Early Life Stage Exposure to BDE-47 Causes Adverse Effects on Reproductive Success and Sexual Differentiation in Fathead Minnows (Pimephales promelas)

Abstract

2,2',4,4'-Tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), a compound manufactured for use as a flame retardant, is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant and suspected endocrine disruptor. Though several studies have explored the reproductive effects of BDE-47 in adult fish, there is a paucity of data regarding the reproductive effects of early life stage exposure. The goal of this study was to assess the reproductive effects of early life stage BDE-47 exposure in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). To achieve this, minnows were exposed to either a low (57.68 μg BDE-47/g Artemia) or high (392.59 μg BDE-47/g Artemia) dose of BDE-47 from fertilization to 34 days postfertilization (dpf) via a combination of maternal transfer and dietary exposure. Larvae were then raised on a clean diet until sexual maturity (∼184 dpf) when reproductive function was evaluated using a 21 day breeding study. Fish exposed to BDE-47 had significantly reduced clutch size and fecundity relative to controls. BDE-47 exposed groups also had female-biased sex ratios and exposed males had fewer tubercles. Overall, this study demonstrates that exposure to BDE-47 during early life stages can alter both sexual differentiation and reproductive function.

A Roadmap to the Structure-Related Metabolism Pathways of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Early Life Stages of Zebrafish ( Danio rerio )

“…The early life stage of zebrafish (Danio rerio) is widely used as a model to characterize the toxicities of pollutants (Fu et al 2013;Li et al 2017; Thornton et al 2016) because the early life stage of fish is considered the most sensitive to environmental stressors (Embry et al 2010;Villeneuve et al 2014;Volz et al 2011). In addition, embryonic zebrafish have been proposed as a cost-effective platform to assess the bioaccumulations of pollutants (Sanz-Landaluze et al 2015;Sun et al 2016).…”

Early life co-exposures to a real-world PAH mixture and hypoxia result in later life and next generation consequences in medaka (Oryzias latipes)

“…Similar results were seen after early-life exposure to 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) in fathead minnows ( Pimephales promelas ). Those authors regarded altered estrogenic activity of BDE-47 as a cause (Thornton et al, 2016). During medaka embryogenesis, sex hormones direct the developmental form of estrogens thereby mediating development of female sex organs and their functional characteristics (Matsuda, 2005).…”

BDE-47 Causes Depression-like Effects in Zebrafish Larvae via a Non-Image-Forming Visual Mechanism

“…The levels of PBDEs were as high as 29 μg/L in polluted water and commonly detected at levels of μg/g to mg/g dry weight in biota samples. − Therefore, the long-term health consequences of PBDEs remain non-negligible. The adverse effects of PBDEs are diverse and complicated, characterized by endocrine thyroid disruption, − reproduction toxicity, − and visual impairment. , Great research concerns are focused on the neurotoxicity of PBDEs, especially at the early stages of life . Multiple cohort studies reported the relationships between PBDEs and depressive symptoms, and significant positive associations were observed, especially with 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47). ,− It is of note that there is a consistent pattern between more sleep problems and higher BDE-47 serum level at 4 year old children in a birth cohort study of Shanghai-Minhang, China .…”