Short-Term Exposure Effects of the Environmental Endocrine Disruptor Benzo(a)Pyrene on Thyroid Axis Function in Zebrafish

Benzo(a)Pyrene (BaP) is one of the most widespread polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with endocrine disrupting properties and carcinogenic effects. In the present study, we tested the effect of BaP on thyroid development and function, using zebrafish as a model system. Zebrafish embryos were t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of molecular sciences 2022-05, Vol.23 (10), p.5833
Main Authors: Rurale, Giuditta, Gentile, Ilaria, Carbonero, Camilla, Persani, Luca, Marelli, Federica
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
benzo(a)pyrene
Carcinogens
Caretta caretta
central hypothyroidism
Communication
Danio rerio
Embryos
endocrine disruptor chemicals
Endocrine disruptors
Fertilization
Follicles
Hormones
hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis
Hypothalamus
Hypothyroidism
Immunofluorescence
Larvae
Metabolism
Metabolites
Morphology
PCB
Pituitary
Polychlorinated biphenyls
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Pyrene
Thyroid
Thyroid gland
Thyroxine
Toxicity
Zebrafish
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Summary:Benzo(a)Pyrene (BaP) is one of the most widespread polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with endocrine disrupting properties and carcinogenic effects. In the present study, we tested the effect of BaP on thyroid development and function, using zebrafish as a model system. Zebrafish embryos were treated with 50 nM BaP from 2.5 to 72 h post fertilization (hpf) and compared to 1.2% DMSO controls. The expression profiles of markers of thyroid primordium specification, thyroid hormone (TH) synthesis, hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, TH transport and metabolism, and TH action were analyzed in pools of treated and control embryos at different developmental stages. BaP treatment did not affect early markers of thyroid differentiation but resulted in a significant decrease of markers of TH synthesis ( and ) likely secondary to defective expression of the central stimulatory hormones of thyroid axis ( , ) and of TH metabolism ( ). Consequently, immunofluorescence of BaP treated larvae showed a low number of follicles immunoreactive to T4. In conclusion, our results revealed that the short-term exposure to BaP significantly affects thyroid function in zebrafish, but the primary toxic effects would be exerted at the hypothalamic-pituitary level thus creating a model of central hypothyroidism.
ISSN:1422-0067
1661-6596
1422-0067
DOI:10.3390/ijms23105833