"Fish Models used in Environmental Toxicology Studies, Highlighting the Zebrafish as an emerging model in Ecotoxicology

ESPINOSA MARÍA B.

Buenos Aires

Congreso; SETAC Latin America 11th Biennial Meeting; 2015

SETAC

SETAC Session Proposal - Meeting on September SETAC LA (Usina del Arte). Will be very interesting for the meeting SETAC Latin America a session focusing on "Fish Models used in Environmental Toxicology Studies, Highlighting the Zebrafish as an emerging model in Ecotoxicology. A Similar session proposed by J.Legradi, J. Legler and E. M. Santos for the 25th Annual Meeting SETAC- Europe , Barcelona 3-7 May 2005 (Aquatical and Terrestrial Ecotoxicology).There are important pioneering works in the use of fish in biomonitoring of water fountains. Some examples: the medaka (Oryzias latipes) is a small teleosteo (3 cm long) widely used as a laboratory animal. With these good biologic characteristics and abundant research resources, medaka is comparable to zebrafish as animal model. There are more than 90 substances of toxicological concern in water pollution; one of them is Mercury (Hg). Hg contamination is a main issue for resource managers of water, due to the anthropogenic contamination of Hg and its incorporation into the food web which may be appear through a fish population. The yellow perch (Perca flavescens) has been useful to evaluate the Mercury (Hg) contamination. The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is used to study the bioaccumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) on aquaculture ponds. Ovoviviparous species as Gambusia affinis and Heterandria formosa are useful for studies over water pollution and the transmission of toxic chemical substances between parental and descendant generations. One of the aims of this session is to encourage the search for local fish models, potentially useful for ecotoxicology (example: Cnesterodon decemmaculatus). Finally, the use of transgenic fish systems and their application in ecotoxicology is a relatively recent development for advancing and understanding of genetic mechanisms and developmental processes. Transgenic fish have also been applied in ecotoxicology and they have the potential to provide more advanced and integrated systems for assessing chemicals and their impacts on human health. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is the most popular fish species for transgenic models because the high fecundity rate, transparency of their embryos, the rapid organogenesis and availability of genetic extensive resources. Danio rerio has become in an attractive model organism in many areas of scientific research as developmental biology and applied toxicology.