The probiotics, Lactobacillus plantarum ST-III, plays an important role in modulating microbiota and alleviating intestinal metabolic disorders. Herein, we reported that Lactobacillus increases biodiversity of zebrafish gut flora, and attenuates toxic effects from chronic triclosan (TCS) exposure. Lactobacillus-feeding recovered the species and amount of microorganisms in the intestines of zebrafish, and inhibited toxin production by saprophytic bacterial growth. Abnormal physiological indexes and malonaldeyhde content resulting from TCS exposure were effectively alleviated. Additionally, lipid-metabolism disorders, such as increased triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, were attenuated by a probiotics diet. The number of CD4 + T cell lymphocytes in the lamina propria of the duodenal mucosa was decreased in zebrafish receiving a Lactobacillus diet compared to the TCS-exposed group, showing a consistent expression trend for six immune genes (NF-κB, IL-1β, TNF-α, lysozyme, TLR4α, IL-10) in the intestinal mucosa. Histopathological observations of intestines, spleen and kidney showed that TCS exposure produced severe damage to the morphology and structure of immune and metabolism-related organs. Lactobacillus was capable of mitigating this damage, but bile salt hydrolase, an active extract of Lactobacillus, was not an effective mitigation strategy. The Lactobacillus-induced decrease in the number of inflammatory cells confirmed its role in preventing inflammatory injury. Three behavioral tests (T-maze, bottom dwelling and social interaction) indicated that a probiotics diet improved zebrafish movement and learning/memory capacity, effectively alleviating anxiety behavior due to TCS exposure. These findings inform development of beneficial strategies to alleviate intestinal metabolic syndromes and neurodegenerative diseases resulting from exposure to environmental contaminants through modifying gut flora with a probiotics diet.
-Herein, we report on the joint toxicity of four fluoroquinolones and two tetracyclines (β-diketone antibiotics-DKAs) to zebrafish based on a series of toxicological endpoints and histopathological observations. A positive dose-dependence was observed in DKA-exposure groups with a 72-hpf EC 50 of 130.3 mg/L for hatching rate, 120-hpf LC 50 of 149.8 mg/L, and 120-hpf EC 50 of 135.1 mg/L for malformation rate. When zebrafish at 60 dpf were exposed to a series of DKA concentrations (45, 60 and 90 mg/L) for 7, 14 and 21 days, creatine kinase and AChE activities were significantly induced, and intracellular malondialdehyde increased in all treatments except for the 45 mg/L treatment. The transcription levels of AHRRa from livers were significantly (p < 0.05) up-regulated in all treatments after two months of DKA exposure. CKma expression from skeletal muscle was significantly down-regulated in the 90 mg/L treatment. A remarkable down-regulation of CYP3A65 was observed in the 60 mg/L treatment. DKA exposure resulted in severe tissue damage including mitochondria swelling, reduction of mitochondrial cristae, deepening of mitochondrial cristae bands, and decreasing and even disappearance of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Total sperm motility was decreased by ca. 30% due to DKA exposure. These results provide important information for toxicity and health risks due to mixed DKA exposure in aquatic environments.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.