Effects of sodium arsenite exposure on behavior, ultrastructure and gene expression of brain in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Hao Ma; Wenjing Yang; Yang Li; Jing Li; Xiyue Yang; Yunyan Chen; Yifan Ma; Dianjun Sun; Hongna Sun

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (Mar 2024)

Effects of sodium arsenite exposure on behavior, ultrastructure and gene expression of brain in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Hao Ma,
Wenjing Yang,
Yang Li,
Jing Li,
Xiyue Yang,
Yunyan Chen,
Yifan Ma,
Dianjun Sun,
Hongna Sun

Affiliations

Hao Ma: Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology (Harbin Medical University) & Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health & Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, China
Wenjing Yang: Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology (Harbin Medical University) & Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health & Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, China
Yang Li: The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 17 Yongwai Street, Donghu Distinct, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China
Jing Li: Department of Electron Microscopy Center, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
Xiyue Yang: Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology (Harbin Medical University) & Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health & Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, China
Yunyan Chen: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, the National Key Discipline, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
Yifan Ma: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, the National Key Discipline, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
Dianjun Sun: Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology (Harbin Medical University) & Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health & Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, China
Hongna Sun: Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology (Harbin Medical University) & Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health & Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, China; Corresponding author at: Institute for Endemic Fluorosis Control, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 273
p. 116107

Abstract

Read online

Arsenic, a common metal-like substance, has been demonstrated to pose potential health hazards and induce behavioral changes in humans and rodents. However, the chronic neurotoxic effects of arsenic on aquatic animals are still not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of arsenic exposure on adult zebrafish by subjecting 3-month-old zebrafish to three different sodium arsenite water concentrations: 0 μg/L (control group), 50 μg/L, and 500 μg/L, over a period of 30 days. To assess the risk associated with arsenic exposure in the aquatic environment, behavior analysis, transmission electron microscopy techniques, and quantitative real-time PCR were employed. The behavior of adult zebrafish was evaluated using six distinct tests: the mirror biting test, shoaling test, novel tank test, social preference test, social recognition test, and T maze. Following the behavioral tests, the brains of zebrafish were dissected and collected for ultrastructural examination and gene expression analysis. The results revealed that sodium arsenite exposure led to a significant reduction in aggression, cohesion, social ability, social cognition ability, learning, and memory capacity of zebrafish. Furthermore, ultrastructure and genes regulating behavior in the zebrafish brain were adversely affected by sodium arsenite exposure.

Published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

ISSN: 0147-6513 (Print); 1090-2414 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Technology: Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering: Environmental pollution; Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecotoxicology-and-environmental-safety

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords