Oxygen decline in biotesting of environmental samples--is there a need for consideration in the acute zebrafish embryo assay?

In vivo toxicity assessment of Remazol Gelb-GR (RG-GR) textile dye in zebrafish embryos/larvae (Danio rerio): Teratogenic effects, biochemical changes, immunohistochemical changes

Dyes, which are very important for various industries, have very adverse effects on the aquatic environment and aquatic life. However, there are limited studies on the toxic properties of dyes on living things. This research elucidated the sublethal toxicity of acute exposure of the textile dye remazol gelb-GR (RG-GR) using zebrafish embryos and larvae for 96 h. The 96 h-LC₅₀ for RG-GR in zebrafish embryos/larvae was determined to be 151.92 mg/L. Sublethal 96 hpf exposure was performed in RG-GR concentrations (0.5; 1.0; 10.0; 100.0 mg/L) to determine the development of toxicity in zebrafish embryos/larvae. RG-GR dye affected morphological development, and decreased heart rate, hatching, blood flow, and survival rates in zebrafish embryos/larvae. The immunopositivity of 8-hydroxy 2 deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in larvae exposed to RG-GR at high concentrations was found to be intense. Depending on the RG-GR dose increase, some biochemical parameters such as glutathione peroxidase (GSH) level, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, catalase (CAT) activities, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and nuclear factor erythroid 2 (Nrf-2) levels were detected to be decreased in larvae, while malondialdehyde (MDA) content, nuclear factor kappa (NF-kB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), DNA damage (8-OHdG level), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and apoptosis (Caspase-3) levels were found to be increased. The experimental results revealed that RG-GR dye has high acute toxicity on zebrafish embryo/larvae.

A Critical Review of Zebrafish Neurological Disease Models-2. Application: Functional and Neuroanatomical Phenotyping Strategies and Chemical Screens

Extensive phylogenetic conservation of molecular pathways and neuroanatomical structures, associated with efficient methods for genetic modification, have been exploited increasingly to generate zebrafish models of human disease. A range of powerful approaches can be deployed to analyze these models with the ultimate goal of elucidating pathogenic mechanisms and accelerating efforts to find effective treatments. Unbiased neurobehavioral assays can provide readouts that parallel clinical abnormalities found in patients, although some of the most useful assays quantify responses that are not routinely evaluated clinically, and differences between zebrafish and human brains preclude expression of the full range of neurobehavioral abnormalities seen in disease. Imaging approaches that use fluorescent reporters and standardized brain atlases coupled with quantitative measurements of brain structure offer an unbiased means to link experimental manipulations to changes in neural architecture. Together, quantitative structural and functional analyses allow dissection of the cellular and physiological basis underlying neurological phenotypes. These approaches can be used as outputs in chemical modifier screens, which provide a major opportunity to exploit zebrafish models to identify small molecule modulators of pathophysiology that may be informative for understanding disease mechanisms and possible therapeutic approaches.

Comparison Evaluation of the Biological Effects of Sterigmatocystin and Aflatoxin B1 Utilizing SOS-Chromotest and a Novel Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryo Microinjection Method

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent mycotoxin and natural carcinogen. The primary producers of AFB1 are Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. Sterigmatocystin (STC), another mycotoxin, shares its biosynthetic pathway with aflatoxins. While there are abundant data on the biological effects of AFB1, STC is not well characterised. According to published data, AFB1 is more harmful to biological systems than STC. It has been suggested that STC is about one-tenth as potent a mutagen as AFB1 as measured by the Ames test. In this research, the biological effects of S9 rat liver homogenate-activated and non-activated STC and AFB1 were compared using two different biomonitoring systems, SOS-Chromotest and a recently developed microinjection zebrafish embryo method. When comparing the treatments, activated STC caused the highest mortality and number of DNA strand breaks across all injected volumes. Based on the E. coli SOS-Chromotest, the two toxins exerted the same genotoxicities. Moreover, according to the newly developed zebrafish microinjection method, STC appeared more toxic than AFB1. The scarce information correlating AFB1 and STC toxicity suggests that AFB1 is a more potent genotoxin than STC. Our findings contradict this assumption and illustrate the need for more complex biomonitoring systems for mycotoxin risk assessment.

Biological evaluation of microbial toxin degradation by microinjected zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

The use of microinjection of newly fertilized zebrafish eggs as an appropriate tool for qualifying the biodetoxification properties of toxin-degrading microbes was investigated. Ochratoxin A (OTA), bacterial degradation products of OTA and bacterial metabolites of the Cupriavidus basilensis ŐR16 strain were microinjected. Results showed that variations in the injected droplet size, and thus treatment concentrations, stayed within ±20%, moreover embryo mortality did not exceed 10% in controls, that is in accordance with the recommendations of the OECD 236 guideline. The highest lethality was caused by OTA with a significantly higher toxicity than that of bacterial metabolites or OTA degradation products. However, toxicity of the latter two did not differ statistically from each other showing that the observed mortality was due to the intrinsic toxicity of bacterial metabolites (and not OTA degradation products), thus, the strain effectively degrades OTA to nontoxic products. Sublethal symptoms also confirmed this finding. RESULTS: confirmed that microinjection of zebrafish embryos could be a reliable tool for testing the toxin-degrading properties of microbes. The method also allows comparisons among microbial strains able to degrade the same toxin, helping the selection of effective and environmentally safe microbial strains for the biodetoxification of mycotoxins in large scale.

A comprehensive study of the toxicity of natural multi-contaminated sediments: New insights brought by the use of a combined approach using the medaka embryo-larval assay and physico-chemical analyses

Sediment compartment is a long term sink for pollutants and a secondary source of contamination for aquatic species. The abiotic factors controlling the bioavailability and thus the toxicity of complex mixtures of pollutants accumulated in sediments are poorly documented. To highlight the different factors influencing sediment toxicity, we identified and analyzed the physico-chemical properties, micro-pollutant contents, and toxicity level of six contrasted sediments in the Lot-Garonne continuum. Sediment toxicity was evaluated using the recently described Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryo-larval assay with direct exposure to whole sediment (MELAc). Multiple toxicity endpoints including embryotoxicity, developmental defects and DNA damage were analyzed in exposed embryos. Chemical analyses revealed significant variations in the nature and contamination profile of sediments, mainly impacted by metallic trace elements and, unexpectedly, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Exposure to sediments induced different toxic impacts on medaka early life stages when compared with the reference site. Principal component analysis showed that the toxic responses following exposure to sediments from the Lot River and its tributary were associated with micro-pollutant contamination: biometric measurements, hatching success, genotoxicity, craniofacial deformities and yolk sac malabsorption were specifically correlated to metallic and organic contaminants. Conversely, the main biological responses following exposure to the Garonne River sediments were more likely related to their physico-chemical properties than to their contamination level. Time to hatch, cardiovascular injuries and spinal deformities were correlated to organic matter content, fine particles and dissolved oxygen levels. These results emphasize the necessity of combining physico-chemical analysis of sediment with toxicity assessment to accurately evaluate the environmental risks associated with sediment contamination.

Zebrafish embryo tolerance to environmental stress factors-Concentration-dose response analysis of oxygen limitation, pH, and UV-light irradiation

During the last century the increase in the mean global temperatures has been shown to impact on freshwater physicochemical parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, or ultraviolet (UV) light abundance. Changes in these parameters could modify the toxicity of environmental pollutants. Therefore, in the present study, the authors studied the tolerance (survival and sublethal endpoints) of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos to variations in pH (3-12), dissolved oxygen (3.9-237 μmol/L) and UV intensity (55-467 mW/m² ) using selected endpoints. Sublethal endpoint assessment included the quantification of hatching success, developmental delay, reduction of body length, frequency of edema, and morphological abnormalities. Median lethal concentrations (LC50s; 96-h) of 3.68 and 10.21 were determined for acid and alkaline pH, respectively. Embryo survival appeared to be relatively resistant to oxygen depletion with a 96-h LC50 of 0.42 mg/L. However, concentrations of 6 mg/L and below caused edema and developmental retardations. Continuous exposure to UV radiation affected zebrafish development by reducing survival and hatching rate and triggering a series of developmental abnormalities such as pericardial edema and deformities. A 72-h LC50 of 227 mW/m² was derived from intensity-response modeling. By generation of concentration-response parameters the authors' data provide a basis for the subsequent assessment of combined effect of environmental stress parameters and chemicals. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:682-690. © 2016 SETAC.

Weatherfish (Misgurnus fossilis) as a new species for toxicity testing?

Selection of appropriate test species is a critical issue when assessing effects of environmental contamination on fish because the ecological relevance of commonly used test species might be restricted due to their exotic origin. In the present study, a European freshwater fish with frequent occurrence in agricultural areas is suggested as a potential alternative: the European weatherfish (Misgurnus fossilis). Its suitability for acute embryo toxicity tests (FET) was investigated with regard to practical implementation, sensitivity to contaminants and tolerance against environmental conditions of concern. For this purpose, weatherfish embryos were exposed (72h) to the reference substance 3,4-dichloroaniline (DCA) in three independent tests. Furthermore, the effects of dissolved oxygen (DO) deficiency on weatherfish embryos were studied to evaluate their suitability e.g. for sediment bioassays. Obtained results revealed that the sensitivity of weatherfish embryos towards DCA (72 h-EC₅₀=0.52mg/l; 72 h-LC₅₀=0.71mg/l) was highest compared to other species and three times higher than that reported for the commonly used zebrafish (Danio rerio). Even though knowledge of DO requirements during the embryonic period of European fish species is scarce, weatherfish can be stated as one of the most tolerant native species (LC₉₀ for DO=0.53mg/l after 48h exposure plus 72h post-exposure). Its high ecological relevance for Europe, the particular sensitivity towards DCA and high tolerance against DO depletion highlight the potential of weatherfish as additional species for toxicity testing.

Mixture toxicity of water contaminants-effect analysis using the zebrafish embryo assay (Danio rerio)

Three water contaminants were selected to be tested in the zebrafish embryo toxicity test (DarT) in order to investigate the sensitivity of the zebrafish embryo toxicity test with respect to mixture effect detection. The concentration-response curves for the observed effects lethality and hypo-pigmentation were calculated after an exposure of the embryos for 96 h with a fungicide (carbendazim), a plasticizer or propellent precursor (2,4-DNT: 2,4- dinitrotoluene) and an aromatic compound (AαC: 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indol), respectively. Follow-up mixture tests were based on the calculated LC50 or EC50 of the single compounds and combined effects were predicted according to the mixture concepts of concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA). The order of toxicity for the single substances was carbendazim (LC50 = 1.25 μM) < AαC (LC50 = 8.16 μM) < 2,4-DNT (LC50 = 177.05 μM). For AαC and 2,4 DNT hypo-pigmentation was observed in addition (AαC EC50 = 1.81 μM; 2,4-DNT EC50 = 8.81 μM). Two binary and one ternary mixture were studied on lethality and one on hypo-pigmentation: 2,4-DNT/AαC (LC50 = 119.21 μM, EC50 = 5.37 μM), carbendazim/AαC (LC50 = 4.49 μM) and AαC/Carbendazim/2,4 DNT (LC50 = 108.62 μM). Results showed that the effects were in agreement with the CA model when substances were tested in mixtures. Therefore, in a reasonable worst case scenario substance combination effects in fish embryos were at maximum only prone to overestimation when using CA as the mixture concept.

Antioxidant Rescue of Selenomethionine-Induced Teratogenesis in Zebrafish Embryos

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient that can be found at toxic concentrations in surface waters contaminated by runoff from agriculture and coal mining. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were exposed to aqueous Se in the form of selenate, selenite, and l-selenomethionine (SeMet) in an attempt to determine if oxidative stress plays a role in selenium embryo toxicity. Selenate and selenite exposure did not induce embryo deformities (lordosis and craniofacial malformation). l-selenomethionine, however, induced significantly higher deformity rates at 100 µg/L compared with controls. SeMet exposure induced a dose-dependent increase in the catalytic subunit of glutamate-cysteine ligase (gclc) and reached an 11.7-fold increase at 100 µg/L. SeMet exposure also reduced concentrations of TGSH, RGSH, and the TGSH:GSSG ratio. Pretreatment with 100 µM N-acetylcysteine significantly reduced deformities in the zebrafish embryos secondarily treated with 400 µg/L SeMet from approximately 50–10 % as well as rescued all three of the significant glutathione level differences seen with SeMet alone. Selenite exposure induced a 6.6-fold increase in expression of the glutathione-S-transferase pi class 2 (gstp2) gene, which is involved in xenobiotic transformation and possibly oxidative stress. These results suggest that aqueous exposure to SeMet can induce significant embryonic teratogenesis in zebrafish that are at least partially attributed to oxidative stress.

Bioaccumulation and molecular effects of sediment-bound metals in zebrafish embryos

Predicting the bioavailability and effects of metals in sediments is of major concern in context with sediment risk assessment. This study aimed to investigate the bioavailability and molecular effects of metals spiked into riverine sediments to zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Embryos were exposed to a natural and an artificial sediment spiked with cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) individually or as a mixture at concentrations ranging from 150 to 3000 mg/kg dry weight (dw) over 48 h, and uptake of metals was determined. Furthermore, transcript abundances of the metallothioneins MT1 and MT2, the metal-responsive element-binding transcription factor (MTF) and the genes sod1, hsp70 and hsp90α1 were measured as indicators of metal-induced or general cellular stress. D. rerio embryos accumulated metals from sediments at concentrations up to 100 times greater than those spiked to the sediment with the greatest bioaccumulation factor (BAF) for Cu from artificial sediment (275.4 ± 41.9 (SD)). Embryos accumulated greater concentrations of all metals from artificial than from natural sediment, and accumulation was greater when embryos were exposed to individual metals than when they were exposed to the mixture. Exposure of embryos to Zn or the mixture exhibited up to 30-fold greater transcript abundances of MT1, MT2 and hsp70 compared to controls which is related to significant uptake of Zn from the sediment. Further changes in transcript abundances could not be related to a significant uptake of metals from sediments. These studies reveal that metals from spiked sediments are bioavailable to D. rerio embryos directly exposed to sediments and that the induction of specific genes can be used as biomarkers for the exposure of early life stages of zebrafish to metal-contaminated sediments.

Endocrine, teratogenic and neurotoxic effects of cyanobacteria detected by cellular in vitro and zebrafish embryos assays

Cyanobacteria contain various types of bioactive compounds, which could cause adverse effects on organisms. They are released into surface waters during cyanobacterial blooms, but there is little information on their potential relevance for effects in vivo. In this study presence of bioactive compounds was characterized in cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa (Chroococcales), Planktothrix agardhii (Oscillatoriales) and Aphanizomenon gracile (Nostocales) with selected in vitro assays. The in vivo relevance of detected bioactivities was analysed using transgenic zebrafish embryos tg(cyp19a1b-GFP). Teratogenic potency was assessed by analysis of developmental disorders and effects on functions of the neuromuscular system by video tracking of locomotion. Estrogenicity in vitro corresponded to 0.95-54.6 ng estradiol equivalent(g dry weight (dw))(-1). In zebrafish embryos, estrogenic effects could not be detected potentially because they were masked by high toxicity. There was no detectable (anti)androgenic/glucocorticoid activity in any sample. Retinoid-like activity was determined at 1-1.3 μg all-trans-retinoic acid equivalent(g dw)(-1). Corresponding to the retinoid-like activity A. gracile extract also caused teratogenic effects in zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, exposure to biomass extracts at 0.3 gd wL(-1) caused increase of body length in embryos. There were minor effects on locomotion caused by 0.3 gd wL(-1)M. aeruginosa and P. agardhii extracts. The traditionally measured cyanotoxins microcystins did not seem to play significant role in observed effects. This indicates importance of other cyanobacterial compounds at least towards some species or their developmental phases. More attention should be paid to activity of retinoids, estrogens and other bioactive substances in phytoplankton using in vitro and in vivo bioassays.

Effects of multi-well plate incubation on embryo-larval development in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)

Fathead minnow embryos and larvae are frequently used in toxicology, including short-term embryo-only tests which often use small volumes of test solution. The effect that such conditions may have on fathead minnow development has yet to be explicitly described. Here we compared rates of embryonic development in fathead minnow embryos reared under standard light and temperature conditions with a range of possible methods. All methods yielded excellent control survival. We demonstrated that fathead minnow embryos incubated in a range of small volumes in multi-well plates (500 μL to 2 mL per embryo) did not substantially vary in developmental rate, but flexed less frequently as embryos, hatched smaller, later and with larger yolk-sacs, and initiated feeding later than embryos reared in an excess of solution (20 mL per embryo) with or without supplemental aeration. Faster hatch and growth were promoted with an orbital shaker, but growth benefits were not sustained into the larval stage. Developmental differences persisted in larvae reared to 20 days post-fertilization when monitoring ceased, but growth differences did not magnify and in some measurements partially resolved. To our knowledge we are the first to report effects of incubation in multi-well plates in any fish taxa. As our data revealed that the eleutheroembryonic stage for fathead minnow may be prolonged in multi-well plates, this may allow the use of longer toxicity tests using fathead minnow embryos without conflicting with existing animal welfare legislation in many countries.

PAH toxicity at aqueous solubility in the fish embryo test with Danio rerio using passive dosing

As part of the risk assessment process within REACh, prior to manufacturing and distribution of chemical substances their (eco)toxicological impacts have to be investigated. The fish embryo toxicity test (FET) with the zebrafish Danio rerio has gained a high significance as an in vitro alternative to animal testing in (eco)toxicology. However, for hydrophobic organic chemicals it remains a technical challenge to ensure constant freely dissolved concentration at the maximum exposure level during such biotests. Passive dosing with PDMS silicone was thus applied to control the freely dissolved concentration of ten PAHs at their saturation level in the FET. The experiments gave repeatable results, with the toxicity of the PAHs generally increasing with the maximum chemical activities of the PAHs. HPLC analysis confirmed constant exposure at the saturation level. In additional experiments, fish embryos without direct contact to the silicone surface showed similar mortalities as those exposed with direct contact to the silicone. Silicone oil overlaying the water phase as a novel passive dosing phase had no observable effects on the development of the fish embryos until hatching. This study provides further data to support the close relationship between the chemical activity and the toxicity of hydrophobic organic compounds. Passive dosing from PDMS silicone enabled reliable toxicity testing of (highly) hydrophobic substances at aqueous solubility, providing a practical way to control toxicity exactly at the maximum exposure level. This approach is therefore expected to be useful as a cost-effective initial screening of hydrophobic chemicals for potential adverse effects to freshwater vertebrates.

OpenSource lab-on-a-chip physiometer for accelerated zebrafish embryo biotests

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo assays have recently come into the spotlight as convenient experimental models in both biomedicine and ecotoxicology. As a small aquatic model organism, zebrafish embryo assays allow for rapid physiological, embryo-, and genotoxic tests of drugs and environmental toxins that can be simply dissolved in water. This protocol describes prototyping and application of an innovative, miniaturized, and polymeric chip-based device capable of immobilizing a large number of living fish embryos for real-time and/or time-lapse microscopic examination. The device provides a physical address designation to each embryo during analysis, continuous perfusion of medium, and post-analysis specimen recovery. Miniaturized embryo array is a new concept of immobilization and real-time drug perfusion of multiple individual and developing zebrafish embryos inside the mesofluidic device. The OpenSource device presented in this protocol is particularly suitable to perform accelerated fish embryo biotests in ecotoxicology and phenotype-based pharmaceutical screening.

The toxicity of silver nanoparticles to zebrafish embryos increases through sewage treatment processes

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely believed to be retained in the sewage sludge during sewage treatment. The AgNPs and their derivatives, however, re-enter the environment with the sludge and via the effluent. AgNP were shown to occur in surface water, while evidence of a potential toxicity of AgNPs in aquatic organisms is growing. This study aims to examine the toxicity of AgNPs to the embryos of the aquatic vertebrate model zebrafish (Danio rerio) before and after sewage treatment plants (STPs) processes. Embryos were treated with AgNP (particle size: >90 % <20 nm) and AgNO3 in ISO water for 48 h and consequently displayed effects such as delayed development, tail malformations and edema. For AgNP, the embryos were smaller than the controls with conspicuously smaller yolk sacs. The corresponding EC50 values of 48 hours post fertilization (hpf) were determined as 73 μg/l for AgNO3 and 1.1 mg/l for AgNP. Whole-mount immunostainings of primary and secondary motor neurons also revealed secondary neurotoxic effects. A TEM analysis confirmed uptake of the AgNPs, and the distribution within the embryo suggested absorption across the skin. Embryos were also exposed (for 48 h) to effluents of AgNP-spiked model STP with AgNP influent concentrations of 4 and 16 mg/l. These embryos exhibited the same malformations than for AgNO3 and AgNPs, but the embryo toxicity of the sewage treatment effluent was higher (EC50 = 142 μg/l; 48 hpf). On the other hand, control STP effluent spiked with AgNPs afterwards was less toxic (EC50 = 2.9 mg/l; 48 hpf) than AgNPs in ISO water. This observation of an increased fish embryo toxicity of STP effluents with increasing AgNP influent concentrations identifies the accumulation of AgNP in the STP as a potential source of effluent toxicity.

Maximum entropy estimation of a Benzene contaminated plume using ecotoxicological assays

Ecotoxicological bioassays, e.g. based on Danio rerio teratogenicity (DarT) or the acute luminescence inhibition with Vibrio fischeri, could potentially lead to significant benefits for detecting on site contaminations on qualitative or semi-quantitative bases. The aim was to use the observed effects of two ecotoxicological assays for estimating the extent of a Benzene groundwater contamination plume. We used a Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) method to rebuild a bivariate probability table that links the observed toxicity from the bioassays with Benzene concentrations. Compared with direct mapping of the contamination plume as obtained from groundwater samples, the MaxEnt concentration map exhibits on average slightly higher concentrations though the global pattern is close to it. This suggest MaxEnt is a valuable method to build a relationship between quantitative data, e.g. contaminant concentrations, and more qualitative or indirect measurements, in a spatial mapping framework, which is especially useful when clear quantitative relation is not at hand.

Oxygen requirements of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos in embryo toxicity tests with environmental samples

The zebrafish embryo test is a widely used bioassay for the testing of chemicals, effluents and other types of environmental samples. Oxygen depletion in the testing of sediments and effluents is especially important and may be a confounding factor in the interpretation of apparent toxicity. In order to identify oxygen levels critical to early developmental stages of zebrafish, oxygen consumption of zebrafish embryos between 0 and 96h post-fertilization, minimum oxygen levels required by the embryos for survival as well as the effects of oxygen depletion following exposure to model sediments were determined. No significant effects on zebrafish embryo development were observed for oxygen concentrations between 7.15 and 3.33mg/L, whereas at concentrations between 3.0and 2.0mg/L minor developmental retardations were observed, yet without any pathological consequences. Oxygen concentrations lower than 0.88mg/L were 100% lethal. In the sediment contact tests with zebrafish embryos, native sediments rich in organic materials rapidly developed strongly hypoxic conditions, particularly at the sediment-water interface (0 to 500μm distance to the sediment).

Toxicity assessment of sediments from three European river basins using a sediment contact test battery

The toxicity of four polluted sediments and their corresponding reference sediments from three European river basins were investigated using a battery of six sediment contact tests representing three different trophic levels. The tests included were chronic tests with the oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum, a sub-chronic test with the midge Chironomus riparius, an early life stage test with the zebra fish Danio rerio, and an acute test with the luminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri. The endpoints, namely survival, growth, reproduction, embryo development and light inhibition, differed between tests. The measured effects were compared to sediment contamination translated into toxic units (TU) on the basis of acute toxicity to Daphnia magna and Pimephales promelas, and multi-substance Potentially Affected Fractions of species (msPAF) as an estimate for expected community effects. The test battery could clearly detect toxicity of the polluted sediments with test-specific responses to the different sediments. The msPAF and TU-based toxicity estimations confirmed the results of the biotests by predicting a higher toxic risk for the polluted sediments compared to the corresponding reference sediments, but partly having a different emphasis from the biotests. The results demonstrate differences in the sensitivities of species and emphasize the need for data on multiple species, when estimating the effects of sediment pollution on the benthic community.

Assessment of sediment quality of Yangtze River estuary using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

Yangtze River estuary is one of the largest estuaries worldwide. In this study, the sediment quality of Yangtze River estuary was evaluated using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Freshly fertilized zebrafish eggs (2 h after fertilization) were exposed to the whole sediment and its organic phase of extract, respectively. The parameters, including survival rate, abnormality, hatching rate, and heart rate of the zebrafish embryos, were recorded during the 96-h exposure. The results demonstrated that the concentrations of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Cr, and As) and low-molecular weight PAHs (Fluorene) in the sediment of Yangtze River estuary exceeded their corresponding effects range low values. The maximum concentrations of Zn and Fluorene in the sediment samples were 239.6 microg/g and 45.9 ng/g, respectively. In both whole sediment test and organic extract test, the survival rate and heart rate of zebrafish embryos were reduced, as well as abnormalities and delayed hatching were induced. For example, the highest mortality of the embryos was 39% in the whole sediment exposure. Overall, the occurrence of toxic compounds in the sediment of Yangtze River estuary may have potentially teratogenic effect on biota. The sediment from the upstream of Yangtze River estuary have more observed toxic effects on zebrafish embryos than that form the downstream. Therefore, more attention should be paid to control these pollutants, especially heavy metals in the Yangtze River estuary.

The neurogenetic frontier--lessons from misbehaving zebrafish

One of the central questions in neuroscience is how refined patterns of connectivity in the brain generate and monitor behavior. Genetic mutations can influence neural circuits by disrupting differentiation or maintenance of component neuronal cells or by altering functional patterns of nervous system connectivity. Mutagenesis screens therefore have the potential to reveal not only the molecular underpinnings of brain development and function, but to illuminate the cellular basis of behavior. Practical considerations make the zebrafish an organism of choice for undertaking forward genetic analysis of behavior. The powerful array of experimental tools at the disposal of the zebrafish researcher makes it possible to link molecular function to neuronal properties that underlie behavior. This review focuses on specific challenges to isolating and analyzing behavioral mutants in zebrafish.