Decabromodiphenyl Ethane Mainly Affected the Muscle Contraction and Reproductive Endocrine System in Female Adult Zebrafish

Abstract

The novel brominated flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) has become a widespread environmental pollutant. However, the target tissue and toxicity of DBDPE are still not clear. In the current study, female zebrafish were exposed to 1 and 100 nM DBDPE for 28 days. Chemical analysis revealed that DBDPE tended to accumulate in the brain other than the liver and gonad. Subsequently, tandem mass tag-based quantitative proteomics and parallel reaction monitoring verification were performed to screen the differentially expressed proteins in the brain. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that DBDPE mainly affected the biological process related to muscle contraction and estrogenic response. Therefore, the neurotoxicity and reproductive disruptions were validated via multilevel toxicological endpoints. Specifically, locomotor behavioral changes proved the potency of neurotoxicity, which may be caused by disturbance of muscular proteins and calcium homeostasis; decreases of sex hormone levels and transcriptional changes of genes related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad-liver axis confirmed reproductive disruptions upon DBDPE exposure. In summary, our results suggested that DBDPE primarily accumulated in the brain and evoked neurotoxicity and reproductive disruptions in female zebrafish. These findings can provide important clues for a further mechanism study and risk assessment of DBDPE.

Long-Term Exposure to Neonicotinoid Insecticide Acetamiprid at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations Impairs Endocrine Functions in Zebrafish: Bioaccumulation, Feminization, and Transgenerational Effects

“…Zebrafish has been extensively used for evaluating endocrine disruption and reproductive toxicity of xenobiotics in vertebrates due to its small size, ease of culture, short life cycle, and consistent egg production with high fertilization and hatching rates. 19 In fish, reproductive processes are regulated through coordinated interactions among steroid hormones along the HPG axis and through steroidogenesis of gonad organs. 20 Specifically, the hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) that stimulates the pituitary to secrete gonadotropin hormones, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).…”

“…Although it is evident that neonicotinoids can cause adverse effects on vertebrates, these studies were mainly conducted over short-term periods (e.g., <10 d). , It is largely unknown whether long-term exposure (e.g., from juvenile to adult) to neonicotinoids at environmentally relevant concentrations will detrimentally influence vertebrates. Zebrafish has been extensively used for evaluating endocrine disruption and reproductive toxicity of xenobiotics in vertebrates due to its small size, ease of culture, short life cycle, and consistent egg production with high fertilization and hatching rates . In fish, reproductive processes are regulated through coordinated interactions among steroid hormones along the HPG axis and through steroidogenesis of gonad organs .…”

Decabromodiphenyl ethane affects embryonic development by interfering with nuclear F‐actin in zygotes and leads to cognitive and social disorders in offspring mice

“…In recent years, a few studies on the biological toxicity of DBDPE have found that DBDPE has thyroid toxicity, hepatotoxicity, cardiovascular toxicity, and endocrine toxicity 7,15,25–29 . Studies showed that DBDPE disturbed thyroid hormone homeostasis 7,25,26 .…”

“…In recent years, a few studies on the biological toxicity of DBDPE have found that DBDPE has thyroid toxicity, hepatotoxicity, cardiovascular toxicity, and endocrine toxicity. 7,15,[25][26][27][28][29] Studies showed that DBDPE disturbed thyroid hormone homeostasis. 7,25,26 Tian Chen et al reported that serum DBDPE concentration was positively correlated with total triiodothyronine and total thyroxine serum levels of adults in DBDPE-producing areas in China.…”

“…28 DBDPE caused decreased sex hormone levels and transcriptional changes in genes associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal-liver axis in female adult zebrafish, disrupting the reproductive endocrine system. 29 However, few studies have examined the reproductive toxicity of DBDPE. To date, Li et al, have reported the male reproductive toxicity of DBDPE, they found that DBDPE exposure resulted in damage to the testicular structure and a significant decrease in sperm motility and quantity.…”