Multi-Behavioral Endpoint Testing of an 87-Chemical Compound Library in Freshwater Planarians

Does copper contamination change thermotaxis of the soil arthropod Folsomia candida (Collembola)?

Behavioural thermoregulation (thermotaxis) is essential for soil invertebrates to evade thermal extremes in terrestrial environments. Extensive and continuous use of copper (Cu) based products has led to elevated Cu concentration in soils across the globe and in some areas reaching concentrations that are hazardous to soil invertebrates. We hypothesised that environmental stressors, for example, exposure to heavy metals may compromise the adaptive behavioural thermoregulation of organisms, but very little is known of such interactions. In this study, we chose Cu as a model toxicant and investigated the potential effect of Cu-contaminated soils on the behavioural thermoregulation of springtails (Folsomia candida). We measured the distribution of springtails when placed on a temperature gradient ranging from 6 to 46 °C and estimated their thermal preference as an indicator of behavioural thermoregulation. Results showed that within 60 min of being introduced to the thermal gradient, the distribution of springtails was unimodal with slight skewness towards high temperature. Springtails exhibited a consistent preferred temperature range of approximately 21-23 °C across all Cu exposure levels and time points. However, Cu contamination increased the frequency of springtails recorded along the gradient where temperature was above 30 °C. We interpreted this observation as Cu-exposed animals having an elevated risk of entering heat coma and not being able to evade noxious temperatures. We conclude that Cu contamination does not alter the thermal preference of F. candida but compromises their ability to tolerate extreme high temperature. Incorporating behavioural responses into ecotoxicological assessments provides ecologically relevant insights into the impacts of chemical pollution on soil ecosystems.

Unveiling the Subtle Threats: The Neurobehavioral Impact of Chlorpyrifos on Girardia tigrina

Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate insecticide widely used to control agricultural pests, poses a significant environmental threat due to its toxicity and persistence in soil and water. Our work aimed to evaluate the acute (survival) and chronic (regeneration, locomotion, and reproduction) toxicity of chlorpyrifos to the non-target freshwater planarian Girardia tigrina. The 48 h lethal concentration (LC50) of the commercial formulation, containing 480 g L-1 of chlorpyrifos, the active ingredient, was determined to be 622.8 µg a.i. L-1 for planarians. Sublethal effects were translated into a significant reduction in locomotion and delayed head regeneration (lowest observed effect concentration-LOEC = 3.88 µg a.i. L-1). Additionally, chlorpyrifos exposure did not affect planarian fecundity or fertility. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of chlorpyrifos-based insecticides to harm natural populations of freshwater planarians at environmentally relevant concentrations. The observed toxicity emphasizes the need for stricter regulations and careful management of chlorpyrifos usage to mitigate its deleterious effects on aquatic ecosystems. By understanding the specific impacts on non-target organisms like G. tigrina, we can make more informed suggestions regarding the usage and regulation of organophosphate insecticides, ultimately promoting sustainable agricultural practices and environmental conservation.

Organophosphate toxicity patterns: A new approach for assessing organophosphate neurotoxicity

Organophosphorus compounds or organophosphates (OPs) are widely used as flame retardants, plasticizers, lubricants and pesticides. This contributes to their ubiquitous presence in the environment and to the risk of human exposure. The persistence of OPs and their bioaccumulative characteristics raise serious concerns regarding environmental and human health impacts. To address the need for safer OPs, this study uses a New Approach Method (NAM) to analyze the neurotoxicity pattern of 42 OPs. The NAM consists of a 4-step process that combines computational modeling with in vitro and in vivo experimental studies. Using spherical harmonic-based cluster analysis, the OPs were grouped into four main clusters. Experimental data and quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) analysis were used in conjunction to provide information on the neurotoxicity profile of each group. Results showed that one of the identified clusters had a favorable safety profile, which may help identify safer OPs for industrial applications. In addition, the 3D-computational analysis of each cluster was used to identify meta-molecules with specific 3D features. Toxicity was found to correspond to the level of phosphate surface accessibility. Substances with conformations that minimize phosphate surface accessibility caused less neurotoxic effect. This multi-assay NAM could be used as a guide for the classification of OP toxicity, helping to minimize the health and environmental impacts of OPs, and providing rapid support to the chemical regulators, whilst reducing reliance on animal testing.

How neurobehavior and brain development in alternative whole-organism models can contribute to prediction of developmental neurotoxicity

Developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) is not routinely evaluated in chemical risk assessment because current test paradigms for DNT require the use of mammalian models which are ethically controversial, expensive, and resource demanding. Consequently, efforts have focused on revolutionizing DNT testing through affordable novel alternative methods for risk assessment. The goal is to develop a DNT in vitro test battery amenable to high-throughput screening (HTS). Currently, the DNT in vitro test battery consists primarily of human cell-based assays because of their immediate relevance to human health. However, such cell-based assays alone are unable to capture the complexity of a developing nervous system. Whole organismal systems that qualify as 3 R (Replace, Reduce and Refine) models are urgently needed to complement cell-based DNT testing. These models can provide the necessary organismal context and be used to explore the impact of chemicals on brain function by linking molecular and/or cellular changes to behavioural readouts. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the planarian Dugesia japonica, and embryos of the zebrafish Danio rerio are all suited to low-cost HTS and each has unique strengths for DNT testing. Here, we review the strengths and the complementarity of these organisms in a novel, integrative context and highlight how they can augment current cell-based assays for more comprehensive and robust DNT screening of chemicals. Considering the limitations of all in vitro test systems, we discuss how a smart combinatory use of these systems will contribute to a better human relevant risk assessment of chemicals that considers the complexity of the developing brain.

Toxicological effects induced by two carbamates on earthworms (Eisenia fetida): Acute toxicity, arrested regeneration and underlying mechanisms

Eisenia fetida is recognised as advantageous model species in ecotoxicological and regeneration investigations. The intensive utilization of carbamate pesticides (CARs) imposes heavy residue burdens and grave hazards on edaphic environments as well as soil fauna therein. However, precise mechanisms whereby the specific CAR exerted toxic effects on earthworms remain largely elusive, notably from regenerative perspective. Herein, acute responses and regenerative toxicity of two carbamates (metolcarb, MEB and fenoxycarb, FEB) against E. fetida were dissected using biochemical, histological as well as molecular approaches following OECD guidelines at the cellular, tissue and organismal level. The acute toxicity data implied that MEB/FEB were very toxic/medium to extremely toxic, respectively in filter paper contact test and low to medium toxic/low toxic, respectively in artificial soil test. Chronic exposure to MEB and FEB at sublethal concentrations significantly mitigated the soluble protein content, protein abundance while enhanced the protein carbonylation level. Moreover, severely retarded posterior renewal of amputated earthworms was noticed in MEB and FEB treatments relative to the control group, with pronouncedly compromised morphology, dwindling segments and elevated cell apoptosis of blastema tissues, which were mediated by the rising Sox2 and decreasing TCTP levels. Taken together, these findings not only presented baseline toxicity cues for MEB and FEB exposure against earthworms, but also yielded mechanistic insights into regenerative toxicity upon CAR exposure, further contributing to the environmental risk assessment and benchmark formulation of agrochemical pollution in terrestrial ecosystem.

Modified polymer membranes for the removal of pharmaceutical active compounds in wastewater and its mechanism-A review

Membrane technology can play a suitable role in removing pharmaceutical active compounds since it requires low energy and simple operation. Even though membrane technology has progressed for wastewater applications nowadays, modifying membranes to achieve the strong desired membrane performance is still needed. Thus, this study overviews a comprehensive insight into the application of modified polymer membranes to remove pharmaceutical active compounds from wastewater. Biotoxicity of pharmaceutical active compounds is first prescribed to gain deep insight into how membranes can remove pharmaceutical active compounds from wastewater. Then, the behavior of the diffusion mechanism can be concisely determined using mass transfer factor model that represented by β and B with value up to 2.004 g h mg-1 and 1.833 mg g-1 for organic compounds including pharmaceutical active compounds. The model refers to the adsorption of solute to attach onto acceptor sites of the membrane surface, external mass transport of solute materials from the bulk liquid to the membrane surface, and internal mass transfer to diffuse a solute toward acceptor sites of the membrane surface with evidenced up to 0.999. Different pharmaceutical compounds have different solubility and relates to the membrane hydrophilicity properties and mechanisms. Ultimately, challenges and future recommendations have been presented to view the future need to enhance membrane performance regarding fouling mitigation and recovering compounds. Afterwards, the discussion of this study is projected to play a critical role in advance of better-quality membrane technologies for removing pharmaceutical active compounds from wastewater in an eco-friendly strategy and without damaging the ecosystem.

Comparative toxicity assessment of glyphosate and two commercial formulations in the planarian Dugesia japonica

Introduction: Glyphosate is a widely used, non-selective herbicide. Glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are considered safe for non-target organisms and environmentally benign at currently allowed environmental exposure levels. However, their increased use in recent years has triggered questions about possible adverse outcomes due to low dose chronic exposure in animals and humans. While the toxicity of GBHs has primarily been attributed to glyphosate, other largely unstudied components of GBHs may be inherently toxic or could act synergistically with glyphosate. Thus, comparative studies of glyphosate and GBHs are needed to parse out their respective toxicity. Methods: We performed such a comparative screen using pure glyphosate and two popular GBHs at the same glyphosate acid equivalent concentrations in the freshwater planarian Dugesia japonica. This planarian has been shown to be a useful model for both ecotoxicology and neurotoxicity/developmental neurotoxicity studies. Effects on morphology and various behavioral readouts were obtained using an automated screening platform, with assessments on day 7 and day 12 of exposure. Adult and regenerating planarians were screened to allow for detection of developmentally selective effects. Results: Both GBHs were more toxic than pure glyphosate. While pure glyphosate induced lethality at 1 mM and no other effects, both GBHs induced lethality at 316 μM and sublethal behavioral effects starting at 31.6 μM in adult planarians. These data suggest that glyphosate alone is not responsible for the observed toxicity of the GBHs. Because these two GBHs also include other active ingredients, namely diquat dibromide and pelargonic acid, respectively, we tested whether these compounds were responsible for the observed effects. Screening of the equivalent concentrations of pure diquat dibromide and pure pelargonic acid revealed that the toxicity of either GBH could not be explained by the active ingredients alone. Discussion: Because all compounds induced toxicity at concentrations above allowed exposure levels, our data indicates that glyphosate/GBH exposure is not an ecotoxicological concern for D. japonica planarians. Developmentally selective effects were not observed for all compounds. Together, these data demonstrate the usefulness of high throughput screening in D. japonica planarians for assessing various types of toxicity, especially for comparative studies of several chemicals across different developmental stages.

Adult and regenerating planarians respond differentially to chronic drug exposure

There is a lack of data on the effects of chronic exposure to common drugs and stimulants on the developing nervous system. Freshwater planarians have emerged as a useful invertebrate model amenable to high-throughput behavioral phenotyping to assay chemical safety in adult and developing brains. Here, we leverage the unique strength of the system to test in parallel for effects on the adult and developing nervous system, by screening ten common drugs and stimulants (forskolin, clenbuterol, LRE-1, MDL-12,330A, adenosine, caffeine, histamine, mianserin, fluoxetine and sertraline) using the asexual freshwater planarian Dugesia japonica. The compounds were tested up to 100 μM nominal concentration for their effects on planarian morphology and behavior. Quantitative phenotypic assessments were performed on days 7 and 12 of exposure using an automated screening platform. The antidepressants sertraline and fluoxetine were the most potent to induce lethality, with significant lethality observed at 10 μM. All ten compounds caused sublethal morphological and/or behavioral effects, with the most effects, in terms of potency and breadth of endpoints affected, seen with mianserin and fluoxetine. Four of the compounds (forskolin, clenbuterol, mianserin, and fluoxetine) were developmentally selective, causing effects at lower concentrations in regenerating planarians. Of these, fluoxetine showed the greatest differences between the two developmental stages, inducing many behavioral endpoints in regenerating planarians but only a few in adult planarians. While some of these behavioral effects may be due to neuroefficacy, these results substantiate the need for better evaluation of the safety of these common drugs on the developing nervous system.

New Worm on the Block: Planarians in (Neuro)Toxicology

Traditional mammalian testing is too time- and cost-intensive to keep up with the large number of environmental chemicals needing assessment. This has led to a dearth of information about the potential adverse effects of these chemicals, especially on the developing brain. Thus, there is an urgent need for rapid and cost-effective neurotoxicity and developmental neurotoxicity testing. Because of the complexity of the brain, metabolically competent organismal models are necessary to understand the effects of chemicals on nervous system development and function on a systems level. In this overview, we showcase asexual freshwater planarians as an alternative invertebrate ("non-animal") organismal model for neurotoxicology research. Planarians have long been used to study the effects of chemicals on regeneration and behavior. But they have only recently moved back into the spotlight because modern molecular and computational approaches now enable quantitative high-content and high-throughput toxicity studies. Here, we present a short history of the use of planarians in toxicology research, highlight current techniques to measure toxicity qualitatively and quantitatively in planarians, and discuss how to further promote this non-animal organismal system into mainstream toxicology research. The articles in this collection will help work towards this goal by providing detailed protocols that can be adopted by the community to standardize planarian toxicity testing. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

A miniaturized electrothermal array for rapid analysis of temperature preference behaviors in ecology and ecotoxicology

Due to technical limitations, there have been minimal studies performed on thermal preferences and thermotactic behaviors of aquatic ectotherm species commonly used in ecotoxicity testing. In this work, we demonstrate an innovative, purpose-built and miniaturized electrothermal array for rapid thermal preference behavioral tests. We applied the novel platform to define thermal preferences in multiple invertebrate and vertebrate species. Specifically, Dugesia notogaea (freshwater planarians), Chironomus tepperi (nonbiting midge larvae), Ostracoda (seed shrimp), Artemia franciscana (brine shrimp), Daphnia carinata (water flea), Austrochiltonia subtenuis (freshwater amphipod), Physa acuta (freshwater snail), Potamopyrgus antipodarum (New Zealand mud snail) and larval stage of Danio rerio (zebrafish) were tested. The Australian freshwater water fleas, amphipods, snail Physa acuta as well as zebrafish exhibited the most consistent preference to cool zones and clear avoidance of zones >27 °C out of nine species tested. Our results indicate the larval stage of zebrafish as the most responsive species highly suitable for prospective development of multidimensional behavioral test batteries. We also showcase preliminary data that environmentally relevant concentrations of pharmaceutical pollutants such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen (9800 ng/L) and insecticide imidacloprid (4600 ng/L) but not anti-depressant venlafaxine (2200 ng/L) and (iv) anticonvulsant medications gabapentin (400 ng/L) can perturb thermal preference behavior of larval zebrafish. Collectively our results demonstrate the utility of simple and inexpensive thermoelectric technology in rapid exploration of thermal preference in diverse species of aquatic animals. We postulate that more broadly such technologies can also have added value in ecotoxicity testing of emerging contaminants.

Bioactivation and detoxification of organophosphorus pesticides in freshwater planarians shares similarities with humans

Organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) are a chemically diverse class of insecticides that inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Many OPs require bioactivation to their active oxon form via cytochrome P450 to effectively inhibit AChE. OP toxicity can be mitigated by detoxification reactions performed by carboxylesterase and paraoxonase. The relative extent of bioactivation to detoxification varies among individuals and between species, leading to differential susceptibility to OP toxicity. Because of these species differences, it is imperative to characterize OP metabolism in model systems used to assess OP toxicity. We have shown that the asexual freshwater planarian Dugesia japonica is a suitable model to assess OP neurotoxicity and developmental neurotoxicity via rapid, automated testing of adult and developing organisms in parallel using morphological and behavioral endpoints. D. japonica has two cholinesterase enzymes with intermediate properties between AChE and butyrylcholinesterase that are sensitive to OP inhibition. Here, we demonstrate that D. japonica contains the major OP metabolic machinery to be a relevant model for OP neurotoxicity studies. Adult and regenerating D. japonica can bioactivate chlorpyrifos and diazinon into their respective oxons. Significant AChE inhibition was only observed after in vivo metabolic activation but not when the parent OPs were directly added to planarian homogenate using the same concentrations and timing. Using biochemical assays, we found that D. japonica has both carboxylesterase (24 nmol/(min*mg protein)) and paraoxonase (60 pmol/(min*mg protein)) activity. We show that planarian carboxylesterase activity is distinct from cholinesterase activity using benzil and tacrine. These results further support the use of D. japonica for OP toxicity studies.

Differences in neurotoxic outcomes of organophosphorus pesticides revealed via multi-dimensional screening in adult and regenerating planarians

Organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) are a chemically diverse class of commonly used insecticides. Epidemiological studies suggest that low dose chronic prenatal and infant exposures can lead to life-long neurological damage and behavioral disorders. While inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is the shared mechanism of acute OP neurotoxicity, OP-induced developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) can occur independently and/or in the absence of significant AChE inhibition, implying that OPs affect alternative targets. Moreover, different OPs can cause different adverse outcomes, suggesting that different OPs act through different mechanisms. These findings emphasize the importance of comparative studies of OP toxicity. Freshwater planarians are an invertebrate system that uniquely allows for automated, rapid and inexpensive testing of adult and developing organisms in parallel to differentiate neurotoxicity from DNT. Effects found only in regenerating planarians would be indicative of DNT, whereas shared effects may represent neurotoxicity. We leverage this unique feature of planarians to investigate potential differential effects of OPs on the adult and developing brain by performing a comparative screen to test 7 OPs (acephate, chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, diazinon, malathion, parathion and profenofos) across 10 concentrations in quarter-log steps. Neurotoxicity was evaluated using a wide range of quantitative morphological and behavioral readouts. AChE activity was measured using an Ellman assay. The toxicological profiles of the 7 OPs differed across the OPs and between adult and regenerating planarians. Toxicological profiles were not correlated with levels of AChE inhibition. Twenty-two "mechanistic control compounds" known to target pathways suggested in the literature to be affected by OPs (cholinergic neurotransmission, serotonin neurotransmission, endocannabinoid system, cytoskeleton, adenyl cyclase and oxidative stress) and 2 negative controls were also screened. When compared with the mechanistic control compounds, the phenotypic profiles of the different OPs separated into distinct clusters. The phenotypic profiles of adult vs. regenerating planarians exposed to the OPs clustered differently, suggesting some developmental-specific mechanisms. These results further support findings in other systems that OPs cause different adverse outcomes in the (developing) brain and build the foundation for future comparative studies focused on delineating the mechanisms of OP neurotoxicity in planarians.

High-Throughput Phototactic Ecotoxicity Biotests with Nauplii of Artemia franciscana

Analysis of sensorimotor behavioral responses to stimuli such as light can provide an enhanced relevance during rapid prioritisation of chemical risk. Due to technical limitations, there have been, however, only minimal studies on using invertebrate phototactic behaviors in aquatic ecotoxicity testing. In this work, we demonstrate an innovative, purpose-built analytical system for a high-throughput phototactic biotest with nauplii of euryhaline brine shrimp Artemia franciscana. We also, for the first time, present a novel and dedicated bioinformatic approach that facilitates high-throughput analysis of phototactic behaviors at scale with great fidelity. The nauplii exhibited consistent light-seeking behaviors upon extinguishing a brief programmable light stimulus (5500K, 400 lux) without habituation. A proof-of-concept validation involving the short-term exposure of eggs (24 h) and instar I larval stages (6 h) to sub-lethal concentrations of insecticides organophosphate chlorpyrifos (10 µg/L) and neonicotinoid imidacloprid (50 µg/L) showed perturbation in light seeking behaviors in the absence of or minimal alteration in general mobility. Our preliminary data further support the notion that phototactic bioassays can represent an attractive new avenue in behavioral ecotoxicology because of their potential sensitivity, responsiveness, and low cost.

Sensory-Motor Perturbations in Larval Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Induced by Exposure to Low Levels of Neuroactive Micropollutants during Development

Due to increasing numbers of anthropogenic chemicals with unknown neurotoxic properties, there is an increasing need for a paradigm shift toward rapid and higher throughput behavioral bioassays. In this work, we demonstrate application of a purpose-built high throughput multidimensional behavioral test battery on larval stages of Danio rerio (zebrafish) at 5 days post fertilization (dpf). The automated battery comprised of the established spontaneous swimming (SS), simulated predator response (SPR), larval photomotor response (LPR) assays as well as a new thermotaxis (TX) assay. We applied the novel system to characterize environmentally relevant concentrations of emerging pharmaceutical micropollutants including anticonvulsants (gabapentin: 400 ng/L; carbamazepine: 3000 ng/L), inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen: 9800 ng/L), and antidepressants (fluoxetine: 300 ng/L; venlafaxine: 2200 ng/L). The successful integration of the thermal preference assay into a multidimensional behavioral test battery provided means to reveal ibuprofen-induced perturbations of thermal preference behaviors upon exposure during embryogenesis. Moreover, we discovered that photomotor responses in larval stages of fish are also altered by the as yet understudied anticonvulsant gabapentin. Collectively our results demonstrate the utility of high-throughput multidimensional behavioral ecotoxicity test batteries in prioritizing emerging risks associated with neuroactive drugs that can perturb neurodevelopment. Moreover, we showcase the added value of thermotaxis bioassays for preliminary screening of emerging contaminants.

Head removal enhances planarian electrotaxis

Certain animal species utilize electric fields for communication, hunting and spatial orientation. Freshwater planarians move toward the cathode in a static electric field (cathodic electrotaxis). This planarian behavior was first described by Raymond Pearl more than a century ago. However, planarian electrotaxis has received little attention since, and the underlying mechanisms and evolutionary significance remain unknown. To close this knowledge gap, we developed an apparatus and scoring metrics for automated quantitative and mechanistic studies of planarian behavior upon exposure to a static electric field. Using this automated setup, we characterized electrotaxis in the planarian Dugesia japonica and found that this species responds to voltage instead of current, in contrast to results from previous studies using other planarian species. Surprisingly, we found differences in electrotaxis ability between small (shorter) and large (longer) planarians. To determine the cause of these differences, we took advantage of the regenerative abilities of planarians and compared electrotaxis in head, tail and trunk fragments of various lengths. We found that tail and trunk fragments electrotaxed, whereas head fragments did not, regardless of size. Based on these data, we hypothesized that signals from the head may interfere with electrotaxis when the head area/body area reached a critical threshold. In support of this hypothesis, we found that (1) smaller intact planarians that cannot electrotax have a relatively larger head-to-body-ratio than large planarians that can electrotax, and (2) the electrotaxis behavior of cut head fragments was negatively correlated with the head-to-body ratio of the fragments. Moreover, we could restore cathodic electrotaxis in head fragments via decapitation, directly demonstrating inhibition of electrotaxis by the head.

Summary: A new method for quantitative studies of planarian electrotaxis shows that Dugesia japonica move toward the cathode. This behavior is enhanced by removal of the head.

Current status and future directions for a neurotoxicity hazard assessment framework that integrates in silico approaches

Neurotoxicology is the study of adverse effects on the structure or function of the developing or mature adult nervous system following exposure to chemical, biological, or physical agents. The development of more informative alternative methods to assess developmental (DNT) and adult (NT) neurotoxicity induced by xenobiotics is critically needed. The use of such alternative methods including in silico approaches that predict DNT or NT from chemical structure (e.g., statistical-based and expert rule-based systems) is ideally based on a comprehensive understanding of the relevant biological mechanisms. This paper discusses known mechanisms alongside the current state of the art in DNT/NT testing. In silico approaches available today that support the assessment of neurotoxicity based on knowledge of chemical structure are reviewed, and a conceptual framework for the integration of in silico methods with experimental information is presented. Establishing this framework is essential for the development of protocols, namely standardized approaches, to ensure that assessments of NT and DNT based on chemical structures are generated in a transparent, consistent, and defendable manner.

Impact of test chamber design on spontaneous behavioral responses of model crustacean zooplankton Artemia franciscana

The use of small aquatic model organisms to investigate the behavioral effects of chemical exposure is becoming an integral component of aquatic ecotoxicology research and neuroactive drug discovery. Despite the increasing use of invertebrates for behavioral phenotyping in toxicological studies and chemical risk assessments, little is known regarding the potential for environmental factors-such as geometry, size, opacity and depth of test chambers-to modulate common behavioral responses. In this work, we demonstrate that test chamber geometry, size, opacity and depth can affect spontaneous, unstimulated behavioral responses of euryhaline crustacean Artemia franciscana first instar larval stages. We found that in the absence of any obvious directional cues, A. franciscana exhibited a strong innate wall preference behavior. Using different test chamber sizes and geometries, we found both increased wall preference and lowered overall distance traveled by the test shrimp in a smaller chamber with sharper-angled vertices. It was also determined through quantifiable changes in the chambers' color that the A. franciscana early larval stages can perceive, differentiate and react to differences in color or perhaps rather to light transmittance of the test chambers. The interaction between innate edge preference and positive phototaxis could be consistently altered with a novel photic stimulus system. We also observed a strong initial preference for depth in A. franciscana first instar larval stages, which diminished through the acclimatization. We postulate that the impact of test chamber designs on neurobehavioral baseline responses warrants further investigation, in particular considering the increased interest in behavioral eco-neurotoxicology applications.

Planarian fragments behave as whole animals

Behavioral responses of freshwater planarians have been studied for over a century.¹ In recent decades, behavior has been used as a readout to study planarian development and regeneration,^2-6 wound healing,^7,8 molecular evolution,^4,9,10 neurotoxicology,^11-13 and learning and memory.^14-17The planarian nervous system is among the simplest of the bilaterally symmetric animals,¹⁸ with an anterior brain attached to two ventral nerve cords interconnected by multiple commissures. We found that, in response to mechanical and near-UV stimulation, head stimulation produces turning, tail stimulation produces contraction, and trunk stimulation produces midbody elongation in the planarian Dugesia japonica. When cut into two or three pieces, the anterior end of each headless piece switched its behavior to turning instead of elongation; i.e., it responded as though it were the head. In addition, posterior ends of the head and midbody pieces sometimes produced contraction instead of elongation. Thus, each severed piece acts like an intact animal, with each midbody region having nearly complete behavioral capabilities. These observations show that each midbody region reads the global state of the organism and adapts its response to incoming signals from the remaining tissue. Selective lateral incisions showed that the changes in behavior are not due to nonselective pain responses and that the ventral nerve cords and cross-connectives are responsible for coordinating local behaviors. Our findings highlight a fast functional reorganization of the planarian nervous system that complements the slower repairs provided by regeneration. This reorganization provides needed behavioral responses for survival as regeneration proceeds.

Chemical Exposure-Induced Developmental Neurotoxicity in Head-Regenerating Schmidtea Mediterranea

The growing number of commercially-used chemicals that are under-evaluated for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) combined with the difficulty in describing the etiology of exposure-related neurodevelopmental toxicity has created a reticent threat to human health. Current means of screening chemicals for DNT are limited to expensive, time-consuming, and labor-intensive traditional laboratory animal models. In this study, we hypothesize that exposed head regenerating planarian flatworms can effectively and efficiently categorize DNT in known developmental neurotoxins (ethanol and bisphenol A (BPA)). Planarian flatworms are an established alternative animal model for neurodevelopmental studies and have remarkable regenerative abilities allowing neurodevelopment to be induced via head resection. Here, we observed changes in photophobic behavior and central nervous system (CNS) morphology to evaluate the impact of exposure to low concentrations of ethanol, BPA, and BPA industry alternatives bisphenol F (BPF), and bisguaiacol (BG) on neurodevelopment. Our studies show that exposure to 1% v/v ethanol during regeneration induces a recoverable 48-hour delay in the development of proper CNS integrity, which aligns with behavioral assessments of cognitive ability. Exposure to BPA and its alternatives induced deviations to neurodevelopment in a range of severities, distinguished by suppressions, delays, or a combination of the two. These results suggest that quick and inexpensive behavioral assessments are a viable surrogate for tedious and costly immunostaining studies, equipping more utility and resolution to the planarian model for neurodevelopmental toxicity in the future of mass chemical screening. These studies demonstrate that behavioral phenotypes observed following chemical exposure are classifiable and also temporally correlated to the anatomical development of the central nervous system in planaria. This will facilitate and accelerate toxicological screening assays with this alternative animal model.

Applications of advanced neuro-behavioral analysis strategies in aquatic ecotoxicology

Despite mounting evidence of pleiotropic ecological risks, the understanding of the eco-neurotoxic impact of most industrially relevant chemicals is still very limited. In particularly the acute and chronic exposures to industrial pollutants on nervous systems and thus potential alterations in ecological fitness remain profoundly understudied. Since the behavioral phenotype is the highest-level and functional manifestation of integrated neurological functions, the alterations in neuro-behavioral traits have been postulated as very sensitive and physiologically integrative endpoints to assess eco-neurotoxicological risks associated with industrial pollutants. Due to a considerable backlog of risk assessments of existing and new production chemicals there is a need for a paradigm shift from high cost, low throughput ecotoxicity test models to next generation systems amenable to higher throughput. In this review we concentrate on emerging aspects of laboratory-based neuro-behavioral phenotyping approaches that can be amenable for rapid prioritizing pipelines. We outline the importance of development and applications of innovative neuro-behavioral assays utilizing small aquatic biological indicators and demonstrate emerging concepts of high-throughput chemo-behavioral phenotyping. We also discuss new analytical approaches to effectively and rapidly evaluate the impact of pollutants on higher behavioral functions such as sensory-motor assays, decision-making and cognitive behaviors using innovative model organisms. Finally, we provide a snapshot of most recent analytical approaches that can be applied to elucidate mechanistic rationale that underlie the observed neuro-behavioral alterations upon exposure to pollutants. This review is intended to outline the emerging opportunities for innovative multidisciplinary research and highlight the existing challenges as well barriers to future development.

Effects of pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene on the reproduction and newborn morphology and behavior of the freshwater planarian Girardia tigrina

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous pollutants of aquatic ecosystems. Because they are persistent, there is great potential for chronic toxicity to aquatic species, and the evaluation of reproductive effects is fundamental. In this context, planarians are interesting experimental animals, since they can be sensitive to environmental pollutants, and a wide range of reproductive-related endpoints can be assessed. In this work we evaluated fecundity (number of cocoons), fertility (number of newborns), newborn anomalies, adult weight, regenerative abilities and PAH-residues in tissues of the freshwater planarian Girardia tigrina, exposed to either pyrene or benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). Pyrene reduced planarian fecundity and fertility at 18.75 μg L^-1 and 75.00 μg L^-1, while B[a]P reduced planarian fecundity at the 37.50 μg L^-1 treatment, which was accompanied by a 33.7% reduction in fertility. Cocoons were kept in clean media and newborns were evaluated for behavioral and morphological anomalies. Many of the newborns resulting from the B[a]P experiment revealed behavioral anomalies, such as spasms and uncoordinated movements. These behavioral anomalies were observed in 12.9% and 38.2% of newborns resulting from the exposure of adult planarians to 9.38 μg L^-1 and 37.50 μg L^-1 of B[a]P, respectively. This study is the first report on the effects of PAHs in freshwater planarians' sexual reproduction and a decreased reproductive output was evidenced. Moreover, the exposure of adults to B[a]P lead to defects in newborns, raising concern on the possible long-term consequences of these compounds for natural planarian populations.

Toxicity of different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to the freshwater planarian Girardia tigrina

Freshwater planarians have been gaining relevance as experimental animals for numerous research areas given their interesting features, such as high regeneration potential, shared features with the vertebrates' nervous system or the range of endpoints that can be easily evaluated in response to contaminants. Ecotoxicological research using these animals has been steadily increasing in the past decades, as planarians' potentialities for this research area are being recognized. In this work, we used polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as model contaminants and evaluated effects of exposure to phenanthrene, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in planarians. The freshwater planarian Girardia tigrina was chosen and mortality, cephalic regeneration (during and post-exposure), behavioral endpoints and presence of PAHs in tissues, were evaluated. Mortality was only observed in planarians exposed to phenanthrene, with an estimated LC₅₀ of 830 μg L^-1. Results indicate that planarian behavioral endpoints were very sensitive in response to sub-lethal concentrations of PAHs, showing a greater sensitivity towards B[a]P and pyrene. Briefly, post-exposure locomotion and post-exposure feeding were significantly impaired by sub-lethal concentrations of all compounds, whereas regeneration of photoreceptors was only significantly delayed in planarians exposed to pyrene. Moreover, levels of PAH-type compounds in planarian tissues followed a concentration-dependent increase, showing uptake of compounds from experimental solutions. The present results highlight the importance of studying alternative and complementary endpoints, such as behavior, not only because these may be able to detect effects at lower levels of contamination, but also due to their ecological relevance. The simplicity of evaluating a wide range of responses to contaminants further demonstrates the utility of freshwater planarians for ecotoxicological research.

Toxicity of the Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen towards freshwater invertebrates: A review

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) represent one of the main therapeutic classes of molecules contaminating aquatic ecosystems worldwide. NSAIDs are commonly and extensively used for their analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties to cure pain and inflammation in human and veterinary therapy. After use, NSAIDs are excreted in their native form or as metabolites, entering the aquatic ecosystems. A number of monitoring surveys has detected the presence of different NSAIDs in freshwater ecosystems in the ng/L - μg/L concentration range. Although the concentrations of NSAIDs in surface waters are low, the high biological activity of these molecules may confer them a potential toxicity towards non-target aquatic organisms. The present review aims at summarizing toxicity, in terms of both acute and chronic toxicity, induced by the main NSAIDs detected in surface waters worldwide, namely acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), paracetamol (PCM), diclofenac (DCF), ibuprofen (IBU) and naproxen (NPX), both singularly and in mixture, towards freshwater invertebrates. Invertebrates play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning so that NSAIDs-induced effects may result in hazardous consequences to the whole freshwater trophic chain. Acute toxicity of NSAIDs occurs only at high, unrealistic concentrations, while sub-lethal effects arise also at low, environmentally relevant concentrations of all these drugs. Thus, further studies represent a priority in order to improve the knowledge on NSAID toxicity and mechanism(s) of action in freshwater organisms and to shed light on their real ecological hazard towards freshwater communities.

Dugesia japonica is the best suited of three planarian species for high-throughput toxicology screening

High-throughput screening (HTS) using new approach methods is revolutionizing toxicology. Asexual freshwater planarians are a promising invertebrate model for neurotoxicity HTS because their diverse behaviors can be used as quantitative readouts of neuronal function. Currently, three planarian species are commonly used in toxicology research: Dugesia japonica, Schmidtea mediterranea, and Girardia tigrina. However, only D. japonica has been demonstrated to be suitable for HTS. Here, we assess the two other species for HTS suitability by direct comparison with D. japonica. Through quantitative assessments of morphology and multiple behaviors, we assayed the effects of 4 common solvents (DMSO, ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate) and a negative control (sorbitol) on neurodevelopment. Each chemical was screened blind at 5 concentrations at two time points over a twelve-day period. We obtained two main results: First, G. tigrina and S. mediterranea planarians showed significantly reduced movement compared to D. japonica under HTS conditions, due to decreased health over time and lack of movement under red lighting, respectively. This made it difficult to obtain meaningful readouts from these species. Second, we observed species differences in sensitivity to the solvents, suggesting that care must be taken when extrapolating chemical effects across planarian species. Overall, our data show that D. japonica is best suited for behavioral HTS given the limitations of the other species. Standardizing which planarian species is used in neurotoxicity screening will facilitate data comparisons across research groups and accelerate the application of this promising invertebrate system for first-tier chemical HTS, helping streamline toxicology testing.

5-Fluorouracil-treated planarians, a versatile model system for studying stem cell heterogeneity and tissue aging

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Planarians are a sound, well-established model system for molecular studies in the field of stem cells, cell differentiation, developmental biology and translational research. Treated stem cell-less planarians produced by X-ray treatment are commonly used to study stem cell transcriptional profile and their role in planarian biological processes. X-ray induces oxidative and DNA damage to differentiated cells, requires expensive radiation machines that are not available in most of the research centres and demand rigorous risk management and dedicated staff.

RESULTS

We tested the use of the well-known antimetabolite genotoxic drug 5-fluorouracil which mainly affects proliferating cells in way to demonstrate its use in replacing X-ray treatment. We succeeded in demonstrating ability of high doses of 5-fluorouracil to deplete Dugesia japonica stem cells and in identifying a 5-fluorouracil transiently resistant population of lineage committed stem cells.

CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE

Our results encourage the use of 5-fluorouracil-treated planarians as a model system for studying mechanisms of resistance to genotoxicants, planarian stem cell heterogeneity and molecular cascades of tissue aging.

Teratological and Behavioral Screening of the National Toxicology Program 91-Compound Library in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

To screen the tens of thousands of chemicals for which no toxicity data currently exists, it is necessary to move from in vivo rodent models to alternative models, such as zebrafish. Here, we used dechorionated Tropical 5D wild-type zebrafish embryos to screen a 91-compound library provided by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) for developmental toxicity. This library contained 86 unique chemicals that included negative controls, flame retardants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), drugs, industrial chemicals, and pesticides. Fish were exposed to 5 concentrations of each chemical or an equal amount of vehicle (0.5% DMSO) in embryo medium from 6 h post-fertilization (hpf) to 5 days post-fertilization (dpf). Fish were examined daily for mortality and teratogenic effects and photomotor behavior was assessed at 4 and 5 dpf. Of the 5 negative control compounds in the library, none caused mortality/teratogenesis, but two altered behavior. Chemicals provided in duplicate produced similar outcomes. Overall, 13 compounds caused mortality/teratology but not behavioral abnormalities, 24 only affected behavior, and 18 altered both endpoints, with behavior affected at concentrations that did not cause mortality/teratology (55/86 hits). Of the compounds that affected behavior, 52% caused behavioral abnormalities at either 4 or 5 dpf. Compounds within the same functional group caused different behavioral abnormalities, while similar behavioral patterns were caused by compounds from different groups. Our data suggest that behavior is a sensitive endpoint for developmental toxicity screening that integrates multiple modes of toxic action and is influenced by the age of the larval fish at the time of testing.

Screening for Developmental Neurotoxicity at the National Toxicology Program: The Future Is Here

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) receives requests to evaluate chemicals with potential to cause adverse health effects, including developmental neurotoxicity (DNT). Some recent requests have included classes of chemicals such as flame retardants, polycyclic aromatic compounds, perfluoroalkyl substances, and bisphenol A analogs with approximately 20-50 compounds per class, many of which include commercial mixtures. However, all the compounds within a class cannot be tested using traditional DNT animal testing guideline studies due to resource and time limitations. Hence, a rapid and biologically relevant screening approach is required to prioritize compounds for further in vivo testing. Because neurodevelopment is a complex process involving multiple distinct cellular processes, one assay will unlikely address the complexity. Hence, the NTP sought to characterize a battery of in vitro and alternative animal assays to quantify chemical effects on a variety of neurodevelopmental processes. A culmination of this effort resulted in a NTP-hosted collaborative project with approximately 40 participants spanning across domains of academia, industry, government, and regulatory agencies; collaborators presented data on cell-based assays and alternative animal models that was generated using a targeted set of compounds provided by the NTP. The NTP analyzed the assay results using benchmark concentration (BMC) modeling to be able to compare results across the divergent assays. The results were shared with the contributing researchers on a private web application during the workshop, and are now publicly available. This article highlights the overview and goals of the project, and describes the NTP's approach in creating the chemical library, development of NTPs data analysis strategy, and the structure of the web application. Finally, we discuss key issues with emphasis on the utility of this approach, and knowledge gaps that need to be addressed for its use in regulatory decision making.

Pharmacological or genetic targeting of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels can disrupt the planarian escape response

In response to noxious stimuli, planarians cease their typical ciliary gliding and exhibit an oscillatory type of locomotion called scrunching. We have previously characterized the biomechanics of scrunching and shown that it is induced by specific stimuli, such as amputation, noxious heat, and extreme pH. Because these specific inducers are known to activate Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels in other systems, we hypothesized that TRP channels control scrunching. We found that chemicals known to activate TRPA1 (allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) and hydrogen peroxide) and TRPV (capsaicin and anandamide) in other systems induce scrunching in the planarian species Dugesia japonica and, except for anandamide, in Schmidtea mediterranea. To confirm that these responses were specific to either TRPA1 or TRPV, respectively, we tried to block scrunching using selective TRPA1 or TRPV antagonists and RNA interference (RNAi) mediated knockdown. Unexpectedly, co-treatment with a mammalian TRPA1 antagonist, HC-030031, enhanced AITC-induced scrunching by decreasing the latency time, suggesting an agonistic relationship in planarians. We further confirmed that TRPA1 in both planarian species is necessary for AITC-induced scrunching using RNAi. Conversely, while co-treatment of a mammalian TRPV antagonist, SB-366791, also enhanced capsaicin-induced reactions in D. japonica, combined knockdown of two previously identified D. japonica TRPV genes (DjTRPVa and DjTRPVb) did not inhibit capsaicin-induced scrunching. RNAi of DjTRPVa/DjTRPVb attenuated scrunching induced by the endocannabinoid and TRPV agonist, anandamide. Overall, our results show that although scrunching induction can involve different initial pathways for sensing stimuli, this behavior's signature dynamical features are independent of the inducer, implying that scrunching is a stereotypical planarian escape behavior in response to various noxious stimuli that converge on a single downstream pathway. Understanding which aspects of nociception are conserved or not across different organisms can provide insight into the underlying regulatory mechanisms to better understand pain sensation.

Impact of digital video analytics on accuracy of chemobehavioural phenotyping in aquatic toxicology

Chemobehavioural phenotypic analysis using small aquatic model organisms is becoming an important toolbox in aquatic ecotoxicology and neuroactive drug discovery. The analysis of the organisms’ behavior is usually performed by combining digital video recording with animal tracking software. This software detects the organisms in the video frames, and reconstructs their movement trajectory using image processing algorithms. In this work we investigated the impact of video file characteristics, video optimization techniques and differences in animal tracking algorithms on the accuracy of quantitative neurobehavioural endpoints. We employed larval stages of a free-swimming euryhaline crustacean Artemia franciscana,commonly used for marine ecotoxicity testing, as a proxy modelto assess the effects of video analytics on quantitative behavioural parameters. We evaluated parameters such as data processing speed, tracking precision, capability to perform high-throughput batch processing of video files. Using a model toxicant the software algorithms were also finally benchmarked against one another. Our data indicates that variability in video file parameters; such as resolution, frame rate, file containers types, codecs and compression levels, can be a source of experimental biases in behavioural analysis. Similarly, the variability in data outputs between different tracking algorithms should be taken into account when designing standardized behavioral experiments and conducting chemobehavioural phenotyping.

[Planarian, an emerging animal model for toxicology studies]

Since a few decades, a new invertebrate animal model has emerged in toxicology studies: the planarian. This non-parasitic flatworm, from phylum Platyhelminthes, has an amazing regenerative capacity and has been described as "immortal under the edge of the knife" in 1814 by Dalyell. This formidable capacity is due to the abundance of stem cells called neoblasts, allowing for a tiny fragment equivalent to 1/279^th of the size of the planarian to generate a whole animal. The planarian has also a human-like nervous system with several neurotransmitters and has been used to evaluate developmental perturbations and neurotoxicity. This review summarizes the main planarian toxicology studies and highlights the potential of this original animal model for research.

Screening for neurotoxic potential of 15 flame retardants using freshwater planarians

Asexual freshwater planarians are an attractive invertebrate model for high-throughput neurotoxicity screening, because they possess multiple quantifiable behaviors to assess distinct neuronal functions. Planarians uniquely allow direct comparisons between developing and adult animals to distinguish developmentally selective effects from general neurotoxicity. In this study, we used our automated planarian screening platform to compare the neurotoxicity of 15 flame retardants (FRs), consisting of representative phased-out brominated (BFRs) and replacement organophosphorus FRs (OPFRs). OPFRs have emerged as a proposed safer alternative to BFRs; however, limited information is available on their health effects. We found 11 of the 15 FRs (3/6 BFRs, 7/8 OPFRs, and Firemaster 550) caused adverse effects in both adult and developing planarians with similar nominal lowest-effect-levels for BFRs and OPFRs. This suggests that replacement OPFRs are comparably neurotoxic to the phased-out compounds. BFRs were primarily systemically toxic, whereas OPFRs, except Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, shared a behavioral phenotype in response to noxious heat at sublethal concentrations, indicating specific neurotoxic effects. We found this behavioral phenotype was correlated with cholinesterase inhibition, thus linking behavioral outcomes to molecular targets. By directly comparing effects on adult and developing planarians, we further found that one BFR (3,3',5,5'-Tetrabromobisphenol A) caused a developmental selective defect. Together, these results demonstrate that our planarian screening platform yields high content data from various behavioral and morphological endpoints, allowing us to distinguish selective neurotoxic effects and effects specific to the developing nervous system. Ten of these 11 bioactive FRs were previously found to be bioactive in other models, including cell culture and alternative animal models (nematodes and zebrafish). This level of concordance across different platforms emphasizes the urgent need for further evaluation of OPFRs in mammalian systems.

Detection and Prioritization of Developmentally Neurotoxic and/or Neurotoxic Compounds Using Zebrafish

The standard methods for toxicity testing using rodent models cannot keep pace with the increasing number of chemicals in our environment due to time and resource limitations. Hence, there is an unmet need for fast, sensitive, and cost-effective alternate models to reliably predict toxicity. As part of Tox21 Phase III's effort, a 90-compound library was created and made available to researchers to screen for neurotoxicants using novel technology and models. The chemical library was evaluated in zebrafish in a dose-range finding test for embryo-toxicity (ie, mortality or morphological alterations induced by each chemical). In addition, embryos exposed to the lowest effect level and nonobservable effect level were used to measure the internal concentration of the chemicals within the embryos by bioanalysis. Finally, considering the lowest effect level as the highest testing concentration, a functional assay was performed based on locomotor activity alteration in response to light-dark changes. The quality control chemicals included in the library, ie, negative controls and replicated chemicals, indicate that the assays performed were reliable. The use of analytical chemistry pointed out the importance of measuring chemical concentration inside embryos, and in particular, in the case of negative chemicals to avoid false negative classification. Overall, the proposed approach presented a good sensitivity and supports the inclusion of zebrafish assays as a reliable, relevant, and efficient screening tool to identify, prioritize, and evaluate chemical toxicity.

Comparative Analysis of Zebrafish and Planarian Model Systems for Developmental Neurotoxicity Screens Using an 87-Compound Library

There is a clear need to establish and validate new methodologies to more quickly and efficiently screen chemicals for potential toxic effects, particularly on development. The emergence of alternative animal systems for rapid toxicology screens presents valuable opportunities to evaluate how systems complement each other. In this article, we compare a chemical library of 87-compounds in 2 such systems, developing zebrafish and freshwater planarians, by screening for developmental neurotoxic effects. We show that the systems' toxicological profiles are complementary to each other, with zebrafish yielding more detailed morphological endpoints and planarians more behavioral endpoints. Overall, zebrafish was more sensitive to this chemical library, yielding 86/87 hits, compared with 50/87 hits in planarians. The difference in sensitivity could not be attributed to molecular weight, log Kow, or the bioconcentration factor. Of the 87 chemicals, 28 had previously been evaluated in mammalian developmental neuro- (DNT), neuro-, or developmental toxicity studies. Of the 28, 20 were hits in the planarian, and 27 were hits in zebrafish. Eighteen of the 28 had previously been identified as DNT hits in mammals and were highly associated with activity in zebrafish and planarian behavioral assays in this study. Only 1 chemical (of 28) was a false negative in both zebrafish and planarian systems. The differences in endpoint coverage and system sensitivity illustrate the value of a dual systems approach to rapidly query a large chemical-bioactivity space and provide weight-of-evidence for prioritization of chemicals for further testing.