PUBLICATION

Effects of 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) on neuronal and muscular development in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

Authors
Li, V.W., Tsui, M.P., Chen, X., Hui, M.N., Jin, L., Lam, R.H., Yu, R.M., Murphy, M.B., Cheng, J., Lam, P.K., Cheng, S.H.
ID
ZDB-PUB-160219-10
Date
2016
Source
Environmental science and pollution research international   23(9): 8275-85 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Cheng, Shuk Han
Keywords
4-Methylbenzylidene camphor, Acetylcholinesterase, Neuron, Somite, Toxicity, Zebrafish embryos
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Camphor/analogs & derivatives*
  • Camphor/toxicity
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/drug effects*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/physiology
  • Humans
  • Muscle Development/drug effects*
  • Nervous System/drug effects*
  • Nervous System/growth & development
  • Sunscreening Agents/toxicity*
  • Ultraviolet Rays
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
PubMed
26888529 Full text @ Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. Int.
Abstract
The negative effects of overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in humans, including sunburn and light-induced cellular injury, are of increasing public concern. 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC), an organic chemical UV filter, is an active ingredient in sunscreen products. To date, little information is available about its neurotoxicity during early vertebrate development. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to various concentrations of 4-MBC in embryo medium for 3 days. In this study, a high concentration of 4-MBC, which is not being expected at the current environmental concentrations in the environment, was used for the purpose of phenotypic screening. Embryos exposed to 15 μM of 4-MBC displayed abnormal axial curvature and exhibited impaired motility. Exposure effects were found to be greatest during the segmentation period, when somite formation and innervation occur. Immunostaining of the muscle and axon markers F59, znp1, and zn5 revealed that 4-MBC exposure leads to a disorganized pattern of slow muscle fibers and axon pathfinding errors during the innervation of both primary and secondary motor neurons. Our results also showed reduction in AChE activity upon 4-MBC exposure both in vivo in the embryos (15 μM) and in vitro in mammalian Neuro-2A cells (0.1 μM), providing a possible mechanism for 4-MBC-induced muscular and neuronal defects. Taken together, our results have shown that 4-MBC is a teratogen and influences muscular and neuronal development, which may result in developmental defects.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping