Thiamethoxam at environmentally relevant concentrations induces neurotoxicity in zebrafish larvae through binding with multiple receptors.

ABSTRACT: Thiamethoxam (THM) is one of the most widely used insecticides globally, which was designed to selectively target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the insect nervous system and is generally considered safe for non-targeted organisms. However, increasing evidence has demonstrated its neurotoxicity in aquatic organisms, though the underlying mechanisms, especially at environmentally relevant concentrations, remain largely unclear. In this study, the swimming distance of zebrafish was significantly shortened by 14.06%-21.64% after exposure to THM at 10-1000 ng/L. This behavioral impairment may result from the damage to nervous and visual systems, as confirmed by notable apoptosis, histological analysis of the eyes, and differential expression of numerous genes. Molecular docking

SUBMITTER: Li X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11872479 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature