TY - JOUR
T1 - The antiestrogen-like activity and reproductive toxicity of 2,6-DCBQ on female zebrafish upon sub-chronic exposure
AU - Song, Weiyi
AU - Wu, Kun
AU - Wu, Xiling
AU - Lu, Yichun
AU - Li, Jing
AU - Li, Jinhua
AU - Cui, Mengqiao
PY - 2022/7
Y1 - 2022/7
N2 - 2,6-Dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (2,6-DCBQ), an emerging water disinfection by-product, is widely detected in water resources. However, its potential effects on the reproductive system are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the long-term effects of 2,6-DCBQ on gonadal development by exposing zebrafish from 15 to 180 days postfertilization (dpf). Following exposure to 2,6-DCBQ (20 and 100 μg/L), female-specific effects including delayed puberty onset, retarded ovarian growth and breakdown of the zona radiata were observed, resulting in subfertility in adult females. Adverse effects in folliculogenesis disappeared two months after cessation of 2,6-DCBQ administration. In contrast, no adverse impacts were noted in male testes. The effects on females were associated with significant reduction in 17β-estradiol (E2) level, suggesting a role for 2,6-DCBQ in anti-estrogenic activity. E2 level change in blood was further supported by dysregulated expression of genes (cyp19a1a, fshb, kiss3, esr2b, vtg1, and vtg3) related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad-liver (HPGL) axis. The present study demonstrates for the first time that 2,6-DCBQ induces reproductive impairments in female zebrafish through disrupting 17β-estradiol level.
AB - 2,6-Dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (2,6-DCBQ), an emerging water disinfection by-product, is widely detected in water resources. However, its potential effects on the reproductive system are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the long-term effects of 2,6-DCBQ on gonadal development by exposing zebrafish from 15 to 180 days postfertilization (dpf). Following exposure to 2,6-DCBQ (20 and 100 μg/L), female-specific effects including delayed puberty onset, retarded ovarian growth and breakdown of the zona radiata were observed, resulting in subfertility in adult females. Adverse effects in folliculogenesis disappeared two months after cessation of 2,6-DCBQ administration. In contrast, no adverse impacts were noted in male testes. The effects on females were associated with significant reduction in 17β-estradiol (E2) level, suggesting a role for 2,6-DCBQ in anti-estrogenic activity. E2 level change in blood was further supported by dysregulated expression of genes (cyp19a1a, fshb, kiss3, esr2b, vtg1, and vtg3) related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad-liver (HPGL) axis. The present study demonstrates for the first time that 2,6-DCBQ induces reproductive impairments in female zebrafish through disrupting 17β-estradiol level.
KW - 2,6-DCBQ
KW - Anti-estrogenic effects
KW - Folliculogenesis
KW - HPGL-axis
KW - Reproductive toxicity
KW - Zebrafish
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85125435756&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85125435756&origin=recordpage
U2 - 10.1016/j.jes.2021.11.012
DO - 10.1016/j.jes.2021.11.012
M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal
SN - 1001-0742
VL - 117
SP - 10
EP - 20
JO - Journal of Environmental Sciences (China)
JF - Journal of Environmental Sciences (China)
ER -
