Adverse Outcomes Following Exposure to Perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA) in Larval Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>): A Neurotoxic and Behavioral Perspective
Nikita David,
Emma Ivantsova,
Isaac Konig,
Cole D. English,
Lev Avidan,
Mark Kreychman,
Mario L. Rivera,
Camilo Escobar,
Eliana Maira Agostini Valle,
Amany Sultan,
Christopher J. Martyniuk
Affiliations
Nikita David
Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Emma Ivantsova
Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Isaac Konig
Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Cole D. English
Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Lev Avidan
Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Mark Kreychman
Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Mario L. Rivera
Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Camilo Escobar
Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Eliana Maira Agostini Valle
Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Amany Sultan
Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Christopher J. Martyniuk
Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Toxicity mechanisms of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), a chemical class present in diverse ecosystems, as well as many of their precursors, have been increasingly characterized in aquatic species. Perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA, C8H2F17NO2S) is a common precursor of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), a long-chain PFAS. Here, we assessed sub-lethal endpoints related to development, oxidative stress, transcript levels, and distance moved in zebrafish embryos and larvae following continuous exposure to PFOSA beginning at 6 h post-fertilization (hpf). PFOSA decreased survival in fish treated with 1 µg/L PFOSA; however, the effect was modest relative to the controls (difference of 10%). Exposure up to 10 µg/L PFOSA did not affect hatch rate, nor did it induce ROS in 7-day-old larvae fish. The activity of larval fish treated with 100 µg/L PFOSA was reduced relative to the solvent control. Transcripts related to oxidative stress response and apoptosis were measured and BCL2-associated X, apoptosis regulator (bax), cytochrome c, somatic (cycs), catalase (cat), superoxide dismutase 2 (sod2) were induced with high concentrations of PFOSA. Genes related to neurotoxicity were also measured and transcript levels of acetylcholinesterase (ache), elav-like RNA binding protein 3 (elavl3), growth-associated protein 43 (gap43), synapsin II (syn2a), and tubulin 3 (tubb3) were all increased in larval fish with higher PFOSA exposure. These data improve our understanding of the potential sub-lethal toxicity of PFOSA in fish species.
