Zebrafish Models for Human Acute Organophosphorus Poisoning

Multi-behavioral fingerprints can identify potential modes of action for neuroactive environmental chemicals

There is a lack of confidence in the relevance of zebrafish-based behavior data for chemical risk assessment. We extended an automated Visual and Acoustic Motor Response (VAMR) new approach method (NAM) in 5-day post-fertilization (dpf) zebrafish to include 26, behavior-based endpoints that measure visual-motor responses, visual and acoustic startle responses, habituation learning, and memory retention. A correlation analysis from 5,159 control larvae revealed that more complex endpoints for learning- and memory-related behavior yielded unique behavior patterns. To build confidence in the VAMR NAM, we established neuroactivity fingerprints using concentration-response profiles derived from 63 reference chemicals targeting neurotransmission, neurodevelopmental signaling, or toxicologically-relevant pathways. Hierarchical clustering revealed diverse toxicity fingerprints. Compounds that targeted the N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) or gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors reduced habituation learning. Pathway modulators targeting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARδ) or gamma (PPARγ), GABAA, dopamine, ryanodine, aryl hydrocarbon (AhR), or G-protein-coupled receptors or the tyrosine kinase SRC inappropriately accelerated habituation learning. Reference chemicals targeting GABAA, NMDA, dopamine, PPARα, PPARδ, epidermal growth factor, bone morphogenetic protein, AhR, retinoid X, or α2-adreno receptors triggered inappropriate hyperactivity. Exposure to GABAA receptor antagonists elicited paradoxical excitation characterized by dark-phase sedation and increased startle responses while exposure to GABAA/B receptor agonists altered the same endpoints with opposite directionality. Relative to reference chemicals, environmental chemicals known to be GABA receptor antagonists (Lindane, Dieldrine) or agonists (Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)) elicited predicted behavior fingerprints. When paired with the phenotypically rich VAMR NAM, behavior fingerprints are a powerful approach to identify neuroactive chemicals.

Hepatotoxicity, developmental toxicity, and neurotoxicity risks associated with co-exposure of zebrafish to fluoroquinolone antibiotics and tire microplastics: An in silico study

This study aimed to investigate the differences in the mechanisms of microscopic hepatotoxicity, developmental toxicity, and neurotoxicity in aquatic organisms co-exposed to styrene-butadiene rubber tire microplastics (SBR TMPs) and fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs). We found that hepatotoxicity in zebrafish induced by SBR TMPs and FQs was significantly higher than developmental toxicity and neurotoxicity. Furthermore, the main effects of the FQs primarily manifested as synergistic toxicity, whereas the low- and high-order interactions of the FQs mainly exhibited synergistic and antagonistic effects, respectively. Factorial analysis and the mixture toxicity index revealed that the synergistic effects of lomefloxacin × moxifloxacin and ciprofloxacin × lomefloxacin × enrofloxacin interactions significantly contributed to hepatotoxicity in zebrafish exposed to SBR TMP. SBR TMPs and antibiotics primarily induced hepatotoxicity, developmental toxicity, and neurotoxicity in zebrafish by affecting the activities of Cyp1a, Acox1, TRα, and mAChR. The observed toxicities were closely linked to the hydrophilic/hydrophobic groups, electronegativity, group mass, and structural complexity of the FQ molecules. This study provides new insights regarding the toxicological risks to aquatic organisms from co-exposure to SBR TMPs and FQs from a microscopic perspective. Future studies should include a broader range of antibiotics and tire microplastics and consider their long-term adverse effects on aquatic life.

Analyzing the neurotoxic effects of anatoxin-a and saxitoxin in zebrafish larvae

Global warming due to climate change, as well as freshwater eutrophication caused by anthropogenic activities are responsible, among other factors, for an increasing occurrence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in aquatic systems. These can lead to the generation of cyanotoxins, secondary metabolites coming from cyanobacteria, producing adverse effects in living organisms including death. This research aims to study the effects that two neurotoxins, anatoxin-a (ATX-a) and saxitoxin (STX), have on living organisms. Once the stability of both compounds in water was determined for a 24 h period using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS), zebrafish larvae were exposed to different levels of toxins (1 ng L-1, 10 ng L-1, 100 ng L-1 and 1 μg L-1) during 24 h. Behavioral studies including vibrational startle response (VSR), habituation to vibrational stimuli, basal locomotor activity (BLM) and visual motor response (VMR) were performed using Danio Vision system, and neurotransmitters (NTs) from 15-head pools of control and exposed zebrafish larvae were extracted and analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS. Both compounds induced hypolocomotion in the individuals, while 10 and 100 ng L-1 of ATX-a significantly increased methionine (120 % and 126 %, respectively) and glutamate levels (118 % and 129 %, respectively). Saxitoxin enhanced 3-metoxytyramine (3-MT) levels at 1 ng L-1 by 185 %. The findings of this study show that both studied cyanotoxins influence the behavior of zebrafish larvae as well as their metabolism.

Application of machine learning in the study of development, behavior, nerve, and genotoxicity of zebrafish

Machine learning (ML) as a novel model-based approach has been used in studying aquatic toxicology in the environmental field. Zebrafish, as an ideal model organism in aquatic toxicology research, has been widely used to study the toxic effects of various pollutants. However, toxicity testing on organisms may cause significant harm, consume considerable time and resources, and raise ethical concerns. Therefore, ML is used in related research to reduce animal experiments and assist researchers in conducting toxicological research. Although ML techniques have matured in various fields, research on ML-based aquatic toxicology is still in its infancy due to the lack of comprehensive large-scale toxicity databases for environmental pollutants and model organisms. Therefore, to better understand the recent research progress of ML in studying the development, behavior, nerve, and genotoxicity of zebrafish, this review mainly focuses on using ML modeling to assess and predict the toxic effects of zebrafish exposure to different toxic chemicals. Meanwhile, the opportunities and challenges faced by ML in the field of toxicology were analyzed. Finally, suggestions and perspectives were proposed for the toxicity studies of ML on zebrafish in future applications.

Effects of baicalin pre-treatment on pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures: Insights from zebrafish larvae locomotor behavior and neuronal calcium imaging

Natural compounds are increasingly being studied for their potential neuroprotective effects against inflammatory neurological diseases. Epilepsy is a common neurological disease associated with inflammatory processes, and around 30% of people with epilepsy do not respond to traditional treatments. Some flavonoids, when taken along with antiseizure medications can help reduce the likelihood of drug-resistant epilepsy. Baicalin, a plant-based compound, has been shown to possess pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anticonvulsant, and antioxidant activities. In this study, we tested the effect of baicalin on an established model of pharmacologically induced seizure in zebrafish using measures of both locomotor behavior and calcium imaging of neuronal activity. The results of our study showed that, at the tested concentration, and contrary to other studies in rodents, baicalin did not have an anti-seizure effect in zebrafish larvae. However, given its known properties, other concentrations and approaches should be explored to determine if it could potentially have other beneficial effects, either alone or when administered in combination with classic antiseizure medications.

Assessing organophosphate insecticide retention in muscle tissues of juvenile common carp fish under acute toxicity tests

Organophosphate insecticide spray poses potential threat of contamination of environmental components their accumulation in aquatic organisms. Although various physiological deficits associated with their exposure in fishes are documented, yet their retention in their edible muscle tissues has been poorly studied. In this context, the study was undertaken to ascertain the bioaccumulation of two organophosphate insecticide compounds (dimethoate and chlorpyrifos) in the muscles of juvenile Cyprinus carpio. The study could provide insight into the risks to human health associated with consuming contaminated fish flesh. The fishes exposed to various concentrations of dimethoate and chlorpyrifos in-vivo for 96 to ascertain the uptake and retention of these insecticides in the muscle. Results indicated that fish muscles accumulated the residues at all the concentrations with the recovery of 2.99% (0.032 ppm) of dimethoate exposed to LC50 concentrations. In contrast, the chlorpyrifos residues were found Below the Detection Level (BDL) in the fishes exposed to LC50 concentrations. The percentage bioaccumulation of dimethoate in fish muscle was 88.10%, and that of chlorpyrifos was BDL. The bio-concentration factor was dose-dependent and increased with increasing doses of both insecticides. The study invites attention to human health risk assessment in the regions where contaminated fish are consumed without scientific supervision.

New approach methods to assess developmental and adult neurotoxicity for regulatory use: a PARC work package 5 project

In the European regulatory context, rodent in vivo studies are the predominant source of neurotoxicity information. Although they form a cornerstone of neurotoxicological assessments, they are costly and the topic of ethical debate. While the public expects chemicals and products to be safe for the developing and mature nervous systems, considerable numbers of chemicals in commerce have not, or only to a limited extent, been assessed for their potential to cause neurotoxicity. As such, there is a societal push toward the replacement of animal models with in vitro or alternative methods. New approach methods (NAMs) can contribute to the regulatory knowledge base, increase chemical safety, and modernize chemical hazard and risk assessment. Provided they reach an acceptable level of regulatory relevance and reliability, NAMs may be considered as replacements for specific in vivo studies. The European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) addresses challenges to the development and implementation of NAMs in chemical risk assessment. In collaboration with regulatory agencies, Project 5.2.1e (Neurotoxicity) aims to develop and evaluate NAMs for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) and adult neurotoxicity (ANT) and to understand the applicability domain of specific NAMs for the detection of endocrine disruption and epigenetic perturbation. To speed up assay time and reduce costs, we identify early indicators of later-onset effects. Ultimately, we will assemble second-generation developmental neurotoxicity and first-generation adult neurotoxicity test batteries, both of which aim to provide regulatory hazard and risk assessors and industry stakeholders with robust, speedy, lower-cost, and informative next-generation hazard and risk assessment tools.

Impact of environmentally relevant concentrations of fluoxetine on zebrafish larvae: From gene to behavior

Fluoxetine is widely prescribed for the treatment of depressive states, acting at the level of the central nervous system, consequently affecting non-target organisms. This study aimed to investigate the influence of environmentally relevant fluoxetine concentrations (1-1000 ng/L) on Danio rerio development, assessing both embryotoxicity and behavior, antioxidant defense, gene expression and neurotransmitter levels at larval stage. Exposure to fluoxetine during early development was found to be able to accelerate embryo hatching in embryos exposed to 1, 10 and 100 ng/L, reduce larval size in 1000 ng/L, and increase heart rate in 10, 100 and 1000 ng/L exposed larvae. Behavioral impairments (decreased startle response and increased larvae locomotor activity) were associated with effects on monoaminergic systems, detected through the downregulation of key genes (vmat2, mao, tph1a and th2). In addition, altered levels of neurochemicals belonging to the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems (increased levels of tryptophan and norepinephrine) highlighted the sensitivity of early life stages of zebrafish to low concentrations of fluoxetine, inducing effects that may compromise larval survival. The obtained data support the necessity to test low concentrations of SSRIs in environmental risk assessment and the use of biomarkers at different levels of biological organization for a better understanding of modes of action.

Temperature- and chemical-induced neurotoxicity in zebrafish

Throughout their lives, humans encounter a plethora of substances capable of inducing neurotoxic effects, including drugs, heavy metals and pesticides. Neurotoxicity manifests when exposure to these chemicals disrupts the normal functioning of the nervous system, and some neurotoxic agents have been linked to neurodegenerative pathologies such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. The growing concern surrounding the neurotoxic impacts of both naturally occurring and man-made toxic substances necessitates the identification of animal models for rapid testing across a wide spectrum of substances and concentrations, and the utilization of tools capable of detecting nervous system alterations spanning from the molecular level up to the behavioural one. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is gaining prominence in the field of neuroscience due to its versatility. The possibility of analysing all developmental stages (embryo, larva and adult), applying the most common "omics" approaches (transcriptomics, proteomics, lipidomics, etc.) and conducting a wide range of behavioural tests makes zebrafish an excellent model for neurotoxicity studies. This review delves into the main experimental approaches adopted and the main markers analysed in neurotoxicity studies in zebrafish, showing that neurotoxic phenomena can be triggered not only by exposure to chemical substances but also by fluctuations in temperature. The findings presented here serve as a valuable resource for the study of neurotoxicity in zebrafish and define new scenarios in ecotoxicology suggesting that alterations in temperature can synergistically compound the neurotoxic effects of chemical substances, intensifying their detrimental impact on fish populations.

Fish to learn: insights into the effects of environmental chemicals on eye development and visual function in zebrafish

Vision is the most essential sense system for the human being. Congenital visual impairment affects millions of people globally. It is increasingly realized that visual system development is an impressionable target of environmental chemicals. However, due to inaccessibility and ethical issues, the use of humans and other placental mammals is constrained, which limits our better understanding of environmental factors on ocular development and visual function in the embryonic stage. Therefore, as complementing laboratory rodents, zebrafish has been the most frequently employed to understand the effects of environmental chemicals on eye development and visual function. One of the major reasons for the increasing use of zebrafish is their polychromatic vision. Zebrafish retinas are morphologically and functionally analogous to those of mammalian, as well as evolutionary conservation among vertebrate eye. This review provides an update on harmful effects from exposure to environmental chemicals, involving metallic elements (ions), metal-derived nanoparticles, microplastics, nanoplastics, persistent organic pollutants, pesticides, and pharmaceutical pollutants on the eye development and visual function in zebrafish embryos. The collected data provide a comprehensive understanding of environmental factors on ocular development and visual function. This report highlights that zebrafish is promising as a model to identify hazardous toxicants toward eye development and is hopeful for developing preventative or postnatal therapies for human congenital visual impairment.

Toxic effects and bioaccumulation of pinacolyl methylphosphonate acid in zebrafish following soman exposure to a water environment

Soman has been shown to be highly neurotoxic and can be easily degraded to produce pinacolyl methylphosphonate acid (PMPA). Thus, the perniciousness of PMPA deserved serious attention after soman was exposed to the environment. However, the toxicity of PMPA was not clearly elucidated to date. In this regard, the objective of this study was to determine if PMPA could pose an environmental risk after soman exposure to a water environment. In this study, the toxicity and bioaccumulation assessments of PMPA were carried out on zebrafish. Histological examination was used to assess the toxicity of PMPA in zebrafish and revealed that PMPA has chronic toxicity in view of tissue injury. The contents of PMPA in whole zebrafish and tissues were determined after soman exposure. The result showed that PMPA bioaccumulated in the whole zebrafish and tissue, especially the liver and intestinal tissues. This is the first report showing that the hydrolyzate of a G-series chemical nerve agent could accumulate in organisms. This study offers novel insights into the environmental risk assessments associated with soman exposure to a water environment.

Mitigation of nicotine-induced developmental effects by 24-epibrassinolide in zebrafish

Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that can cause teratogenic impacts in the embryo through redox-dependent pathways. As antioxidants, naturally occurring chemicals can protect cells from redox imbalance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 24-epibrassinolide (24-EPI), a natural brassinosteroid with well-known antioxidant properties, in protecting zebrafish embryos against nicotine's teratogenic effects. For 96 h, embryos (2 h post-fertilization - hpf) were exposed to 100 μM nicotine, co-exposed with 24-EPI (0.01, 0.1, and 1 μM), and 24-EPI alone (1 μM). Lethal and sublethal developmental characteristics were evaluated during exposure. Biochemical tests were performed at the conclusion of the exposure, and distinct behavioural paradigms were analysed 24 h later. Nicotine exposure resulted in a higher proportion of larvae with deformities, which were decreased following co-exposure to 24-EPI. Nicotine exposure also caused an increase in oxidative stress as observed by the increased activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase accompanied by an increase in the malondialdehyde levels. Besides, metabolic changes were noticed as observed by the increased lactate dehydrogenase activity that were hypothesised to be associated to nicotine-induced hypoxia which may be responsible for the increased oxidative damage. In addition, locomotor deficits were observed as well as a decrease in the acetylcholinesterase activity denoting nicotine-induced cognitive dysfunction. However, co-exposure to 24-EPI alleviated behavioural deficits and improved nicotine-induced emotional states. Overall, and although further studies are required to clarify these effects, 24-EPI showed promising ameliorative properties against the teratogenic effects induced by nicotine.

Heart rate and behavioral responses in three phylogenetically distant aquatic model organisms exposed to environmental concentrations of carbaryl and fenitrothion

Carbaryl and fenitrothion are two insecticides sharing a common mode of action, the inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Their use is now regulated or banned in different countries, and the environmental levels of both compounds in aquatic ecosystems have decreased to the range of pg/L to ng/L. As these concentrations are below the non-observed-adverse-effect-concentrations (NOAEC) for AChE inhibition reported for both compounds in aquatic organisms, there is a general agreement that the current levels of these two chemicals are safe for aquatic organisms. In this study we have exposed zebrafish, Japanese medaka and Daphnia magna to concentrations of carbaryl and fenitrothion under their NOAECs for 24-h, and the effects on heart rate (HR), basal locomotor activity (BLA), visual motor response (VMR), startle response (SR) and its habituation have been evaluated. Both pesticides increased the HR in the three selected model organisms, although the intensity of this effect was chemical-, concentration- and organism-dependent. The exposure to both pesticides also led to a decrease in BLA and an increase in VMR in all three species, although this effect was only significant in zebrafish larvae. For SR and its habituation, the response profile was more species- and concentration-specific. The results presented in this manuscript demonstrate that concentrations of carbaryl and fenitrothion well below their respective NOAECs induce tachycardia and the impairment of ecologically relevant behaviors in phylogenetically distinct aquatic model organisms, both vertebrates and invertebrates, emphasizing the need to include this range of concentrations in the environmental risk assessment.

Mechanisms regarding cardiac toxicity triggered by up-regulation of miR-144 in larval zebrafish upon exposure to triclosan

Although triclosan (TCS) is ubiquitously detected in environmental media and organisms, little information is available on its cardiotoxicity and underlying mechanisms. Herein, acute TCS exposure (0.69-1.73 μM) to zebrafish from embryos (6 hpf) to larvae (72 hpf) resulted in cardiac development defects, including increased angle between atrium and ventricle, prolonged SV-BA distance, linearized heart and pericardial cyst in 72-hpf larvae. These malformations resulted from interfered oxidative-stress pathways, reflecting in accumulated ROS and MDA and inhibited SOD and CAT activities. By RT-qPCR, the transcription levels of four cardiac development-related marker genes were significantly up-regulated except for gata4. Besides, miR-144 was identified as a regulatory molecule of TCS-induced cardiac defects by integrating analyses of artificial intervene expression and RNA-Seq data. Interestingly, the target genes of miR-144 were found and interacted with the above marker genes through constructing protein-protein interaction networks. After intervening the expression of miR-144 by microinjecting and activating Wnt pathway by an agonist BML-284, we confirmed that up-regulated miR-144 suppressed the expression of angiogenesis-related genes and negatively regulated Wnt pathway, further triggering angiogenesis disorders and cardiac phenotypic malformation. These findings unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms regarding TCS-induced cardiac development toxicity, and contribute to early warning and risk management of TCS.

Determination of histopathological effects and myoglobin, periostin gene-protein expression levels in Danio rerio muscle tissue after acaricide yoksorrun-5EC (hexythiazox) application

Although pesticides are essential agrochemicals to annihilate harmful organisms in agriculture, their uncontrolled use has become an important threat to environmental health. Exposure to pesticides can affect many biological systems including immune system, endocrine system, and nervous system. However, the potential side effects of pesticides to skeletal muscle system remain unclear. Present study has focused on the evaluation of this issue by using an acaricide, yoksorrun-5EC (hexythiazox), in an aquatic model organism, Danio rerio. The histological analyses revealed that increased concentrations of the acaricide cause degradation of skeletal muscle along with increased necrosis and atrophy in myocytes, intercellular edema, and increased infiltrations between perimysium sheaths of muscle fibers. The effects of acaricide on myoglobin and periostin, which are associated with oxygen transport and muscle regeneration, respectively, were investigated at the gene and protein levels. RT-PCR results suggested that high concentration yoksorrun-5EC (hexythiazox) can induce myoglobin and periostin genes. Similar results were also obtained in the protein levels of these genes by western blotting analysis. These results suggested that yoksorrun-5EC (hexythiazox)-dependent disruption of skeletal muscle architecture is closely associated with the expression levels of myoglobin and periostin genes in Danio rerio model.

Cladophialophora bantiana metabolites are efficient in the larvicidal and ovicidal control of Aedes aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus and have low toxicity in zebrafish embryo

Mosquitoes' current insecticide resistance status in available public health insecticides is a serious threat to mosquito control initiatives. Microbe-based control agents provide an alternative to conventional pesticides and insecticides, as they can be more targeted than synthetic insecticides. The present study was focused on identifying and investigating the mosquitocidal potential of Cladophialophora bantiana, an endophytic fungus isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica. The Cladophialophora species was identified through phylogenetic analysis of the rDNA sequence. The isolated fungus was first evaluated for its potential to produce metabolites against Aedes aegpti and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae in the 1-4th instar. The secondary metabolites of mycelium extract were assessed at various test doses (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 μg/mL) in independent bioassays for each instar of selected mosquito larvae. After 48 h of exposure, A. aegypti expressed LC50 values of 13.069, 18.085, 9.554, and 11.717 μg/mL and LC90 = 25.702, 30.860, 17.275, and 19.601 μg/mL; followed by C. quinquefasciatus LC50 = 14.467, 11.766, 5.934, and 7.589 μg/mL, and LC90 = 29.529, 20.767, 11.192, and 13.296 μg/mL. The mean % of ovicidal bioassay was recorded 120 h after exposure. The hatchability (%) was proportional to mycelia metabolite concentration. The enzymatic level of acetylcholinesterase in fungal mycelial metabolite treated 4th instar larvae indicated a dose-dependent pattern. The GC-MS profile of C. bantiana extracts identified five of the most abundant compounds, namely cyclobutane, trans-3-undecene-1,5-diyne, 1-bromo-2-chloro, propane, 1,2,3-trichloro-2-methyl-, 5,5,10,10-tetrachlorotricyclo, and phenol, which had the killing effect in mosquitoes. Furthermore, the C. bantiana fungus ethyl acetate extracts had a strong larvicidal action on A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus. Finally, the toxicity test on zebrafish embryos revealed the induction of malformations only at concentrations above 1 mg/mL. Therefore, our study pioneered evidence that C. bantiana fungal metabolites effectively control A. aegypti and C. qunquefasciastus and show less lethality in zebrafish embryos at concentrations up to 500 μg/mL.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) affects DNA integrity and retina structure in zebrafish larvae

Monitoring the potential risk of herbicides in non-target organisms is a crucial issue for environmental safety. 2,4-D is an herbicide of high environmental relevance that has been shown to exert toxic effects to soil and aquatic biota. In the present study, we investigated the possible genotoxic and retinal development effects of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) herbicide in early life stages zebrafish (Danio rerio). Genotoxicity was evaluated by measuring DNA damage using the comet assay and also by the mRNA expression of genes implicated in apoptosis and/or DNA repair. Retinal development toxicity was evaluated with histological approach. The results obtained revealed that 2,4-D alters DNA integrity of zebrafish larvae. Moreover, transcriptomic data showed a significant induction of p-53 and casp-3 genes and a significant decrease of lig-4 in larvae exposed to the highest tested concentration of 2,4-D (0.8 mg/L). This suggested that p-53 gene regulates the process of DNA repair and apoptosis with increased levels of 2,4-D. The histopathological analysis revealed that early exposure to 2,4-D damaged the structure of larvae retina. Overall, this study is the first to report the DNA damage, casp-3, lig-4 and p-53 regulation, as well as the ocular developmental toxicity in zebrafish larvae at environmentally relevant concentrations of 2,4-D herbicide.

Optimization of Application-Driven Development of In Vitro Neuromuscular Junction Models

Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are specialized synapses responsible for signal transduction between motor neurons (MNs) and skeletal muscle tissue. Malfunction at this site can result from developmental disorders, toxic environmental exposures, and neurodegenerative diseases leading to severe neurological dysfunction. Exploring these conditions in human or animal subjects is restricted by ethical concerns and confounding environmental factors. Therefore, in vitro NMJ models provide exciting opportunities for advancements in tissue engineering. In the last two decades, multiple NMJ prototypes and platforms have been reported, and each model system design is strongly tied to a specific application: exploring developmental physiology, disease modeling, or high-throughput screening. Directing the differentiation of stem cells into mature MNs and/or skeletal muscle for NMJ modeling has provided critical cues to recapitulate early-stage development. Patient-derived inducible pluripotent stem cells provide a personalized approach to investigating NMJ disease, especially when disease etiology cannot be resolved down to a specific gene mutation. Having reproducible NMJ culture replicates is useful for high-throughput screening to evaluate drug toxicity and determine the impact of environmental threat exposures. Cutting-edge bioengineering techniques have propelled this field forward with innovative microfabrication and design approaches allowing both two-dimensional and three-dimensional NMJ culture models. Many of these NMJ systems require further validation for broader application by regulatory agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and the general research community. In this summary, we present a comprehensive review on the current state-of-art research in NMJ models and discuss their ability to provide valuable insight into cell and tissue interactions. Impact statement In vitro neuromuscular junction (NMJ) models reveal the specialized mechanisms of communication between neurons and muscle tissue. This site can be disrupted by developmental disorders, toxic environmental exposures, or neurodegenerative diseases, which often lead to fatal outcomes and is therefore of critical importance to the medical community. Many bioengineering approaches for in vitro NMJ modeling have been designed to mimic development and disease; other approaches include in vitro NMJ models for high-throughput toxicology screening, providing a platform to limit or replace animal testing. This review describes various NMJ applications and the bioengineering advancements allowing for human NMJ characteristics to be more accurately recapitulated. While the extensive range of NMJ device structures has hindered standardization attempts, there is still a need to harmonize these devices for broader application and to continue advancing the field of NMJ modeling.

Developmental exposure to sertraline impaired zebrafish behavioral and neurochemical profiles

The number of people suffering from mental health problems is rising, with anxiety and depression now the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric conditions. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are one of the most prescribed pharmaceuticals to treat these conditions, which has led to their common detection in many aquatic ecosystems. As the monoaminergic system shows a high degree of structural conservation across diverse animal phyla, a reasonable assumption is that the environmental levels of SSRIs in surface water can lead to adverse effects on fish and other aquatic wildlife. For instance, Sertraline (SER), a widely prescribed SSRI, has been shown to induce adverse effects in fish, albeit most of the reports used exposure concentrations exceeding those occurring in natural environments. Therefore, there is still a great lack of knowledge regarding SERs effects in fish species, especially during early life stages. This study describes the evaluation of developmental exposure of zebrafish (Danio rerio) to environmentally relevant concentrations of SER (from 0.01 to 10 μg/L), using a battery of key survival behaviors and further relating them with the expression of genes and neurochemical profiles of the monoaminergic system. We found that developmental exposure to SER did not affect embryo morphogenesis and growth. However, concentrations as low as 0.1 μg/L induced hypolocomotion and delayed learning. The observed behavioral impairment was associated with augmented serotonin levels rather than other neurochemicals and molecular markers, highlighting the relationship between serotonin signaling and behavior in zebrafish.

Caged-carvedilol as a new tool for visible-light photopharmacology of β-adrenoceptors in native tissues

Adrenoceptors are G protein-coupled receptors involved in a large variety of physiological processes, also under pathological conditions. This is due in large part to their ubiquitous expression in the body exerting numerous essential functions. Therefore, the possibility to control their activity with high spatial and temporal precision would constitute a valuable research tool. In this study, we present a caged version of the approved non-selective β-adrenoceptor antagonist carvedilol, synthesized by alkylation of its secondary amine with a coumarin derivative. Introducing this photo-removable group abolished carvedilol physiological effects in cell cultures, mouse isolated perfused hearts and living zebrafish larvae. Only after visible light application, carvedilol was released and the different physiological systems were pharmacologically modulated in a similar manner as the control drug. This research provides a new photopharmacological tool for a wide range of research applications that may help in the development of future precise therapies.

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We report a diffusible caged antagonist based on the beta blocker carvedilol (C-C)

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Carvedilol release from C-C is produced by light on the visible range (405 nm)

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Light-dependent effects are assessed in cells, mice hearts, and zebrafish larvae

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Physiological processes can be regulated by C-C and light (heart rate and behavior)

Environmental levels of carbaryl impair zebrafish larvae behaviour: The potential role of ADRA2B and HTR2B

The insecticide carbaryl is commonly found in indirectly exposed freshwater ecosystems at low concentrations considered safe for fish communities. In this study, we showed that after only 24 h of exposure to environmental concentrations of carbaryl (0.066-660 ng/L), zebrafish larvae exhibit impairments in essential behaviours. Interestingly, the observed behavioural effects induced by carbaryl were acetylcholinesterase-independent. To elucidate the molecular initiating event that resulted in the observed behavioural effects, in silico predictions were followed by in vitro validation. We identified two target proteins that potentially interacted with carbaryl, the α2B adrenoceptor (ADRA2B) and the serotonin 2B receptor (HTR2B). Using a pharmacological approach, we then tested the hypothesis that carbaryl had antagonistic interactions with both receptors. Similar to yohimbine and SB204741, which are prototypic antagonists of ADRA2B and HTR2B, respectively, carbaryl increased the heart rate of zebrafish larvae. When we compared the behavioural effects of a 24-h exposure to these pharmacological antagonists with those of carbaryl, a high degree of similarity was found. These results strongly suggest that antagonism of both ADRA2B and HTR2B is the molecular initiating event that leads to adverse outcomes in zebrafish larvae that have undergone 24 h of exposure to environmentally relevant levels of carbaryl.

Getting more out of the zebrafish light dark transition test

In (eco-)toxicological studies the light/dark transition (LDT) test is one of the most frequently used behaviour assays with zebrafish eleutheroembryos. However, study results vary regarding data presentation and analysis and mostly focus on a limited amount of the recorded data. In this study, we investigated whether monitoring two behavioural outcomes (time and distance moved) together with analysing multiple parameters can improve test sensitivity and data interpretation. As a proof of principle 5-day old zebrafish (Danio rerio) eleutheroembryos exposed to either endocrine disruptors (EDs) or acetylcholine esterase (AChE) inhibitors were investigated. We analysed conventional parameters such as mean and sum and implemented additional endpoints such as minimum or maximum distance moved and new parameters assessing the bursting response of eleutheroembryos. Furthermore, changes in eleutheroembryonic behaviour during the moment of the light to dark transition were added. To improve data presentation control-normalised results were displayed in radar charts, enabling the simultaneous presentation of different parameters in relation to each other. This enabled us to identify parameters most relevant to a certain behavioural response. A cut off threshold using control data was applied to identify parameters that were altered in a biological relevant manner. Our approach was able to detect effects on different parameters that remained undetected when analysis was done using conventional bar graphs on - in most cases analysed - averaged, mean distance moved values. By combining the radar charts with additional parameters and by using control-based thresholds, we were able to increase the test sensitivity and promote a deeper understanding of the behaviour response of zebrafish eleutheroembryos in the LDT test and thereby increased its usability for behavioural toxicity studies.

Subchronic Exposure to Environmental Concentrations of Chlorpyrifos Affects Swimming Activity of Rainbow Trout Larvae

Chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphorous pesticide, can be found in aquatic ecosystems at concentrations of up to several hundred nanograms per liter because of water runoff from treated crops. While some studies have shown that low concentrations of CPF may have adverse effects on aquatic species, comparatively little is known about its effect on fish embryos and larvae. To investigate the developmental effects of CPF, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eyed-stage embryos were exposed in semistatic conditions to 0.3 and 3 µg/L of CPF up to the end of the sac-fry stage, 3 weeks, at 12 °C. Several endpoints were analyzed including survival, hatching delay, hatching success, biometry, swimming activity, DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and gene expression. At the end of the 3-week exposure, larvae exposed to the highest concentration of CPF were less mobile compared to the control and the lowest CPF conditions. No significant differences in AChE activity were observed in either set of CPF conditions compared to control, but it was significantly reduced for larvae exposed to 3 µg/L compared to those exposed to 0.3 µg/L of CPF. Expression of genes that encoded estrogen receptor beta was downregulated for larvae exposed to both CPF concentrations. Expression of cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A member 1 was also significantly repressed but only on larvae exposed to the highest concentration of CPF. Our results indicated that subchronic exposure to environmental concentrations of CPF could lead to sublethal effects on early-life stages of rainbow trout, especially effects on swimming activity that could affect foraging activity and escaping from predators. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:3092-3102. © 2021 SETAC.

Transcriptome-Based Identification of Genes Responding to the Organophosphate Pesticide Phosmet in Danio rerio

Organophosphate pesticides (OPPs) are one of the most widely used insecticides. OPPs exert their neurotoxic effects by inhibiting acetylcholine esterase (AChE). Most of the gross developmental abnormalities observed in OPP-treated fish, on the other hand, may not be explained solely by AChE inhibition. To understand the overall molecular mechanisms involved in OPP toxicity, we used the zebrafish (ZF) model. We exposed ZF embryos to an OPP, phosmet, for 96 h, and then analyzed developmental abnormalities and performed whole transcriptome analysis. Phenotypic abnormalities, such as bradycardia, spine curvature, and growth retardation, were observed in phosmet-treated ZF (PTZF). Whole transcriptome analysis revealed 2190 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 822 and 1368 significantly up-and downregulated genes, respectively. System process and sensory and visual perception were among the top biological pathways affected by phosmet toxicity. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment of metabolic pathways, calcium signaling pathway, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, cardiac muscle contraction, drug metabolism-other enzymes, and phototransduction. Quantitative real-time PCR results of six DEGs agreed with the sequencing data expression profile trend. Our findings provide insights into the consequences of phosmet exposure in ZF, as well as an estimate of the potential risk of OPPs to off-target species.

An Antidote Screening System for Organophosphorus Poisoning Using Zebrafish Larvae

Organophosphorus (OP) cholinesterase inhibitors, which include insecticides and chemical warfare nerve agents, are very potent neurotoxicants. Given that the actual treatment has several limitations, the present study provides a general method, called the zebrafish-OP-antidote test (ZOAT), and basic scientific data, to identify new antidotes that are more effective than the reference pyridinium oximes after acute OP poisoning. The reactivation capacity of a chemical compound can be measured using in vivo and ex vivo acetylcholinesterase (AChE) assays. We demonstrated that it is possible to differentiate between chemical compound protective efficacies in the central and peripheral nervous system via the visual motor response and electric field pulse motor response tests, respectively. Moreover, the ability to cross the brain-blood barrier can be estimated in a physiological context by combining an AChE assay on the head and trunk-tail fractions and the cellular and tissue localization of AChE activity in the whole-mount animal. ZOAT is an innovative method suitable for the screening and rapid identification of chemicals and mixtures used as antidote for OP poisoning. The method will make it easier to identify more effective medical countermeasures for chemical threat agents, including combinatorial therapies.

Environmentally Relevant Mixture of Pesticides Affect Mobility and DNA Integrity of Early Life Stages of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of three concentrations of a pesticide mixture on the first development stages of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The mixture was made up of three commonly used pesticides in viticulture: glyphosate (GLY), chlorpyrifos (CPF) and copper sulfate (Cu). Eyed stage embryos were exposed for 3 weeks to three concentrations of the pesticide mixture. Lethal and sub-lethal effects were assessed through a number of phenotypic and molecular endpoints including survival, hatching delay, hatching success, biometry, swimming activity, DNA damage (Comet assay), lipid peroxidation (TBARS), protein carbonyl content and gene expression. Ten target genes involved in antioxidant defenses, DNA repair, mitochondrial metabolism and apoptosis were analyzed using real-time RT-qPCR. No significant increase of mortality, half-hatch, growth defects, TBARS and protein carbonyl contents were observed whatever the pesticide mixture concentration. In contrast, DNA damage and swimming activity were significantly more elevated at the highest pesticide mixture concentration. Gene transcription was up-regulated for genes involved in detoxification (gst and mt1), DNA repair (ogg1), mitochondrial metabolism (cox1 and 12S), and cholinergic system (ache). This study highlighted the induction of adaptive molecular and behavioral responses of rainbow trout larvae when exposed to environmentally realistic concentrations of a mixture of pesticides.

Androgenic activation, impairment of the monoaminergic system and altered behavior in zebrafish larvae exposed to environmental concentrations of fenitrothion

Fenitrothion is an organophosphorus insecticide usually found in aquatic ecosystems at concentrations in the range of low ng/L. In this manuscript we show that 24 h exposure to environmental concentrations of fenitrothion, from ng/L to low μg/L, altered basal locomotor activity, visual-motor response and acoustic/vibrational escape response of zebrafish larvae. Furthermore, fenitrothion and expression of gap43a, gfap, atp2b1a, and mbp exhibited a significant non-monotonic concentration-response relationship. Once determined that environmental concentrations of fenitrothion were neurotoxic for zebrafish larvae, a computational analysis identified potential protein targets of this compound. Some of the predictions, including interactions with acetylcholinesterase, monoamine-oxidases and androgen receptor (AR), were experimentally validated. Binding to AR was the most suitable candidate for molecular initiating event, as indicated by both the up-regulation of cyp19a1b and sult2st3 and the non-monotonic relationship found between fenitrothion and the observed responses. Finally, when the integrity of the monoaminergic system was evaluated, altered levels of L-DOPA, DOPAC, HVA and 5-HIAA were found, as well as a significant up-regulation of slc18a2 expression at the lowest concentrations of fenitrothion. These data strongly suggest that concentrations of fenitrothion commonly found in aquatic ecosystems present a significant environmental risk for fish communities.

Pharmacological Modulation of Serotonin Levels in Zebrafish Larvae: Lessons for Identifying Environmental Neurotoxicants Targeting the Serotonergic System

This study examines the effects of acute pharmacological modulation of the serotonergic system over zebrafish larvae’s cognitive, basic, and defense locomotor behaviors, using a medium to high throughput screening assay. Furthermore, the relationship between behavior, enzyme activity related to neurotransmitter metabolism, neurotransmitter levels, and gene expression was also determined. Modulation of larvae serotonergic system was accomplished by 24 h exposure to single and opposite pharmacodynamics co-exposure to three model psychopharmaceuticals with antagonistic and agonistic serotonin signaling properties: 2.5 mM 4-Chloro-DL-phenylalanine (PCPA) and 5 µM deprenyl and 0.5 µM fluoxetine, respectively. Similar behavioral outcome was observed for deprenyl and fluoxetine, which was reflected as hypolocomotion, decrease in larvae defensive responses, and cognitive impairment. Contrarily, PCPA induced hyperlocomotion and increase in larvae escape response. Deprenyl exposure effects were more pronounced at a lower level of organization than fluoxetine, with complete inhibition of monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, dramatic increase of 5-HT and dopamine (DA) levels, and downregulation of serotonin synthesis and transporter genes. PCPA showed mainly effects over serotonin and dopamine’s main degradation metabolites. Finally, co-exposure between agonistic and antagonist serotonin signaling drugs reviled full recovery of zebrafish impaired locomotor and defense responses, 5-HT synthesis gene expression, and partial recovery of 5-HT levels. The findings of this study suggest that zebrafish larvae can be highly sensitive and a useful vertebrate model for short-term exposure to serotonin signaling changes.

Organophosphorus poisoning in animals and enzymatic antidotes

Organophosphorus compounds (OPs) are neurotoxic molecules developed as pesticides and chemical warfare nerve agents (CWNAs). Most of them are covalent inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a key enzyme in nervous systems, and are therefore responsible for numerous poisonings around the world. Many animal models have been studied over the years in order to decipher the toxicity of OPs and to provide insights for therapeutic and decontamination purposes. Environmental impact on wild animal species has been analyzed to understand the consequences of OP uses in agriculture. In complement, various laboratory models, from invertebrates to aquatic organisms, rodents and primates, have been chosen to study chronic and acute toxicity as well as neurobehavioral impact, immune response, developmental disruption, and other pathological signs. Several decontamination approaches were developed to counteract the poisoning effects of OPs. Among these, enzyme-based strategies are particularly attractive as they allow efficient external decontamination without toxicity or environmental impact and may be of interest for treatment. Approaches using bioscavengers for prophylaxis, treatment, and external decontamination are emphasized and their potential is discussed in the light of toxicological observations from various animal models. The relevance of animal models, regarding their cholinergic system and the abundance of naturally protecting enzymes, is also discussed for better extrapolation of results to human.

Developmental and Neurotoxicity of Acrylamide to Zebrafish

Acrylamide is a commonly used industrial chemical that is known to be neurotoxic to mammals. However, its developmental toxicity is rarely assessed in mammalian models because of the cost and complexity involved. We used zebrafish to assess the neurotoxicity, developmental and behavioral toxicity of acrylamide. At 6 h post fertilization, zebrafish embryos were exposed to four concentrations of acrylamide (10, 30, 100, or 300 mg/L) in a medium for 114 h. Acrylamide caused developmental toxicity characterized by yolk retention, scoliosis, swim bladder deficiency, and curvature of the body. Acrylamide also impaired locomotor activity, which was measured as swimming speed and distance traveled. In addition, treatment with 100 mg/L acrylamide shortened the width of the brain and spinal cord, indicating neuronal toxicity. In summary, acrylamide induces developmental toxicity and neurotoxicity in zebrafish. This can be used to study acrylamide neurotoxicity in a rapid and cost-efficient manner.

Hyperactivity and Seizure Induced by Tricresyl Phosphate Are Isomer Specific and Not Linked to Phenyl Valerate-Neuropathy Target Esterase Activity Inhibition in Zebrafish

Environmental exposure to tricresyl phosphate (TCP) may lead to severe neurotoxic effects, including organophosphate (OP)-induced delayed neuropathy. TCP has three symmetric isomers, distinguished by the methyl group position on the aromatic ring system. One of these isomers, tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (ToCP), has been reported for years as a neuropathic OP, targeting neuropathic target esterase (NTE/PNPLA6), but its mode of toxic action had not been fully elucidated. Zebrafish eleuthero-embryo and larva were used to characterize the differential action of the TCP isomers. The symmetric isomers inhibited phenyl valerate (PV)-NTE enzymatic activity in vivo with different IC50, while no effect was observed on acetylcholinesterase activity. Moreover, the locomotor behavior was also affected by tri-para-cresyl phosphate and tri-meta-cresyl phosphate, only ToCP exposure led to locomotor hyperactivity lasting several hours, associated with defects in the postural control system and an impaired phototactic response, as revealed by the visual motor response test. The electric field pulse motor response test demonstrated that a seizure-like, multiple C-bend-spaghetti phenotype may be significantly induced by ToCP only, independently of any inhibition of PV-NTE activity. Eleuthero-embryos exposed to picrotoxin, a known gamma-aminobutyric acid type-A receptor inhibitor, exhibited similar adverse outcomes to ToCP exposure. Thus, our results demonstrated that the TCP mode of toxic action was isomer specific and not initially related to modulation of PV-NTE activity. Furthermore, it was suggested that the molecular events involved were linked to an impairment of the balance between excitation and inhibition in neuronal circuits.

Glyphosate targets fish monoaminergic systems leading to oxidative stress and anxiety

Glyphosate is the active ingredient of some of the most highly produced and used herbicides worldwide. The intensive applications of glyphosate-based herbicides and its half-life in water lead to its presence in many aquatic ecosystems. Whereas recent studies have reported neurotoxic effects of glyphosate including autism-related effects, most of them used extremely high (mg/L to g/L) concentrations, so it is still unclear if chronic, low environmentally relevant concentrations of this compound (ng/L to μg/L) can induce neurotoxicity. In this study we analyzed the neurotoxicity of glyphosate in adult zebrafish after waterborne exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations (0.3 and 3 μg/L) for two weeks. Our data showed that exposed fish presented a significant impairment of exploratory and social behaviors consistent with increased anxiety. The anterior brain of the exposed fish presented a significant increase in dopamine and serotonin levels, as well as in the DOPAC/dopamine and homovanillic acid/dopamine turnover ratios. Moreover, the expression of genes involved in the dopaminergic system, as th1, th2, comtb, and scl6a3 was downregulated. Finally, the brain of exposed fish presented a significant increase in the catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, with a concomitant decrease of glutathione stores. These changes in the antioxidant defense system are consistent with the observed increase in oxidative stress, reflected by the increase in the levels of lipid peroxidation in the brain. The presented results show that current glyphosate concentrations commonly found in many aquatic ecosystems may have detrimental consequences on fish survival by decreasing exploration of the environment or altering social interactions. Furthermore, as zebrafish is also a vertebrate model widely used in human neurobehavioral studies, these results are relevant not only for environmental risk assessment, but also for understanding the risk of chronic low-dose exposures on human health.

Development of a Larval Zebrafish Model for Acute Organophosphorus Nerve Agent and Pesticide Exposure and Therapeutic Evaluation

Organophosphorus compound exposure remains a present threat through agricultural accidents, warfare, or terrorist activity. The primary mechanism of organophosphorus toxicity is through inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, with current emergency treatment including anticholinergics, benzodiazepines, and oxime reactivators. However, a need for more effective and broadly acting countermeasures remains. This study aimed to develop larval zebrafish as a high-throughput model for evaluating novel therapeutics against acute organophosphorus exposure. Larval zebrafish at six days post-fertilization were exposed to acute concentrations of seven organophosphorus compounds and treated with one of three oximes. Lethality studies indicated similar relative toxicity to that seen in the established rodent model, with chemical warfare agents proving more lethal than organophosphorus pesticides. Additionally, the organophosphorus-specific response for oxime reactivation of acetylcholinesterase was comparable to what has been previously reported. Behavioral studies measuring the visual motor response demonstrated greater efficacy for centrally acting oxime compounds than for those that are contained to the peripheral tissue. Overall, these results support the use of this larval zebrafish model as a high-throughput screening platform for evaluating novel treatments following acute organophosphorus exposure.

A high-throughput assay for screening environmental pollutants and drugs impairing predator avoidance in Daphnia magna

This study addresses short-term habituation of the escape response in the aquatic crustacean Daphnia magna evoked by sudden changes in light intensity, using a high-throughput system. Daphnia magna exhibits a marked phototactic behaviour and swim away from light to avoid predation by fish. Currently, there is no information available on the habituation of this phototactic response. The Daphnia photomotor response assay (DPRA) measures the distance moved after a sudden increase in light intensity. Using DPRA, it is possible to determine not only the magnitude of the phototactic response, but also its habituation after repetitive cycles of light and darkness. The progressive reduction observed in response to a series of light stimuli in the proposed assay meet the criteria for habituation. Most cholinergic and serotonergic modulators enhanced photomotor responses and reduced habituation. Dopaminergic and histaminergic modulators also reduced habituation, whereas diazepam was the only compound that increased habituation. Imidacloprid, apomorphine, diphenhydramine, diazepam, and memantine decreased photomotor responses. Thus, the DPRA was also predictive in assessing the effects of neuroactive and neurotoxic environmental contaminants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, diazepam, organophosphorous, and neonicotinoid pesticides. We conclude that the proposed DPRA may be an effective screening tool for compounds that can impair predation avoidance behaviour in aquatic organisms.

Discovery of treatment for nerve agents targeting a new metabolic pathway

The inhibition of acetylcholinesterase is regarded as the primary toxic mechanism of action for chemical warfare agents. Recently, there have been numerous reports suggesting that metabolic processes could significantly contribute to toxicity. As such, we applied a multi-omics pipeline to generate a detailed cascade of molecular events temporally occurring in guinea pigs exposed to VX. Proteomic and metabolomic profiling resulted in the identification of several enzymes and metabolic precursors involved in glycolysis and the TCA cycle. All lines of experimental evidence indicated that there was a blockade of the TCA cycle at isocitrate dehydrogenase 2, which converts isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate. Using a primary beating cardiomyocyte cell model, we were able to determine that the supplementation of α-ketoglutarate subsequently rescued cells from the acute effects of VX poisoning. This study highlights the broad impacts that VX has and how understanding these mechanisms could result in new therapeutics such as α-ketoglutarate.

Susceptibility of larval zebrafish to the seizurogenic activity of GABA type A receptor antagonists

Previous studies demonstrated that pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), a GABA type A receptor (GABA_AR) antagonist, elicits seizure-like phenotypes in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio). Here, we determined whether the GABA_AR antagonists, tetramethylenedisulfotetramine (TETS) and picrotoxin (PTX), both listed as credible chemical threat agents, similarly trigger seizures in zebrafish larvae. Larvae of three, routinely used laboratory zebrafish lines, Tropical 5D, NHGRI and Tupfel long fin, were exposed to varying concentrations of PTZ (used as a positive control), PTX or TETS for 20 min at 5 days post fertilization (dpf). Acute exposure to PTZ, PTX or TETS triggered seizure behavior in the absence of morbidity or mortality. While the concentration-effect relationship for seizure behavior was similar across zebrafish lines for each GABA_AR antagonist, significantly less TETS was required to trigger seizures relative to PTX or PTZ. Recordings of extracellular field potentials in the optic tectum of 5 dpf Tropical 5D zebrafish confirmed that all three GABA_AR antagonists elicited extracellular spiking patterns consistent with seizure activity, although the pattern varied between chemicals. Post-exposure treatment with the GABA_AR positive allosteric modulators (PAMs), diazepam, midazolam or allopregnanolone, attenuated seizure behavior and activity but did not completely normalize electrical field recordings in the optic tectum. These data are consistent with observations of seizure responses in mammalian models exposed to these same GABA_AR antagonists and PAMs, further validating larval zebrafish as a higher throughput-screening platform for antiseizure therapeutics, and demonstrating its appropriateness for identifying improved countermeasures for TETS and other convulsant chemical threat agents that trigger seizures via GABA_AR antagonism.

Therapeutic potential of N-acetylcysteine in acrylamide acute neurotoxicity in adult zebrafish

Two essential key events in acrylamide (ACR) acute neurotoxicity are the formation of adducts with nucleophilic sulfhydryl groups on cysteine residues of selected proteins in the synaptic terminals and the depletion of the glutathione (GSx) stores in neural tissue. The use of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been recently proposed as a potential antidote against ACR neurotoxicity, as this chemical is not only a well-known precursor of the reduced form of glutathione (GSH), but also is an scavenger of soft electrophiles such as ACR. In this study, the suitability of 0.3 and 0.75 mM NAC to protect against the neurotoxic effect of 0.75 mM ACR has been tested in vivo in adult zebrafish. NAC provided only a mild to negligible protection against the changes induced by ACR in the motor function, behavior, transcriptome and proteome. The permeability of NAC to cross blood-brain barrier (BBB) was assessed, as well as the ACR-scavenging activity and the gamma-glutamyl-cysteine ligase (γ-GCL) and acylase I activities. The results show that ACR not only depletes GSx levels but also inhibits it synthesis from NAC/cysteine, having a dramatic effect over the glutathione system. Moreover, results indicate a very low NAC uptake to the brain, probably by a combination of low BBB permeability and high deacylation of NAC during the intestinal absorption. These results strongly suggest that the use of NAC is not indicated in ACR acute neurotoxicity treatment.

Deciphering the mode of action of pollutants impairing the fish larvae escape response with the vibrational startle response assay

The escape response evoked by vibrational stimuli and its habituation, essential behaviors for fish larvae survival, can be altered by neurotoxic environmental pollutants commonly found in our aquatic ecosystems. In this study we have analyzed the suitability of the Vibrational Startle Response Assay (VSRA) to obtain mechanistic information about the mode of action (MoA) of the chemicals impairing the escape response and its habituation. As a proof of concept, the pathophysiological mechanisms behind the action of two common neurotoxic pesticides, chlorpyrifos-oxon (CPO) and imidacloprid, over their effects on arousal and habituation of the escape response were studied by using pharmacological antagonists of the nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, mecamylamine (MCA) and scopolamine, respectively. Furthermore, potential changes in the neurotransmitter profile were analyzed. Results revealed that whereas the effect of CPO on arousal was mainly mediated by the activation of nAChRs, its effect on habituation was mainly mediated by mAChRs. On the other hand, imidacloprid only affected larvae arousal which was found to be mediated by a cholinergic independent mechanism. No association between behavioral effects on arousal or habituation in affected larvae was found with their corresponding neurotransmitter profile. These results confirm the suitability of VSRA to provide mechanistic information about the potential MoA of neuroactive compounds.

Multiomic Analysis of Zebrafish Models of Acute Organophosphorus Poisoning With Different Severity

Organophosphorus compounds are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors used as pesticides and chemical warfare nerve agents. Acute organophosphorus poisoning (acute OPP) affects 3 million people, with 300 000 deaths annually worldwide. Severe acute OPP effects include overstimulation of cholinergic neurons, seizures, status epilepticus, and finally, brain damage. In a previous study, we developed 3 different chemical models of acute OPP in zebrafish larvae. To elucidate the complex pathophysiological pathways related to acute OPP, we used integrative omics (proteomic, transcriptomics, and metabolomics) on these 3 animal models. Our results show that these stochastic, apparently disparate morphological phenotypes can result from almost linear concentration-response variations in molecular levels. Results from the multiomics analysis strongly suggest that endoplasmic reticulum stress might play a central role in the pathophysiology of severe acute OPP, emphasizing the urgent need of further research on this molecular pathway. Endoplasmic reticulum stress could be an important therapeutic target to be included in the treatment of patients with severe acute OPP.

Further characterization of the zebrafish model of acrylamide acute neurotoxicity: gait abnormalities and oxidative stress

Occupational, accidental, or suicidal exposure to acrylamide (ACR) may result in a neurotoxic syndrome. Development of animal models of acrylamide neurotoxicity is necessary for increasing our mechanistic understanding of this syndrome and developing more effective therapies. A new model for acute ACR neurotoxicity has been recently developed in adult zebrafish. Whereas the results of the initial characterization were really promising, a further characterization is needed for testing the construct validity of the model. In this study, the presence of gait abnormalities has been investigated by using ZebraGait, software specifically designed to analyze the kinematics of fish swimming in a water tunnel. The results of the kinematic analyses demonstrated that the model exhibits mild-to-moderate gait abnormalities. Moreover, the model exhibited negative scototaxis, a result confirming a phenotype of anxiety comorbid with depression phenotype. Interestingly, depletion of the reduced glutathione levels was found in the brain without a concomitant increase in oxidative stress. Finally, hypolocomotion and positive geotaxis exhibited by this model were fully recovered 5 days after transferring the fish to clean fish-water. All this data support the validity of the ACR acute neurotoxicity model developed in adult zebrafish.

Toxicity assessment of pollutants sorbed on environmental microplastics collected on beaches: Part II-adverse effects on Japanese medaka early life stages

While microplastics are present in great abundance across all seas and oceans, little is known about their effects on marine life. In the aquatic environment, they can accumulate a variety of chemicals and can be ingested by many marine organisms including fish, with chronic physical and chemical effects. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the toxic effects of pollutants sorbed at the surface of environmental microplastics (MPs), collected on various beaches from three islands of the Pacific Ocean. Developmental toxicity of virgin MPs or artificially coated with B[a]P and environmental MPs from Easter Island, Guam and Hawaii was evaluated on embryos and prolarvae of Japanese medaka. Mortality, hatching success, biometry, malformations, EROD activity and DNA damage were analyzed after exposure to DMSO extracts. No toxicity was observed for extracts of virgin MPs whatever the endpoint considered. Extracts of virgin MPs coated with 250 µg.g^-1 of B(a)P induced lethal effects with high embryo mortality (+81%) and low hatching rate (-28%) and sublethal effects including biometry and swimming behavior changes, increase of EROD activity (+94%) and DNA damage (+60%). Environmental MPs collected on the three selected islands exhibited different polymer, pollutant and toxicity patterns. The highest toxicity was detected for MPs extract from Hawaï with head/body length and swimming speed decreases and induction of EROD activity and DNA stand breaks. This study reports the possible sublethal toxicity of organic pollutants sorbed on MPs to fish early life stages.

Development of a vibrational startle response assay for screening environmental pollutants and drugs impairing predator avoidance

The present paper describes the vibrational startle response assay (VSRA), a new robust, simple and automated in vivo medium- to high-throughput procedure for assessment of the escape response and its habituation in zebrafish larvae. Such behaviors enable fish larvae to escape from predator strikes in aquatic ecosystems. The assay is based on measuring the distance moved by each larva during the startle response evoked by repetitive vibrational stimuli. The iterative reduction observed in the response to a series of tapping stimulus in VSRA met the main criteria of habituation. Subsequently, the analysis of concordance using a battery of neuroactive compounds modulating different neurotransmitter systems demonstrated that the results of VSRA are highly predictive of the effects on other vertebrates. Finally, as a proof of concept, VSRA was used to test two relevant environmental pollutants at different concentrations. The results demonstrated that VSRA is suitable for concentration-response analysis of environmental pollutants, opening the possibility to determine the potency and the associated hazard of impaired escape response for the different compounds. Therefore, we suggest that VSRA could be a valuable tool for screening of chemical compounds capable of compromising predator avoidance behavior.

Assessment of tissue-specific multifactor effects in environmental -omics studies of heterogeneous biological samples: Combining hyperspectral image information and chemometrics

The use of hyperspectral imaging techniques in biological studies has increased in the recent years. Hyperspectral images (HSI) provide chemical information and preserve the morphology and original structure of heterogeneous biological samples, which can be potentially useful in environmental -omics studies when effects due to several factors, e.g., contaminant exposure, phenotype,…, at a specific tissue level need to be investigated. Yet, no available strategies exist to exploit adequately this kind of information. This work offers a novel chemometric strategy to pass from the raw image information to useful knowledge in terms of statistical assessment of the multifactor effects of interest in -omic studies. To do so, unmixing of the hyperspectral image measurement is carried out to provide tissue-specific information. Afterwards, several specific ANOVA-Simultaneous Component Analysis (ASCA) models are generated to properly assess and interpret the diverse effect of the factors of interest on the spectral fingerprints of the different tissues characterized. The unmixing step is performed by Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) on multisets of biological images related to each studied condition and provides reliable HSI spectral signatures and related image maps for each specific tissue in the regions imaged. The variability associated with these signatures within a population is obtained through an MCR-based resampling step on representative pixel subsets of the images analyzed. All spectral fingerprints obtained for a particular tissue in the different conditions studied are used to obtain the related ASCA model that will help to assess the significance of the factors studied on the tissue and, if relevant, to describe the associated fingerprint modifications. The potential of the approach is assessed in a real case of study linked to the investigation of the effect of exposure time to chlorpyrifos-oxon (CPO) on ocular tissues of different phenotypes of zebrafish larvae from Raman HSI of eye cryosections. The study allowed the characterization of melanin, crystalline and internal eye tissue and the phenotype, exposure time and the interaction of the two factors were found to be significant in the changes found in all kind of tissues. Factor-related changes in the spectral fingerprint were described and interpreted per each kind of tissue characterized.

Effects of sequential exposure to water accommodated fraction of crude oil and chlorpyrifos on molecular and biochemical biomarkers in rainbow trout

Fish can be simultaneously or sequentially exposed to various kinds of pollutants, resulting in combined effects. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons induce cytochrome P450 monooxygenase 1A (CYP1A) expression, which catalyzes the conversion of the organophosphorus insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) into its most active derivative, CPF-oxon. CPF-oxon inhibits CYP1A and other enzymes, including carboxylesterases (CEs) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). We studied the effects of an in vivo exposure to crude oil water accommodated fraction (WAF) followed by an ex vivo exposure of liver tissue to CPF on the expression of Cyp1a, AhR and ARNT mRNA, CYP1A protein and on the activity of biomarker enzymes in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Juvenile rainbow trout were exposed to WAF (62 μg L^-1 TPH) for 48 h. Then, liver was dissected out, sliced and exposed to 20 μg L^-1 CPF ex vivo for 1 h. Liver tissue was analyzed for mRNA and protein expression and for CEs, AChE, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and CYP1A (EROD) activity. WAF induced Cyp1a mRNA and CYP1A protein expression by 10-fold and 2.5-8.3-fold, respectively, with no effect of CPF. WAF induced AhR expression significantly (4-fold) in control but not in CPF treated liver tissue. ARNT mRNA expression was significantly lowered (5-fold) by WAF. CPF significantly reduced liver EROD activity, independently of WAF pre-treatment. CEs activity was significantly inhibited in an additive manner following in vivo exposure to WAF (42%) and ex vivo exposure to CPF (19%). CPF exposure inhibited AChE activity (37%) and increased GST activity (42%).

Acrylamide acute neurotoxicity in adult zebrafish

Acute exposure to acrylamide (ACR), a type-2 alkene, may lead to a ataxia, skeletal muscles weakness and numbness of the extremities in human and laboratory animals. In the present manuscript, ACR acute neurotoxicity has been characterized in adult zebrafish, a vertebrate model increasingly used in human neuropharmacology and toxicology research. At behavioral level, ACR-treated animals exhibited “depression-like” phenotype comorbid with anxiety behavior. At transcriptional level, ACR induced down-regulation of regeneration-associated genes and up-regulation of oligodendrocytes and reactive astrocytes markers, altering also the expression of genes involved in the presynaptic vesicle cycling. ACR induced also significant changes in zebrafish brain proteome and formed adducts with selected cysteine residues of specific proteins, some of them essential for the presynaptic function. Finally, the metabolomics analysis shows a depletion in the monoamine neurotransmitters, consistent with the comorbid depression and anxiety disorder, in the brain of the exposed fish.

Analysis of the neurotoxic effects of neuropathic organophosphorus compounds in adult zebrafish

Inhibition and aging of neuropathy target esterase (NTE) by exposure to neuropathic organophosphorus compounds (OPs) can result in OP-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN). In the present study we aimed to build a model of OPIDN in adult zebrafish. First, inhibition and aging of zebrafish NTE activity were characterized in the brain by using the prototypic neuropathic compounds cresyl saligenin phosphate (CBDP) and diisopropylphosphorofluoridate (DFP). Our results show that, as in other animal models, zebrafish NTE is inhibited and aged by both neuropathic OPs. Then, a neuropathic concentration inhibiting NTE activity by at least 70% for at least 24 h was selected for each compound to analyze changes in phosphatidylcholines (PCs), lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) and glycerolphosphocholine (GPC) profiles. In spite to the strong inhibition of the NTE activity found for both compounds, only a mild increase in the LPCs level was found after 48 h of the exposure to DFP, and no effect were observed by CBDP. Moreover, histopathological evaluation and motor function outcome analyses failed to find any neurological abnormalities in the exposed fish. Thus, our results strongly suggest that zebrafish is not a suitable species for the development of an experimental model of human OPIDN.

Combining hyperspectral imaging and chemometrics to assess and interpret the effects of environmental stressors on zebrafish eye images at tissue level

Changes on an organism by the exposure to environmental stressors may be characterized by hyperspectral images (HSI), which preserve the morphology of biological samples, and suitable chemometric tools. The approach proposed allows assessing and interpreting the effect of contaminant exposure on heterogeneous biological samples monitored by HSI at specific tissue levels. In this work, the model example used consists of the study of the effect of the exposure of chlorpyrifos-oxon on zebrafish tissues. To assess this effect, unmixing of the biological sample images followed by tissue-specific classification models based on the unmixed spectral signatures is proposed. Unmixing and classification are performed by multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), respectively. Crucial aspects of the approach are: (1) the simultaneous MCR-ALS analysis of all images from 1 population to take into account biological variability and provide reliable tissue spectral signatures, and (2) the use of resolved spectral signatures from control and exposed populations obtained from resampling of pixel subsets analyzed by MCR-ALS multiset analysis as information for the tissue-specific PLS-DA classification models. Classification results diagnose the presence of a significant effect and identify the spectral regions at a tissue level responsible for the biological change.

Three-dimensional (3D) tetra-culture brain on chip platform for organophosphate toxicity screening

Organophosphate-based compounds (OPs) represent a significant threat to warfighters (nerve agents) and civilian populations (pesticides). There is a pressing need to develop in vitro brain models that correlate to the in vivo brain to rapidly study OPs for neurotoxicity. Here we report on a microfluidic-based three-dimensional, four-cell tissue construct consisting of 1) a blood-brain barrier that has dynamic flow and membrane-free culture of the endothelial layer, and 2) an extracellular matrix (ECM)-embedded tissue construct with neuroblastoma, microglia, and astrocytes. We demonstrated this platform’s utility by measuring OP effects on barrier integrity, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, viability and residual OP concentration with four model OPs. The results show that the OPs penetrate the blood brain barrier (BBB) and rapidly inhibit AChE activity, and that in vitro toxicity was correlated with available in vivo data. This paper demonstrates the potential utility of a membrane-free tetra-cultured brain on chip that can be scaled to high throughput as a cost-effective alternative method to animal testing.