Toxic effects of triclocarban on larval zebrafish: A focus on visual dysfunction

Xiao Fan Chen, Zhi Feng Chen*, Zhi Cheng Lin, Xiao Liang Liao, Ting Zou, Zenghua Qi, Zongwei Cai

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Triclocarban (TCC) is considered an endocrine disruptor and shows antagonist activity on thyroid receptors. In view of the report that thyroid hormone signaling mediates retinal cone photoreceptor specification, we hypothesize that TCC could impair visual function, which is vital to wildlife. In order to verify our hypothesis, we assessed alteration in the retinal structure (retinal layer thickness and cell density), visually-mediated behavior, cone and rod opsin gene expression, and photoreceptor immunostaining in zebrafish larvae exposed to TCC at environmentally realistic concentrations (0.16 ± 0.005 µg/L, L-group) and one-fifth of the median lethal concentrations (25.4 ± 1.02 µg/L, H-group). Significant decrease in eye size, ganglion cell density, optokinetic response, and phototactic response can be observed in the L-group, while the thickness of outer nuclear layer, where the cell bodies of cone and rod cells are located, was significantly reduced with the down-regulation of critical opsin gene (opn1sw2, opn1mw1, opn1mw3, opn1lw1, opn1lw2, and rho) expression and rhodopsin immunofluorescence in the H-group. It should be noted that TCC could affect the sensitivity of zebrafish larvae to red and green light according to the results of behavioral and opsin gene expression analysis. These findings provide the first evidence to support our hypothesis that the visual system, a novel toxicological target, is affected by TCC. Consequently, we urgently call for a more in-depth exploration of TCC-induced ocular toxicity to aquatic organisms and even to humans.

Original languageEnglish
Article number106013
JournalAquatic Toxicology
Volume241
Early online date29 Oct 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2021

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Aquatic Science
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

User-Defined Keywords

  • ocular toxicity
  • optokinetic response
  • retinal layer
  • Triclocarban
  • zebrafish

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