Reproductive and endocrine-disrupting toxicity of Microcystis aeruginosa in female zebrafish. (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Guangfu; Ke, Mingjing; Fan, Xiaoji; Zhang, Meng; Zhu, Youchao; Lu, Tao; Sun, Liwei; Qian, Haifeng
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 192(2018)
• Page Start: 289
• Page End: 296
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: Microcystis aeruginosa -- Zebrafish -- Endocrine-disruption -- Reproductive toxicity; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.10.167
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Microcystis aeruginosa, a primary species in cyanobacterial blooms, is ubiquitously distributed in water. Microcystins (MCs) purified from M. aeruginosa can exert reproductive toxicity in fish. However, the effects of M. aeruginosa at environmentally relevant levels on the reproductive and endocrine systems of zebrafish are still unknown. The present study investigated the reproductive and endocrine-disrupting toxicity of M. aeruginosa on female zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) by short-term exposure (96 h). After exposure, marked histological lesions in the liver or gonads, such as nuclear pyknosis and deformation, were observed, and the fertilization rate and hatchability of eggs spawned from treated females were both significantly lower than they were in females in the control group, suggesting the possibility of transgenerational effects of M. aeruginosa exposure. Moreover, M. aeruginosa exposure decreased the concentration of 17β-estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) in female zebrafish. Interestingly, the vtg1 transcriptional level significantly decreased in the liver, whereas plasma vitellogenin (VTG) protein levels increased. The present findings indicate that M. aeruginosa could modulate endocrine function by disrupting transcription of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal-liver (HPGL) axis-related genes, and impair the reproductive capacity of female zebrafish, suggesting that M. aeruginosa causes potential adverse effects on fish reproduction in Microcystis bloom-contaminated aquatic environments. Graphical abstract: Highlights: M. aeruginosa caused histological lesions in liver and gonad of female zebrafish. M. aeruginosa impaired reproductive capacity and caused transgenerational effects. M. aeruginosa exposure altered the level of plasma hormones in female zebrafish. M. aeruginosa changed the transcriptions of genes involved in endocrine system. M. aeruginosa can disrupt reproductive and endocrine system in fish.