Fluoxetine chronic exposure affects growth, behavior and tissue structure of zebrafish

• Published in: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology 2020-11, Vol.237, p.108836, Article 108836
• Main Authors: de Farias, Natália Oliveira, Oliveira, Rhaul, Moretti, Patrícia Natália Silva, e Pinto, Joana Mona, Oliveira, Ana Clara, Santos, Viviani Lara, Rocha, Paula Suares, Andrade, Thayres Sousa, Grisolia, Cesar Koppe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antidepressant; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation - toxicity; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Chronic toxicity; Danio rerio; Fluoxetine - toxicity; Intestinal Mucosa - drug effects; Intestinal Mucosa - pathology; Liver - drug effects; Liver - pathology; Liver and intestine histopathology; SSRI; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Weight Gain - drug effects; Zebrafish - anatomy & histology; Zebrafish - growth & development; Zebrafish - physiology
• ISSN: 1532-0456; 1878-1659
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2020.108836

Fluoxetine (FLX) is among the top 100 pharmaceutical prescribed annually worldwide and consequently is often detected in wastewater treatment plant effluent and surface waters, in concentrations up to 2.7 and 0.33 μg/L, respectively. Despite the presence of FLX in surface waters, little is known about its chronic effects in fish. Thus, this study aimed at investigating the chronic toxicity of FLX to Danio rerio adults. Rate of weight gain, behavior (feeding and swimming activity) and tissue organization (liver and intestine) were evaluated, after 30 days exposure. A lower rate of weight gain was observed at 100 μg/L FLX. The food intake time decreased, showing a decrease in fish appetite. The preference for the upper aquarium layer was observed at 10 and 100 μg/L of FLX, indicating an inhibition of the stress level (anxiolytic effect). Mild to moderate damage of hepatic tissue and a decrease epithelium height and increase in villus height of intestine were observed in fish exposed to concentrations as low as 0.01 μg/L. Based on obtained results, chronic exposure of fish to FLX could affect swimming and feeding behavior and alter morphological structure of liver and intestine tissues at environmental levels. [Display omitted] •Chronic effects of fluoxetine were evaluated in zebrafish adults exposed for 30 days.•No mortality was recorded in fish exposed to highest tested concentration (100 μg/L).•Alterations on weight gain rate and feeding behavior were observed at 100 μg/L•Fluoxetine induced anti-anxiety swimming behavior at 10 μg/L.•Damage in hepatic tissue and alterations in the intestines were observed at 0.01 μg/L.