FISH EMBRYOS: PRACTICAL INDICATORS OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF SIGNWICANCE TO FISHERIES1

ABSTRACT: Cyto-embryological analyses of fish eggs collected in nature can be a more sensitive indicator of environmental pollution than more typical assays conducted on artificially-spawned eggs. This is because uncertainties associated with artificial spawning and rearing are dispensed with, as well as because of the sensitivity of some cellular and subcellular analyses. At the same time, such measures can provide information on interannual differences in egg viability of importance in elucidating great, unexplained variability in fisheries recruitment. Extensive experience with fish embryos from ocean plankton has led to the choice of a particularly useful, practical suite of observations for different developmental stages. This includes measures of embryo mortality, mutagenicity, teratogenicity, abnormal cell differentiation, and development rate. Atlantic mackerel egg mortality has been determined to be greater in the surface waters of the New York Bight apex and along the New Jersey coast than in less polluted portions of the Bight. Chromosome abnormality of mid-stage embryos was also greater in more impacted areas of the same water mass, as well as in the somatic cells of adult mackerel and winter flounder, and in juvenile and adult windowpane flounder caught in more impacted areas. Mortality and abnormality of the mackerel embryos showed statistical associations with toxic hydrocarbons as measured in plankton, and with heavy metals as measured in sea surface waters. The sensitivity, practicality, and relevance of the cytoembryological studies to population dynamics of resource species make this an important means of monitoring environmental quality.     

Structure-activity relationship assessment of four perfluorinated chemicals using a prolonged zebrafish early life stage test

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are a group of anthropogenic chemicals containing diverse functional groups and chain lengths. They are known to be persistent and bioaccumulative explaining their worldwide environmental presence. The toxicological information on these chemicals is still incomplete and insufficient to assess their environmental impact and structure-activity relationship. In the present study, the developmental effects of PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate, C8), PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid, C8), PFBS (perfluorobutane sulfonate, C4) and PFBA (perfluorobutanoic acid, C4) were evaluated in zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio). The different chain lengths and functional groups of the selected chemicals made it possible to determine the structure-activity relationship of these compounds. PFCs with longer chain lengths (C8) tend to be more toxic than PFCs with shorter chain lengths (C4). Comparison based on the functional groups of compounds with the same chain length indicates that PFCs with a sulfonate group have a larger toxic potential than the ones with a carboxyl group. Furthermore, exposure to the different PFCs resulted in some general effects, such as deformations of the tail and an uninflated swim bladder, as well as in more specific effects which might be related to the structure of the tested chemicals. Oedemas and effects on length could only be detected in 8-carbon PFCs while malformations of the head were a more specific action of the sulfonated PFCs. Effects on hatching rate and success were found in PFOA exposed embryos and heart rates were affected after exposure to PFOS, PFOA and PFBS.     

Rapid-behaviour responses as a reliable indicator of estrogenic chemical toxicity in zebrafish juveniles

Whereas biochemical and molecular parameters have been well recognised as important “signposts” of individual disturbance to endocrine disrupting chemical’s (EDCs) exposure, behavioural endpoints are yet greatly overlooked as a routine tool in environmental risk assessment of EDCs. However, life histories are intimately associated with numerous inter- and intra-specific interactions, which invariably depend on the performance of effective behaviours. Within fish species, one of the most important factors influencing energy turnover earlier in the development is locomotor activity. This essential trait reflects the organism’s ability to generate and coordinate the metabolic energy required for both reproductive and non-reproductive behaviours. Inappropriate movement responses due to toxic effects of contaminants may ultimately impact important ecological variables.Therefore, in the present study, the swimming bursts of zebrafish juveniles exposed for 40 d to the synthetic estrogen ethinylestradiol (EE₂), tested at environmentally relevant concentrations (nominal concentrations of 0.5, 1 and 2 ng L⁻¹), were investigated in order to address the potential of rapid-behaviour patterns as an effective response indicator of estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemical’s exposure. This synthetic estrogen was selected due to its high prevalence in aquatic ecosystems, ability to mimic natural estrogens and proven record of causing negative effects in fish reproduction. The behavioural responses were compared with established endpoints used in the screening of EE₂ effects at adulthood. Results indicate that zebrafish juveniles’ swimming activity was significantly decreased upon EE₂ exposure. Since reduced locomotion of zebrafish may impact foraging, predator avoidance, drift and transport, and even interfere with social and reproductive behaviours, a fitness decline of wild fish populations can ultimately be hypothesized. Furthermore, behavioural endpoints were found to display higher sensitivity to EE₂ than either vitellogenin gene induction or reproductive parameters determined at adulthood.Overall, the findings of this work not only demonstrate the power of high-throughput behavioural responses, able to act as sensitive early warning signals of EDC exposure, but also highlight the potential of behavioural endpoints in providing a more comprehensive and non-invasive measure of EDC’s exposure.     

城市污水对斑马鱼胚胎的影响

采用静态法,在实验室控制条件下,观察处理前后的城市污水对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性效应,并探讨其对斑马鱼胚胎可能的毒性机理。结果表明,兰州市安宁区M污水处理厂处理前的污水、处理后接触池出水和接触池出水入黄河排污口水对胚胎均有较高的毒性,其72 h EC50在21.384%～108.492%之间;对处理胚胎孵化成的仔鱼毒性也很明显。上述几种污水均降低斑马鱼胚胎的孵化率,增加胚胎及其孵化仔鱼的畸形。     

三种重金属对长江口纹缟虾虎鱼早期发育的毒性作用

纹缟虾虎鱼广泛分布于长江口水域，它摄食底栖生物，同时又被大型鱼类所食，在长江口水域食物链中处于重要地位。研究了Cu2+、Pb2+、Zn2+3种重金属离子对长江口纹缟虾虎鱼从受精卵到出膜期、器官形成初期到出膜期、眼点形成期到出膜期等3个早期发育阶段孵化率和初孵仔鱼畸形率的影响，同时对早期仔鱼进行急性毒性试验。结果表明：3种重金属对胚胎及初孵仔鱼毒性大小依次为Cu2+>Zn2+>Pb2+。纹缟虾虎鱼胚胎在3种重金属影响下出现身体弯曲、萎缩和残缺，未能形成体节，心包囊肿等症状，还会出现较少见的胚体分叉、增生现象。纹缟虾虎鱼初孵仔鱼出现胸腔膨大、身体畸形等现象。仔鱼受重金属影响后，短期内表现出运动加剧，而后逐渐活力下降，个别仔鱼出现头部或者身体中部弯曲症状。Cu2+、Zn2+、Pb2+对早期仔鱼的安全浓度分别为0010、0136和0167 mg/L。研究结果可评估环境中重金属对纹缟虾虎鱼早期发育各个阶段的影响，亦为长江口水质监测与净化、纹缟虾虎鱼的资源增值以及中华鲟幼鱼栖息地饵料资源的保障提供参考.     

Aspects of biopsy procedures prior to preimplantation genetic diagnosis

Today, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is offered in over 40 centres worldwide for an expanded range of genetic defects causing disease. This very early form of prenatal diagnosis involves the detection of affected embryos by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) (sex determination or chromosomal defects) or by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (monogenic diseases) prior to implantation. Genetic analysis of the embryos involves the removal of some cellular mass from the embryos (one or two blastomeres at cleavage-stage or some extra-embryonic trophectoderm cells at the blastocyst stage) by means of an embryo biopsy procedure. Genetic analysis can also be performed preconceptionally by removal of the first polar body. However, additional information is then often gained by removal of the second polar body and/or a blastomere from the embryo. Removal of polar bodies or cellular material from embryos requires an opening in the zona pellucida, which can be created in a mechanical way (partial zona dissection) or chemical way (acidic Tyrode's solution). However, the more recent introduction of laser technology has facilitated this step enormously. Different biopsy procedures at different preimplantation stages are reviewed here, including their pros and cons and their clinical applications. The following aspects will also be discussed: safety of zona drilling by laser, use of Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺-free medium for decompaction, and removal of one or two cells from cleavage-stage embryos. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

水溶性CdTe量子点对斑马鱼胚胎发育的影响

本试验以巯基乙酸 (TGA)作为稳定剂合成水溶性CdTe量子点,采用斑马鱼胚胎发育技术,观测0、1、25、50、100、200、300、400 nmol/L各浓度的水溶性CdTe量子点对斑马鱼胚胎发育的影响．记录胚胎发育过程中具有代表性的毒理学终点(自主运动频率、内心率、体长)．结果表明：在胚胎受精后120小时（hours post fertilization）CdTe量子点半数致死浓度（LC50）为185.9 nmol/L．CdTe量子点对斑马鱼胚胎24hpf时1min自主运动频率、48hpf时10s内心率、体长都存在剂量-效应关系．TGA-CdTe能引起斑马鱼胚胎发生各种中毒症状,如心包囊肿、卵黄囊肿、脊柱弯曲、体节减少、心率减慢、黑色素沉积少等异常现象．     

1,2,4-三氯苯对斑马鱼生殖和胚胎发育毒性效应

采用斑马鱼胚胎早期发育技术研究了1,2,4-三氯苯(1,2,4-TCB)对成年斑马鱼(Danio retio)和斑马鱼受精卵染毒后胚胎生命早期阶段生长发育的影响.结果发现,大于5mg/L 剂量的1,2,4-TCB有明显发育毒性,会导致胚胎致畸,引起胚胎凝集或死亡.1,2,4-TCB对成年斑马鱼和斑马鱼受精卵染毒后,胚胎的致死率均与1,2,4-TCB处理之间呈现时间-效应和剂量-效应关系.高浓度的(15 mg/L) 1,2,4-TCB对成年斑马鱼的染毒,其平均产卵量和受精率均降低.成年斑马鱼或者受精卵接触1,2,4-TCB后,胚胎发育中典型的非致死效应—心包囊水肿和脊柱畸形的比例均随着1,2,4-TCB的浓度升高而逐渐升高.同浓度1,2,4-TCB处理后,斑马鱼胚胎直接染毒造成的非致死毒性效应更强.结果表明,水体中残留的1,2,4-TCB对于鱼类的生殖和发育具有潜在的危害.     

氨氮对稀有鮈鲫胚胎及卵黄囊期仔鱼的毒性效应研究

为探究氨氮溶液暴露对鱼类早期发育阶段产生的毒性,本研究选取中国特有种稀有鮈鲫为试验材料,观察并记录了胚胎至卵黄囊期仔鱼发育过程中一些具代表性的毒理学终点,同时选取了氨转运体蛋白Rhbg基因作为毒性指标,反映暴露在氨氮溶液中的稀有鮈鲫胚胎的Rhbg基因表达变化情况.结果表明,本研究所选取的氨氮溶液暴露影响了胚胎及仔鱼的孵化率、死亡率、心率减缓和心律不齐、未形成功能性的鳔、体长体重的降低以及心包、卵黄囊水肿的发生等多种毒性效应,对其它毒理学终点有较为微弱的影响.氨氮溶液的暴露影响了氨转运体蛋白Rhbg基因的表达变化,特别是在72 h时显著性影响了Rhbg基因的表达变化,Rhbg基因在稀有鮈鲫胚胎时期氨氮转运方面可能有着重要的功能.