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The effects of a short-term exposure to propiconazole in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

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Abstract

Propiconazole (PCZ) is a widely used fungicide around the world and was frequently detected in surface waters, which would pose risk to aquatic organisms. Previous studies indicated that PCZ has high toxicity to different kinds of fish. However, most of the studies focus on the toxicity and mechanisms of PCZ to adult fish, the potential toxicity mechanism of PCZ to fish embryos is still poorly understood. The present study investigated the effects of PCZ on content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA); activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and Na+-K+-ATPase; and expression level of genes related to oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, and innate immune system in zebrafish embryos after 96-h exposure. The results showed that 5.0 mg/L PCZ induced oxidative damage in zebrafish embryos, as indicated by increased ROS and MDA content and alteration of antioxidative enzyme activity. The activity of Na+-K+-ATPase in zebrafish embryos was significantly inhibited after exposure to 0.5 mg/L PCZ. The expression levels of bax, p53, casp-3, casp-9, and apaf-1 were significantly increased, indicating that cell apoptosis was caused in embryos by 5.0 mg/L PCZ. The expression level of interleukin-1b (IL-1b) and IL-8 increased after exposure to 0.5 mg/L PCZ, but that of IL-1b, IL-8, and cxcl-c1c (chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 18b) decreased in 5.0-mg/L PCZ treatment group, indicating an immunotoxicity effect. Our results suggest that oxidative damage, cell apoptosis, and immunotoxicity would be induced in zebrafish embryos after short-term exposure to PCZ.

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Funding

This study was financially supported by The National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFD0201203).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China

    Feng Zhao, Fangjie Cao, Hui Li, Miaomiao Teng, Yong Liang & Lihong Qiu

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  1. Feng Zhao
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  2. Fangjie Cao
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  3. Hui Li
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  4. Miaomiao Teng
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  6. Lihong Qiu
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Correspondence to Lihong Qiu.

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Zhao, F., Cao, F., Li, H. et al. The effects of a short-term exposure to propiconazole in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 38212–38220 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09968-7

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