Retinal Neuronal Cell is a Toxicological Target of Tributyltin in Developing Zebrafish

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Organotins are among the most common marine pollutants in the world, as they are widely used as antifouling paint on ships and fishing nets. It has been reported that organotin preferentially accumulates in the central nervous system, especially in the retinal neurons of marine organisms including fish. In this study, we investigated the effects of waterborne tributyltin (TBT) on early-stage developing zebrafish (Danio rerio). Below the lethal concentrations, TBT specifically increased the number of apoptotic cells in the retina as well as some cells near trigeminal neurons, detected by terminal transferase-mediated nick-end-labeling staining. Apoptosis peaked at 60 hpf and decreased by 72 hpf, which was associated with macrophage accumulation. Furthermore, the effect of TBT was markedly inhibited by antioxidants, ascorbic acid or trolox. These results suggest that TBT preferentially induces apoptosis in the retinal neuron of developing zebrafish. Oxidative stress may be involved in this toxicological response.

Acute retinal toxicity associated with a mixture of perfluorooctane and perfluorohexyloctane: failure of another indirect cytotoxicity analysis

“…This substance is used for agricultural, industrial and biomedical applications. Systemic toxicity of organotin compounds or stannanes is well known,25 including effects on the retinal neurons of developing zebrafish26; however, there have been no data on human retinal toxicity until now. Besides our dose–response curve confirmed its human retinal toxicity at the levels found in the toxic batch of Bio Octane Plus.…”

Probing the xeno-oestrogenic impact of sediment cores contaminated by the pulp and paper industry: induction of aromatase cyp19a1b in late larval zebrafish

“…Although Dong et al (2006) showed developmental toxicity of TBT in zebrafish beyond 72 hpf, the hatching rate was not a sensitive endpoint for the TBT exposure in that study either. On the other hand, the same study (Dong et al 2006) showed TBT-induced mortality from waterborne exposure at 30-50 μg l -1 , a concentration range which was apparently much higher than with TBT available from elutriate of either the HL or TBT-spiked sediments used in our study. Overall, however, it is commonly understood that the incidence of edemas and other malformations in developing zebrafish point to the embryo toxicity of contaminated sediments (Hollert et al 2003, Wu et al 2010.…”

Effect of tributyltin oxide exposure on the F0 and F1 generations of a marine teleost, the mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus

“…Previous studies have reported the induction of apoptosis by OTs in some fish species [27][28][29]. In zebrafish, exposure to TBT was found to induce apoptosis in retinal neuronal cells, possibly because of oxidative stress [27].…”

“…In zebrafish, exposure to TBT was found to induce apoptosis in retinal neuronal cells, possibly because of oxidative stress [27]. In cuvier Sebasticus marmoratus, exposure to trimethyltin (TMT) as well as to TBT caused apoptosis in the brain cells [28,29].…”