Organophosphorus flame retardants induce malformations in avian embryos
Evaluation of developmental toxicity in early chicken embryos exposed to tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate
Peer-Reviewed PublicationIMAGE:
SUMMARY OF DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY OF EARLY CHICKEN EMBRYOS EXPOSED TO TRIS(2-CHLOROISOPROPYL) PHOSPHATE USING A SHELL-LESS EMBRYO INCUBATION SYSTEM
view moreCREDIT: CENTER FOR MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (CMES), EHIME UNIVERSITY
Tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) is one of the organophosphorus flame retardants that has been detected in the environment, and in the eggs, feathers, and liver of birds. Early developmental avian embryos are known to be sensitive to chemical exposure, but knowledge regarding the effects of TCIPP on avian embryonic development is limited. In this study, a shell-less embryo incubation system was used to investigate the toxicity of TCIPP in early chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) embryos.
Fertilized chick embryos were exposed to 50 nmol TCIPP/g, 500 nmol TCIPP/g, or vehicle control, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on day 0 of incubation. Embryos were observed on days 3-9 of incubation, and expression levels of several genes were measured in embryos on day 4.
Survival was significantly reduced in both groups exposed to TCIPP. Imaging analysis showed that body length, head and bill length, eye diameter, and forelimb and hindlimb length were significantly reduced in both groups exposed to TCIPP. In addition, TCIPP exposure significantly inhibited extraembryonic vascular length and red blood cell production. The heart rate decreased in a dose-dependent manner, particularly on days 4-7, and the somitic angle was significantly increased on days 4-6 in the TCIPP-exposed group, inducing asymmetrical somite formation. The significant correlation between somitic angle and FGF8 expression suggested that TCIPP exposure affects somite formation through an altered FGF signaling pathway.
These results indicate that TCIPP exposure exerts toxic effects on development, including vascularization, cardiac function, and somite formation in avian embryos.
JOURNAL
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
DOI
Organohalogen contamination impact on the health of Baltic Atlantic salmon
The Baltic Sea Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) consists of both wild and hatchery-reared fish. As these salmon forage for food, they migrate through various areas of the Baltic Sea and are exposed to a variety of environmental stresses, including exposure to organohalogen compounds (OHCs).
This study aimed to determine how salmon origin (wild or hatchery-reared), feeding area (Baltic Sea mainstem, Bosnian Sea, Gulf of Finland), and OHC concentrations affect the salmon liver proteome (protein expression profile), transcriptome (RNA expression profile), and oxidative stress markers.
We performed a multi-level analysis measuring OHC concentration, transcriptome, proteome, and oxidative stress markers from the same individual salmon. This approach allowed us to determine the main factors (e.g., feeding area, OHC concentration, and oxidative stress) that contribute most to the variation in the transcriptome and proteome among different groups of salmon.
Comparison of wild and hatchery-reared salmon revealed differences in pathways related to xenobiotic and amino acid metabolism. Furthermore, comparison of salmon from different feeding areas revealed marked differences in metabolic pathways for amino acids and carbohydrates. Some of these pathways were correlated with polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations.
Multi-level analysis suggested that the Baltic salmon liver proteome, together with the transcriptome, is influenced more by OHC concentrations and oxidative stress levels in the feeding area than by their origin (wild or hatchery-reared).
JOURNAL
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
DOI
Endocrine disruption in seals by environmental contaminants
Structural characteristics of environmental pollutants and computer simulations predict effects on the endocrine system of seals
Peer-Reviewed PublicationIMAGE:
DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL TO PREDICT THE ABILITY OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS TO ACTIVATE ESTROGEN RECEPTORS IN BAIKAL SEALS
view moreCREDIT: CENTER FOR MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (CMES), EHIME UNIVERSITY
In this study, the ability of bisphenols (BPs) and hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) to activate estrogen receptor α and β subtypes (bsERα and bsERβ) in Baikal seals (Pusa sibirica) was evaluated by both in vitro (in vitro) and computer-based (in silico) experiments.
In vitro experiments revealed that most BPs and OH-PCBs exhibit estrogen-like activity against each bsER subtype. Among the BPs tested, bisphenol AF exhibited the strongest estrogen-like activity. Similarly, 4′-OH-CB50 and 4′-OH-CB30 showed the strongest activity among the tested OH-PCBs against bsERα and bsERβ, respectively.
In order to further investigate how these environmental contaminants bind to bsER, computer docking simulations were performed. Using the results of this computer simulation and the structural properties (molecular descriptors) of the environmental contaminants as explanatory variables and in vitro experimental data as objective variables, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models for both bsER subtypes were developed. These models accurately predicted the activation potential of each environmental contaminant in in vitro experiments, distinguishing, with a high degree of accuracy, between compounds that activate and those that do not activate for both bsERα and bsERβ. From the QSAR model, we also succeeded in extracting important factors that influence the activation potential of environmental contaminants.
Furthermore, we succeeded in constructing a QSAR model that predicts the activation potential of mouse ERs using the same method, demonstrating the applicability of this method regardless of species-specific responses.
JOURNAL
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
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