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Multibiomarker Responses of Juvenile Stages of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) to Subchronic Exposure to Polycyclic Musk Tonalide

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Abstract

Synthetic polycyclic musks, widely used as additives in personal care products, are present in both biotic and abiotic matrices of the aquatic environment at concentrations of ng/l to µg/l. Although they are determined at comparatively low concentrations, these levels are biologically relevant and pose a significant growing risk as stressors to aquatic organisms. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effects of 28-day-long exposure to polycyclic musk tonalide in zebrafish juvenile stages (Danio rerio) using selected biomarkers. Environmentally relevant concentrations of tonalide caused significant changes in selected enzyme activities in the experimental groups exposed to the highest concentrations. The activity of glutathione S-transferase and lipid peroxidation increased significantly (p < 0.05) after exposure to the highest concentration (50,000 ng/l) compared with the control. A similar trend was observed in catalase activity; there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) after exposure to two highest concentrations of tonalide (5000 and 50,000 ng/l). In addition, a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.05) in glutathione reductase activity was found in the lowest test concentration of tonalide (50 ng/l). None of the tested concentrations resulted in histopathological changes in liver, kidney, skin, or gill. Furthermore, no effects on body weight, body length, specific growth rate, and behavior were observed. Our results showed that tonalide exposure induced profound changes in the activities of antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes, such changes representing an adaptive response of the fish organism to tonalide toxicity.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a Grant from the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno (IGA VFU 248/2015/FVHE). The authors thank Mr. Matthew Nicholls for paper improvement and English correction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Protection, Welfare and Behaviour, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho tr. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic

    Jana Blahova, Lenka Divisova, Lucie Plhalova, Vladimira Enevova, Martin Hostovsky, Veronika Doubkova, Petr Marsalek & Zdenka Svobodova

  2. Department of Pathological Morphology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho tr. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic

    Petr Fictum

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  1. Jana Blahova
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  2. Lenka Divisova
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Blahova, J., Divisova, L., Plhalova, L. et al. Multibiomarker Responses of Juvenile Stages of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) to Subchronic Exposure to Polycyclic Musk Tonalide. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 74, 568–576 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-017-0484-8

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