PUBLICATION
Exposure to the persistent organic pollutant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, dioxin) disrupts development of the zebrafish inner ear
- Authors
- Cintrón-Rivera, L.G., Oulette, G., Prakki, A., Burns, N.M., Patel, R., Cyr, R., Plavicki, J.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-230423-54
- Date
- 2023
- Source
- Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands) 259: 106539106539 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Cintrón-Rivera, Layra, Plavicki, Jessica
- Keywords
- Dioxin, Ear, Otic vesicle, Semicircular canal, TCDD, Zebrafish
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Dioxins*/metabolism
- Ear, Inner*/metabolism
- Persistent Organic Pollutants/metabolism
- Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins*/toxicity
- Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/genetics
- Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/metabolism
- Water Pollutants, Chemical*/toxicity
- Zebrafish/genetics
- Zebrafish/metabolism
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
- Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
- PubMed
- 37086653 Full text @ Aquat. Toxicol.
Citation
Cintrón-Rivera, L.G., Oulette, G., Prakki, A., Burns, N.M., Patel, R., Cyr, R., Plavicki, J. (2023) Exposure to the persistent organic pollutant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, dioxin) disrupts development of the zebrafish inner ear. Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands). 259:106539106539.
Abstract
Dioxins are a class of highly toxic and persistent environmental pollutants that have been shown through epidemiological and laboratory-based studies to act as developmental teratogens. 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the most potent dioxin congener, has a high affinity for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand activated transcription factor. TCDD-induced AHR activation during development impairs nervous system, cardiac, and craniofacial development. Despite the robust phenotypes previously reported, the characterization of developmental malformations and our understanding of the molecular targets mediating TCDD-induced developmental toxicity remains limited. In zebrafish, TCDD-induced craniofacial malformations are produced, in part, by the downregulation of SRY-box transcription factor 9b (sox9b), a member of the SoxE gene family. sox9b, along with fellow SoxE gene family members sox9a and sox10, have important functions in the development of the otic placode, the otic vesicle, and, ultimately, the inner ear. Given that sox9b in a known target of TCDD and that transcriptional interactions exist among SoxE genes, we asked whether TCDD exposure impaired the development of the zebrafish auditory system, specifically the otic vesicle, which gives rise to the sensory components of the inner ear. Using immunohistochemistry, in vivo confocal imaging, and time-lapse microscopy, we assessed the impact of TCDD exposure on zebrafish otic vesicle development. We found exposure resulted in structural deficits, including incomplete pillar fusion and altered pillar topography, leading to defective semicircular canal development. The observed structural deficits were accompanied by reduced collagen type II expression in the ear. Together, our findings reveal the otic vesicle as a novel target of TCDD-induced toxicity, suggest that the function of multiple SoxE genes may be affected by TCDD exposure, and provide insight into how environmental contaminants contribute to congenital malformations.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping