WITHDRAWN: Exposure to Difenoconazole Induces Reproductive Toxicity of Zebrafish by Interfering Reproductive Behavior

Abstract

Difenoconazole (DCZ) is a widely used triazole fungicide and negatively affects aquatic organisms and human health. However, data on the reproductive toxicity of DCZ are lacking. In this study, we used zebrafish (from 2–4 h postfertilization (hpf) to adulthood) as a model to evaluate whether DCZ at environmentally relevant concentrations (0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 µg/L) induce reproductive toxicity. Following exposure to DCZ, egg production and fertilization rate were reduced at 1.0 and 10.0 µg/L. A significant decrease in the proportion of mature gametes (late vitellogenic oocytes and spermatozoa) was also observed at 10.0 µg/L. The concentrations of 17β-Estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), and vitellogenin (VTG) were disrupted in females and males at 1.0 and 10.0 µg/L. Exposure to 10.0 µg/L DCZ significantly inhibited the contact time between female fish and male fish, and it was mainly achieved by affecting male fish. The transcription of genes involved in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad-liver (HPGL) axis was significantly changed after treatment with DCZ. Overall, these data showed that the endocrine disrupting effect of DCZ on the zebrafish HPGL axis inhibited the formation of gametes and disrupted reproductive behavior, thereby reducing fertility.