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

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Camilla Carbonero¹  Ilaria Gentile¹  Federica Marelli²  Luca Persani²  Giuditta Rurale² 

[1] Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20100 Milan, Italy;Lab of Endocrine and Metabolic Research, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20100 Milan, Italy;

关键词: zebrafish;    hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis;    endocrine disruptor chemicals;    benzo(a)pyrene;    central hypothyroidism;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms23105833

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

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 (tg and nis) likely secondary to defective expression of the central stimulatory hormones of thyroid axis (trh, tshba) and of TH metabolism (dio2). 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.

【 授权许可】

Unknown