PUBLICATION

Sub-lethal Camphor Exposure Triggers Oxidative Stress, Cardiotoxicity, and Cardiac Physiology Alterations in Zebrafish Embryos

Authors
Du, Z.C., Xia, Z.S., Zhang, M.Z., Wei, Y.T., Malhotra, N., Saputra, F., Audira, G., Roldan, M.J.M., Hsiao, C.D., Hao, E.W., Hou, X.T., Deng, J.G.
ID
ZDB-PUB-210803-13
Date
2021
Source
Cardiovascular Toxicology   21(11): 901-913 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Hsiao, Chung-Der
Keywords
Camphor, Cardiac system, Developmental toxicity, Oxidative stress, Zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Apoptosis/drug effects*
  • Camphor/toxicity*
  • Cardiotoxicity
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/drug effects*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Heart/drug effects*
  • Heart/embryology
  • Heart/physiopathology
  • Malondialdehyde/metabolism
  • Morphogenesis
  • Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac/pathology
  • Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism
  • Zebrafish/embryology
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish/metabolism*
PubMed
34339023 Full text @ Cardiovasc. Toxicol.
Abstract
Camphor is a terpene ketone with aromatic and volatile properties in nature derived from the bark of Cinnamomum camphora or synthesized from turpentine. Camphor exhibits various biological properties such as anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-coccidial, and anti-cancer. It is also used as a form of topical medication for skin irritation, joint pain, and as a relief for itching from insect bites. However, even though the high dose of camphor has been documented to be toxic/lethal in humans in different studies, camphor's developmental toxicity has not yet been explored, and its extensive mechanism of action is still unclear. In the present study, we aimed to assess the toxic effects of camphor in zebrafish embryos in the initial developmental stages. The obtained results demonstrated that a sub-lethal dose of camphor caused a decrease in hatching rate, body length, and substantial elevation in malformation rate on zebrafish embryos. On further observation, in the following time frame, curved body and pericardial edema of zebrafish were also observed. Furthermore, exposure to a sub-lethal dose of camphor was also able to trigger cardiotoxicity in zebrafish larvae. Later, on subsequent biochemical analysis, it was found that the antioxidant capacity inhibition and oxidative stress elevation that occurred after camphor exposure might be associated with the inhibition of total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. In addition, compared to the control group, several apoptotic cells in treated zebrafish were also found to be elevated. Finally, after further investigation on marker gene expressions, we conclude that the developmental toxicity of camphor exposure might be associated with apoptosis elevation and oxidative stress. Taken together, the current study provides a better understanding of the developmental toxicity of camphor on zebrafish, a promising alternative animal model to assess the developmental toxicity of chemical compounds.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping