Effects of Di-Isononyl Phthalate (DiNP) on Follicular Atresia in Zebrafish Ovary

GODOI, FILIPE G. ANDRADE; FORNER-PIQUER, ISABEL; RANDAZZO, BASILIO; HABIBI, HAMID R.; LO NOSTRO, FABIANA L.; MOREIRA, RENATA GUIMARÃES; CARNEVALI, OLIANA

Frontiers in Endocrinology

Frontiers Media

Año: 2021 vol. 12

Di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP) is a plasticizer reported to elicit hormone-like activity and disruptmetabolism and reproduction in fish and other vertebrates. In general, phthalates have beenused at high concentrations beyond reported environmental levels to assess their adverseeffects on fish gonadal physiology. The present study exposed adult female zebrafish to awide range of DiNP concentrations [0.42 μg L−1 (10−9 M), 4.2 μg L−1 (10−8 M), and 42 μg L−1(10−7 M)] for 21 days.We evaluated gene expression profiles related to apoptosis, autophagy,and oxidative stress; DNA fragmentation (TUNEL assay: terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasedUTP nick end labeling) and caspase activity (CAS3) were also examined. Exposure to 0.42and 4.2 μg L−1 upregulated the genes coding for tnfa and baxa, sod1, prkaa1, respectively.CAS3 immunohistochemistry revealed a higher number of positive vitellogenic oocytes inovaries exposed to 0.42 μg L−1. Subsequently, we examined the relationship between CAS3signaling and DNA fragmentation. Accordingly, DNA fragmentation was observed invitellogenic follicles of fish exposed to 0.42 and 4.2 mg L−1. Our results demonstrate thatfollicular atresia can occur after exposure to environmental levels of DiNP for 21 days, whichmay adversely affect the reproductive performance of female zebrafish in a nonmonotonicmanner.