Embryonic exposures to cadmium and PAHs cause long-term and interacting neurobehavioral effects in zebrafish.

Stickler, Alexandra

Hawkey, Andrew B

Gondal, Anas

Natarajan, Sarabesh

Mead, Mikayla

Levin, Edward D

2024-05-01T13:31:04Z

2024-05-01T13:31:04Z

2024-03

Developmental exposure to either polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or heavy metals has been shown to cause persisting and overlapping neurobehavioral effects in animal models. However, interactions between these compounds have not been well characterized, despite their co-occurrence in a variety of environmental media. In two companion studies, we examined the effects of developmental exposure to cadmium (Cd) with or without co-exposure to prototypic PAHs benzo[a]pyrene (BaP, Exp. 1) or fluoranthene (FA, Exp. 2) using a developing zebrafish model. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to Cd (0-0.3 μM), BaP (0-3 μM), FA (0-1.0 μM), or binary Cd-PAH mixtures from 5 to 122 h post fertilization (hpf). In Exp. 1, Cd and BaP produced independent effects on an array of outcomes and interacting effects on specific outcomes. Notably, Cd-induced deficits in dark-induced locomotor stimulation were attenuated by BaP co-exposure in the larval motility test and BaP-induced hyperactivity was attenuated by Cd co-exposure in the adolescent novel tank test. Likewise, in Exp. 2, Cd and FA produced both independent and interacting effects. FA-induced increases on adult post-tap activity in the tap startle test were attenuated by co-exposure with Cd. On the predator avoidance test, FA- and 0.3 μM Cd-induced hyperactivity effects were attenuated by their co-exposure. Taken together, these data indicate that while the effects of Cd and these representative PAHs on zebrafish behavior were largely independent of one another, binary mixtures can produce sub-additive effects for some neurobehavioral outcomes and at certain ages. This research emphasizes the need for detailed risk assessments of mixtures containing contaminants of differing classes, and for clarity on the mechanisms which allow cross-class toxicant interactions to occur.

S0892-0362(24)00021-7

0892-0362

1872-9738

https://hdl.handle.net/10161/30652

eng

Elsevier BV

Neurotoxicology and teratology

10.1016/j.ntt.2024.107339

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0

Animals

Zebrafish

Cadmium

Benzo(a)pyrene

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Embryonic exposures to cadmium and PAHs cause long-term and interacting neurobehavioral effects in zebrafish.

Journal article

Levin, Edward D|0000-0001-7292-8084|0000-0002-5060-9602

107339

Duke

Nicholas School of the Environment

School of Medicine

Trinity College of Arts & Sciences

Basic Science Departments

Clinical Science Departments

Institutes and Centers

Pharmacology & Cancer Biology

Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Duke Cancer Institute

Psychology & Neuroscience

Environmental Sciences and Policy

University Initiatives & Academic Support Units

University Institutes and Centers

Duke Institute for Brain Sciences

Initiatives

Duke Science & Society

Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences

Published

102