Silver nanoparticles affect the neural development of zebrafish embryos. Issue 12 (15th May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xin, Qi; Rotchell, Jeanette M.; Cheng, Jinping; Yi, Jun; Zhang, Qiang
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied toxicology. Volume 35:Issue 12(2015)
• Page Start: 1481
• Page End: 1492
• Publication Date: 2015-05-15
• Subjects: Toxicology -- Periodicals; Industrial toxicology -- Periodicals; Environmentally induced diseases -- Periodicals; Toxicology -- Periodicals; 615.9005
• DOI: 10.1002/jat.3164
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0260-437X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely used in commercial products. This study aims to understand the impact of AgNPs on the early developmental stages in zebrafish (<italic>Danio rerio</italic>) embryos. Embryos were exposed to two sizes of AgNPs at three dose levels, as well to free Ag<sup>+</sup> ions, for a range of 4–96 h post‐fertilization (hpf). The acute exposure study showed that exposure to AgNPs affected the neurological development, and the exposed embryos exhibited anomalies such as small head with hypoplastic hindbrain, small eye and cardiac defects. At the molecular level, AgNPs altered the expression profiles of neural development‐related genes (<italic>gfap</italic>, <italic>huC</italic> and <italic>ngn1</italic>), metal‐sensitive metallothioneins and <italic>ABCC</italic> genes in exposed embryos. The expression of <italic>AhR2</italic> and <italic>Cyp1A</italic>, which are usually considered to mediate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon toxicity, were also significantly changed. A size‐dependent uptake of AgNPs was observed, whereby 4 nm AgNPs were more efficiently taken up compared with the 10 nm‐sized particles. Importantly, the head area accumulated AgNPs more efficiently than the trunk area of exposed zebrafish embryos. No free Ag<sup>+</sup> ions, which can be potentially released from the AgNP solutions, were detected. This study suggests that AgNPs could affect the neural development of zebrafish embryos, and the toxicity of AgNPs may be partially attributed to the comparatively higher uptake in the head area. These results indicate the potential neurotoxicity of AgNPs and could be extended to other aquatic organisms. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </abstract>