PUBLICATION

Aggravated visual toxicity in zebrafish larvae upon co-exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles and bis(2-ethylhexyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrabromophthalate

Authors
Zhou, Y., Lei, L., Zhu, B., Li, R., Zuo, Y., Guo, Y., Han, J., Yang, L., Zhou, B.
ID
ZDB-PUB-240225-7
Date
2024
Source
The Science of the total environment   921: 171133171133 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Zhou, BingSheng
Keywords
Molecular dynamics, TBPH, Titanium dioxide nanoparticles, Visual toxicity, Zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Larva/metabolism
  • Nanoparticles*/toxicity
  • Titanium/metabolism
  • Titanium/toxicity
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical*/metabolism
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical*/toxicity
  • Zebrafish/physiology
PubMed
38395162 Full text @ Sci. Total Environ.
Abstract
The bioavailability and toxicity of organic pollutants in aquatic organisms can be largely affected by the co-existed nanoparticles. However, the impacts of such combined exposure on the visual system remain largely unknown. Here, we systematically investigated the visual toxicity in zebrafish larvae after single or joint exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles (n-TiO2) and bis(2-ethylhexyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrabromophthalate (TBPH) at environmentally relevant levels. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed the enhanced transmembrane capability of the complex than the individual, which accounted for the increased bioavailability of both TBPH and n-TiO2 when combined exposure to zebrafish. Transcriptome analysis showed that co-exposure to n-TiO2 and TBPH interfered with molecular pathways related to eye lens structure and sensory perception of zebrafish. Particularly, n-TiO2 or TBPH significantly suppressed the expression of βB1-crystallin and rhodopsin in zebrafish retina and lens, which was further enhanced after co-exposure. Moreover, we detected disorganized retinal histology, stunted lens development and significant visual behavioral changes of zebrafish under co-exposure condition. The overall results suggest that combined exposure to water borne n-TiO2 and TBPH increased their bioavailability, resulted in severer damage to optic nerve development and ultimately abnormal visual behavior patterns, highlighting the higher potential health risks of co-exposure to aquatic vertebrates.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping