Larval zebrafish as an in vitro model for evaluating toxicological effects of mycotoxins

Abstract

The presence of mycotoxins in food has created concern. Mycotoxin prevalence in our environment has changed in the last few years maybe due to climatic and other environmental changes. Evidence has emerged from in vitro and in vivo models: some mycotoxins have been found to be potentially carcinogenic, embryogenically harmful, teratogenic, and to generate nephrotoxicity. The risk assessment of exposures to mycotoxins at early life stages became mandatory. In this regard, the effects of toxic compounds on zebrafish have been widely studied, and more recently, mycotoxins have been tested with respect to their effects on developmental and teratogenic effects in this model system, which offers several advantages as it is an inexpensive and an accessible vertebrate model to study developmental toxicity. External post-fertilization and quick maturation make it sensitive to environmental effects and facilitate the detection of endpoints such as morphological deformities, time of hatching, and behavioral responses. Therefore, there is a potential for larval zebrafish to provide new insights into the toxicological effects of mycotoxins. We provide an overview of recent mycotoxin toxicological research in zebrafish embryos and larvae, highlighting its usefulness to toxicology and discuss the strengths and limitations of this model system.

Evaluation of the Multimycotoxin-Degrading Efficiency of Rhodococcus erythropolis NI1 Strain with the Three-Step Zebrafish Microinjection Method

“…The severity and frequency of tail deformities and yolk edema increased with dose, and the phenotypic lesions agreed with the results of Zuberi et al [57]. In contrast, in seven days post fertilization (dpf) AFB1-treated larvae, none showed phenotypic defects in previous studies [58,59].…”

“…Significant differences were observed in deformation frequencies between the non-injected control (non-inj-c) and 4.17 nL dose (* p < 0.05). In earlier studies, the lethal effects of AFB1 on zebrafish embryos were examined in a concentration-dependent way, which aligned with dose-dependent mortality rates in the present study [57,58]. The severity and frequency of tail deformities and yolk edema increased with dose, and the phenotypic lesions agreed with the results of Zuberi et al [57].…”

Mixture toxic impacts and the related mechanism of aflatoxin B1 and deoxynivalenol on embryonic zebrafish (Danio rerio)

“…*p < 0.05, substantial alteration by comparison with the control; # p < 0.05, substantial alteration by comparison with the AFB1 administration group at counterpart concentration; ☆ p < 0.05, substantial alteration by comparison with the DON administration group at counterpart concentration. AFB1 aflatoxin B1, DON deoxynivalenol, L low concentration, M middle concentration, H high concentration studies can serve as an important reference to humans [28][29][30][31]. Consequently, embryonic zebrafish were adopted to evaluate the mixture toxic effect of AFB1 and DON in this study.…”

Toxic Effects of Silver Ions on Early Developing Zebrafish Embryos Distinguished from Silver Nanoparticles

“…During natural hatching, the chorion is digested from the inner surface by chorionlytic enzymes (e.g., chorionase) using a biochemical mechanism followed by mechanical mechanisms (e.g., tail movements) to further help the embryo to break the remaining chorion and free itself . Studies have shown the delay in hatching after exposure to various toxins. , Mechanisms of the delay are not yet fully understood though the hardening of the outer layer of the chorion was assumed to make it difficult for the embryo to break free.…”