualtar, University of Minho, 4750-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Pereira
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Filipa Pinto-Ribeiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus of Gualtar, University of Minho, 4750-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nelson J O'Driscoll
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Center for Analytical Research on the Environment, K.C. Irving Center, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Erin Mann
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Center for Analytical Research on the Environment, K.C. Irving Center, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Marisa Barata
- IPMA - Aquaculture Research Station, 8700-005 Olhão, Portugal
| | | | - João Canário
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Armando Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus of Gualtar, University of Minho, 4750-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Mário Pacheco
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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