Acute exposure to DE-71 causes alterations in visual behavior in zebrafish larvae
- Authors
- Chen, L., Huang, Y., Huang, C., Hu, B., Hu, C., and Zhou, B.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-130222-23
- Date
- 2013
- Source
- Environmental toxicology and chemistry 32(6): 1370-1375 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Keywords
- polybrominated diphenyl ethers, retinal structure, visual behavior, zebrafish, larvae
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal/drug effects
- Eye/drug effects
- Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers/toxicity*
- Larva/drug effects
- Larva/physiology
- Nystagmus, Optokinetic/drug effects
- Retina/drug effects*
- Toxicity Tests, Acute
- Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity*
- Zebrafish/genetics
- Zebrafish/metabolism
- Zebrafish/physiology
- PubMed
- 23400899 Full text @ Environ. Toxicol. Chem.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) cause neurobehavioral toxicity, but their effects on visual behavior remain unknown. In the present study, the impact of PBDEs on visual behavior was examined using optokinetic responses and phototaxis in zebrafish larvae. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to DE-71 at concentrations of 0, 0.32, 3.58 and 31.0 μg/L until 15 days post-fertilization. We then assessed photoreceptor opsin expression, retinal histology and visual behavior of the larvae. The results showed that the transcriptions of the opsin genes, zfrho and zfgr1, were significantly upregulated. Western blotting further demonstrated a significant increase in rhodopsin protein expression after exposure of the larvae to DE-71. Histological examination revealed the following morphological alterations in the retina: increased area of inner nuclear layer, decreased area of inner plexiform layer and decreased density of ganglion cells. Tests of optokinetic and phototactic behavior revealed hyperactive responses upon exposure to DE-71, including increased saccadic eye movements, and phototactic response. The present study is the first to demonstrate that the acute exposure of zebrafish larvae to DE-71 causes biochemical and structural changes in the eye that lead to behavioral alterations. Analysis of these visual behavioral paradigms may be useful in predicting the adverse effects of toxicants on visual function in fish.