Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid–Induced Toxicity on Zebrafish Embryos in the Presence or Absence of the Chorion

Abstract

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is a perfluorinated compound used in many industrial and consumer products. It has been linked to a broad range of adverse effects in several species, including zebrafish (Danio rerio). The zebrafish embryo is a widely used vertebrate model to elucidate potential adverse effects of chemicals because it is amenable to medium and high throughput. However, there is limited research on the full extent of the impact the chorion has on those effects. Results from the present study indicate that the presence of the chorion affected the timing and incidence of mortality as well as morphometric endpoints such as spinal curvature and swim bladder inflation in zebrafish embryos exposed to PFOS. Furthermore, removal of the chorion prior to exposure resulted in a lower threshold of sensitivity to PFOS for effects on transcriptional expression within the peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR) nuclear signaling pathway. Perturbation of PPAR pathway gene expression can result in disruption of metabolic signaling and regulation, which can adversely affect development, energy availability, and survival. It can be concluded that removal of the chorion has significant effects on the timing and incidence of impacts associated with PFOS exposure, and more research is warranted to fully elucidate the protective role of the chorion and the critical timing of these events. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:780–791. Published 2020. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

US and international per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances surface water quality criteria: A review of the status, challenges, and implications for use in chemical management and risk assessment

“…Preliminary results found no significant effects on survival or reproduction of zebrafish at the highest tested PFOS concentration of 100 000 ng/L. Reduced growth was observed at the highest PFOS exposure concentration of 100 000 ng/L (Gust et al, 2021; Moore et al, 2022), but the growth reduction reported by Keiter et al (2012) at 600 ng/L was not reproducible. The USEPA (2022b) discussed Keiter et al (2012) but did not include the study results in the quantitative derivation of the draft national recommended aquatic life criteria for PFOS due to the “…poor concentration‐response relationship with the endpoints evaluated…” and test design complications.…”

“…For PFOS alone, Zodrow et al (2021) identified 187 aquatic toxicity endpoints from 60 papers with approximately 60% of the papers published after 2007. It should be noted that, as new studies and data are generated, emphasis should be placed on the evaluation of study design, QA/QC, and analytical methodologies to ensure only well‐founded studies are used for criteria development (Moore et al, 2022).…”

Survival, Growth, and Reproduction Responses in a Three‐Generation Exposure of the Zebrafish (Danio rerio) to Perfluorooctane Sulfonate

“…Substantial variation in the effective PFOS concentrations causing significant lethal effects in zebrafish can be observed across previous studies. For example, in zebrafish embryo exposures lasting between 2 and 6 dpf, LC50 values for PFOS exposures ranged from 2200 to 68 000 µg/L (Huang et al, 2021; Krupa et al, 2022; Shi et al, 2008; Ulhaq et al, 2013; Vogs et al, 2019; Wasel et al, 2022; Zheng et al, 2012), the LOECs ranged from 3200 to 10 000 µg/L (Martinez et al, 2019; Ortiz‐Villanueva et al, 2018; Truong et al, 2014), whereas the no‐observed‐effect concentrations (NOECs) ranged from 1530 to 20 000 µg/L (Huang et al, 2021; Mylroie et al, 2021). Survivorship responses to PFOS exposures extending beyond the embryonic life stage into subchronic and chronic exposures include reporting of a 30‐dpf LC50 of 490 µg/L (Krupa et al, 2022), while Guo et al (2019) and Bao et al (2019) reported 21‐dpf NOECs of 80 and 200 µg/L, respectively.…”

“…The wild-type AB strain adult zebrafish (Zebrafish International Resource Center) used to generate the parental (P) generation was maintained as described in Mylroie et al (2021). The P generation was bred in an iSpawn (Tecniplast) breeding chamber using 58 males and 30 females as parents; spawning occurred for 30 min initiated by the start of the daily light cycle.…”

An Integrated Metabolomics‐Based Model, and Identification of Potential Biomarkers, of Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid Toxicity in Zebrafish Embryos

“…Alongside studies of apparent bioaccumulation, numerous toxicological studies utilizing fish have also connected PFOS exposure to toxicity and an array of adverse effects including altered reproductive function, developmental deformities, endocrine disruption, and hepatotoxicity (Hagenaars et al, 2008;Kang et al, 2019;Shi et al, 2008Shi et al, , 2009. With relevance to aquatic biota, a number of studies have investigated the toxicity of PFOS (and many other PFAS) in the zebrafish (Danio rerio), as an established laboratory model, and more specifically, early life (i.e., embryonic, larval) stages of this species (Huang et al, 2010;Krupa et al, 2022;Mylroie et al, 2021;Shi et al, 2008). These studies have indeed identified a range of potential toxicological endpoints, and notably, the zebrafish embryo model in particular has enabled studies that elucidate the role of developmental stage, and associated stagedependent mechanisms and targets.…”