PUBLICATION
Prednisolone Accelerates Embryonic Development of Zebrafish via Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling at Low Concentrations
- Authors
- Wang, C., Li, M., Gui, W., Shi, H., Wang, P., Chen, J., Fent, K., Zhang, K., Dai, J., Li, X., Zhao, Y.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-231010-54
- Date
- 2023
- Source
- Environmental science & technology 57(42): 15794-15805 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Li, Xi
- Keywords
- acceleration, embryonic development, glucocorticoids, glucocorticoids receptor signaling, low concentration, prednisolone, zebrafish
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Ecosystem
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism
- Embryonic Development
- Glucocorticoids*/metabolism
- Glucocorticoids*/pharmacology
- Prednisolone*/metabolism
- Prednisolone*/toxicity
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/metabolism
- Zebrafish/genetics
- PubMed
- 37812749 Full text @ Env. Sci. Tech.
Citation
Wang, C., Li, M., Gui, W., Shi, H., Wang, P., Chen, J., Fent, K., Zhang, K., Dai, J., Li, X., Zhao, Y. (2023) Prednisolone Accelerates Embryonic Development of Zebrafish via Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling at Low Concentrations. Environmental science & technology. 57(42):15794-15805.
Abstract
Synthetic glucocorticoids have been widely detected in aquatic ecosystems and may pose a toxicological risk to fish. In the present study, we described multiple end point responses of zebrafish to a commonly prescribed glucocorticoid, prednisolone (PREL), at concentrations between 0.001 and 9.26 μg/L. Of 23 end points monitored, 7 were affected significantly. Significant increases in the frequency of yolk extension formation, spontaneous contraction, heart rate, and ocular melanin density and significant decreases of ear-eye distance at PREL concentrations of 0.001 μg/L and above clearly pointed to the acceleration of embryonic development of zebrafish by PREL. Further confirmation came from the alterations in somite numbers, head-trunk angle, and yolk sac size, as well as outcomes obtained via RNA sequencing, in which signaling pathways involved in tissue/organ growth and development were highly enriched in embryos upon PREL exposure. In addition, the crucial role of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) for PREL-induced effects was confirmed by both, the coexposure to antagonist mifepristone (RU486) and GR-/- mutant zebrafish experiments. We further demonstrated similar accelerations of embryonic development of zebrafish upon exposure to 11 additional glucocorticoids, indicating generic adverse effect characteristics. Overall, our results revealed developmental alterations of PREL in fish embryos at low concentrations and thus provided novel insights into the understanding of the potential environmental risks of glucocorticoids.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping