Differential developmental toxicity of crude oil in early life stages of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus)

To further understand the complexity of developmental toxicity of dispersed oil and importance of exposure timing on fish early life stages, Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations through two embryonic developmental windows: the first period occurred during the epiboly process (named as “early embryonic exposure”) and the second period overlapped the ontogenesis and cardiogenesis processes (named as “late embryonic exposure”). Following 72 hour oil exposure, embryos were transferred to clean seawater and a toxicity screening was performed in the yolk-sac larvae until first-feeding stages (56 days). The current study demonstrated that the exposure timing is essential for the development of toxic effects of crude oil in Atlantic halibut. Neither embryonic exposures (early or late) showed notable acute toxicity during exposure, yet both showed global latent teratogenic effects during yolk sac stages. Fish exposed during organogenesis (late) displayed stronger and more severe toxic effects than fish exposed during epiboly process (early), including reduced condition, severe craniofacial deformities and cardiovascular disruptions. The uptake level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons into larval tissue and metabolic activity were greater following the late embryonic exposure and remained high during the depuration period at the highest exposure concentration. Overall, the long yolk sac stage development timing of Atlantic halibut makes this species a good candidate for evaluation of embryonic crude oil toxicity and its mechanisms.publishedVersio

Toxicity assessment of water-accommodated fractions from two different oils using a zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo-larval bioassay with a multilevel approach

International audiencePetroleum compounds from chronic discharges and oil spills represent an important source of environmental pollution. To better understand the deleterious effects of these compounds, the toxicity of water-accommodated fractions (WAF) from two different oils (brut Arabian Light and Erika heavy fuel oils) were used in this study. Zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio) were exposed during 96 hours at three WAF concentrations (1, 10 and 100% for Arabian Light and 10, 50 and 100% for Erika) in order to cover a wide range of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations, representative of the levels found after environmental oil spills. Several endpoints were recorded at different levels of biological organization, including lethal endpoints, morphological abnormalities, photomotor behavioral responses, cardiac activity, DNA damage and exposure level measurements (EROD activity, cyp1a and PAH metabolites). Neither morphological nor behavioral or physiological alterations were observed after exposure to Arabian Light fractions. In contrast, the Erika fractions led a high degree of toxicity in early life stages of zebrafish. Despite of defense mechanisms induced by oil, acute toxic effects have been recorded including mortality, delayed hatching, high rates of developmental abnormalities, disrupted locomotor activity and cardiac failures at the highest PAH concentrations (Σ TPAHs=257029 ± 47231 ng.L-1). Such differences in toxicity are likely related to the oil composition. The use of developing zebrafish is a good tool to identify wide range of detrimental effects and elucidate their underlying foundations. Our work highlights once more, the cardiotoxic action (and potentially neurotoxic) of petroleum-related PAHs

Mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) life development: morphological, physiological, behavioral and molecular phenotypes.

BackgroundMahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) is a commercially and ecologically important fish species that is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical waters. Biological attributes and reproductive capacities of mahi-mahi make it a tractable model for experimental studies. In this study, life development of cultured mahi-mahi from the zygote stage to adult has been described.ResultsA comprehensive developmental table has been created reporting development as primarily detailed observations of morphology. Additionally, physiological, behavioral, and molecular landmarks have been described to significantly contribute in the understanding of mahi life development.ConclusionRemarkably, despite the vast difference in adult size, many developmental landmarks of mahi map quite closely onto the development and growth of Zebrafish and other warm-water, active Teleost fishes

Co-exposure to UV radiation and crude oil increases acute embryotoxicity and sublethal malformations in the early life stages of Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)

Crude oil causes severe abnormalities in developing fish. Photomodification of constituents in crude oil increases its toxicity several fold. We report on the effect of crude oil, in combination with ultraviolet (UV) radiation, on Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) embryos. Accumulation of crude oil on the eggshell makes haddock embryos particularly susceptible to exposure. At high latitudes, they can be exposed to UV radiation many hours a day. Haddock embryos were exposed to crude oil (5–300 μg oil/L nominal loading concentrations) for three days in the presence and absence of UV radiation (290–400 nm). UV radiation partly degraded the eggs' outer membrane resulting in less accumulation of oil droplets in the treatment with highest oil concentration (300 μg oil/L). The co-exposure treatments resulted in acute toxicity, manifested by massive tissue necrosis and subsequent mortality, reducing LC50 at hatching stage by 60 % to 0.24 μg totPAH/L compared to 0.62 μg totPAH/L in crude oil only. In the treatment with nominal low oil concentrations (5–30 μg oil/L), only co-exposure to UV led to sublethal morphological heart defects. Including phototoxicity as a parameter in risk assessments of accidental oil spills is recommended.publishedVersio

Photo-enhanced toxicity of crude oil on early developmental stages of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

Photo-enhanced toxicity of crude oil is produced by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) embryos were exposed to crude oil with and without UV radiation (290–400 nm) from 3 days post fertilization (dpf) until 6 dpf. Embryos from the co-exposure experiment were continually exposed to UV radiation until hatching at 11 dpf. Differences in body burden levels and cyp1a expression in cod embryos were observed between the exposure regimes. High doses of crude oil produced increased mortality in cod co-exposed embryos, as well as craniofacial malformations and heart deformities in larvae from both experiments. A higher number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways were revealed in the co-exposure experiment, indicating a photo-enhanced effect of crude oil toxicity. Our results provide mechanistic insights into crude oil and photo-enhanced crude oil toxicity, suggesting that UV radiation increases the toxicity of crude oil in early life stages of Atlantic cod.publishedVersio

Development of embryo-larval assays to predict early and later toxic effects of hydrophobic substances

Les hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques (HAP) sont des polluants ubiquistes dont le niveau d’émission est en constante augmentation en raison de l’intensification des activités anthropiques. Ces composés semi-persistants dans l’environnement représentent une menace pour les organismes. La santé et l’équilibre des systèmes naturels sont essentiels au maintien de la vie et au fonctionnement de la société. L’évaluation de l’impact de ces composés est alors devenue un véritable enjeu sociétal, établissant ainsi des mesures européennes législatives (Directive Cadre sur l’Eau) et réglementaires (REACH, enregistrement, évaluation, autorisation et restriction de produits chimiques) pour une meilleure gestion des risques (éco)toxicologiques. Dans ce contexte, de nombreux biotests ont vu le jour afin d’évaluer la dangerosité des substances chimiques (ou de leurs mélanges), la qualité du milieu environnant et de comprendre les mécanismes d’action toxique sur les organismes. L’objectif de cette étude était alors de définir les risques (éco)toxicologiques liés à des expositions par les HAP à travers des tests embryo-larvaires de poisson, utilisant un modèle éprouvé, le poisson zèbre Danio rerio. Afin d’évaluer le transfert, le devenir et les effets toxiques de HAP, deux approches complémentaires (chimique et biologique) ont été utilisées. Les réponses biologiques induites ont été évaluées à différents niveaux d’intégration biologique, des réponses moléculaires (stress oxydatif, dommages à l’ADN, EROD) aux modifications comportementales (Réponse PhotoMotrice), en passant par des altérations morphologiques et physiologiques (rythme cardiaque). Parmi les trois voies de contamination utilisées, l’exposition par contact avec le sédiment ne s’est pas révélée appropriée pour l’évaluation de la toxicité de HAP, contrairement aux expositions par voie aqueuse à partir de fractions hydrosolubles de produits pétroliers, qui sont plus reproductibles, intégratives et révélatrices des effets toxiques à plusieurs échelles. Suite à ces expérimentations, le champ d’observation des effets induits devrait être élargi au-delà des temps normalisés par l’Organisation de Coopération et de Développement Économique afin de ne pas sous-estimer le caractère létal du ou des composé(s) exposés. De plus, notre étude multigénérationnelle a mis en évidence des perturbations physiologiques et comportementales chez la première génération de descendance issue de parents contaminés par voie trophique à trois extraits aromatiques d’origine pyrolytique et pétrogénique (lourd et léger). Bien que le transfert de la contamination n’a pas été révélé, les altérations observées (probablement dues à des modifications génétiques et épigénétiques) chez les stades précoces de poisson zèbre, pourraient avoir des conséquences néfastes sur la survie et le recrutement des populations. Les études multigénérationnelles constituent ainsi des approches intégrées pour l’évaluation de la toxicité des composés exposés et permettent de renforcer le caractère prédictif des effets. Ces études écotoxicologiques devraient être largement déployées afin d’évaluer le potentiel qu’une population exposée a pour se maintenir dans le futur.PAHs are ubiquitous widespread contaminants which emissions are overgrowing with increasing anthropogenic activities. These semi-persistent chemicals are threatening organisms in the environment. Ecosystems health and resilience are essential to life and societal functioning. Impact assessment of these chemicals is a real requirement for society thereby establishing the european legislative (DCE, Water Framework Directive) and regulations (REACH, Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) for better (eco)toxicological risk management. In this context, many bioassays have been developed to assess environmental quality, the toxicity of chemicals (including mixture) on organisms and its underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to identify (eco)toxicological risks in the context of fish embryo-larval assay, using a relevant and well-known model : the zebrafish Danio rerio. Two complementary approaches (chemical and biological) were used to assess transfer, fate and toxicity of PAHs. Induced-responses were evaluated at different levels of biological organization, from molecular (oxidative stress, DNA damage, EROD) to physiological (cardiac activity), behavioral (PhotoMotor Response) and morphological levels. Among the three exposure routes tested, the sediment contact exposure was not suitable for PAHs toxicity assessment. In contrast, exposures to water-accommodated fractions (WAF) of petroleum products represented a more reproducible, sensitive and integrative approach for testing multiscale toxic effects. Following these experiments, the observation scope of induced effects should be broadened beyond the standard duration recommended by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in order not to underestimate the acute effect of the tested-compounds. Furthermore, our multigenerational study showed physiological and behavioral disturbances on the first generation of offspring providing from parents exposed to contaminated-food with three aromatic extracts pyrolytic and petrogenic origin (heavy and light). Although the contamination transfer of PAHs has not been revealed, the observed alterations (probably due to a transfer through genetic and epigenetic modifications) in the early stages of zebrafish could have adverse effects on survival and recruitment populations. Multigenerational studies prove to be an integrated approach for the toxicity assessment of chemicals and strengthen the predictive effects. These ecotoxicological studies should be widely undertaken to evaluate the potential for exposed-population to maintain in the future time