Project description:Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition is of concern in fish because COX inhibitors (e.g., ibuprofen) are ubiquitous in aquatic systems/fish tissues, and can disrupt synthesis of prostaglandins that modulate a variety of essential biological functions including reproduction. Transcriptomic data and publicly available high throughput toxicity data were utilized to develop putative adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) for molecular initiating event (MIE) of COX inhibition. Effects of a waterborne exposure to indomethacin (IN; 100 Âµg/L), ibuprofen (IB; 200 Âµg/L) and celecoxib (CX; 20 Âµg/L) on liver metabolome and ovarian gene expression (using oligonucleotide microarrays) in sexually mature fathead minnows were examined. Metabolomic profiles of IN, IB and CX were not significantly different from control or one another. Exposure to IB and CX resulted in differential expression of comparable numbers of genes (IB = 433, CX= 545). In contrast, 2558 genes were differentially expressed in IN-treated fish. Functional analyses (canonical pathway and gene set enrichment) indicated extensive effects of IN on prostaglandin synthesis pathway, oocyte meiosis and several other processes consistent with physiological roles of prostaglandins. Transcriptomic data was congruent with apical endpoint data - IN reduced plasma prostaglandin F2 alpha concentrations, and ovarian COX activity, whereas IB and CX did not. Putative AOPs pathways for COX inhibition (MIE) leading to reproductive failure (adverse outcome) via reduction of: 1) ovulation, 2) reproductive behaviors mediated by exogenous and endogenous prostaglandins, and 3) oocyte maturation were developed. Adult fathead minnow were exposed to either 100 Âµg/L indomethacin, 200 Âµg/L ibuprofen, 20 Âµg/L celecoxib or UV-treated Lake Superior (control) water for 96 hours. After exposure, microarray analyses were conducted using the female gonads (n=7-8 per treatment) and metabolomic analyses were conducted using the livers of all the exposed fish.

Project description:Triclocarban (TCC) is a widely used antimicrobial agent that is routinely detected in surface waters. The present study was designed to examine TCC’s efficacy and mode of action as a reproductive toxicant in fish. Reproductively mature Pimephales promelas were continuously exposed to either 1 or 5 μg TCC/L, 0.5 μg 17β-trenbolone (TRB)/L or a mixture (MIX) of 5 μg TCC and 0.5 μg TRB/L for 22 d and a variety of reproductive and endocrine-related endpoints were examined. The data were evaluated to answer several key questions: first, whether exposure to TCC could be linked with an ecologically-relevant adverse outcome, i.e., impaired reproduction; second, whether the present study provided additional support for augmentation of androgen action as an endocrine-disrupting mode of action for TCC; and third, whether there were any novel and/or plausible linkages between changes in the ovarian transcriptome and the apical responses observed in females that could support adverse outcome pathway development and/or further hypothesis-driven testing. Fathead minnows were randomly paired (one male, one female) and placed in tanks at a density of two pairs per tank with six replicate tanks per treatment. Pairs were separated by a water permeable mesh divider and each pair had its own breeding substrate. The fish were held in the test system, receiving UV-treated, filtered Lake Superior (control) water only, for a 21 d acclimation period during which the fecundity and fertility of each pair were assessed daily. After 21 d, exposures were initiated with pairs that had spawned successfully during acclimation. Fish were exposed continuously to target test concentrations of 0 (Lake Superior control), TCC (1 and 5 µg/L), TRB (0.5 μg/L), or a mixture of the two chemicals (5 μg TCC and 0.5 μg TRB/L) for 22 d. Water concentrations of TCC and TRB were determined in stock solutions and all exposure tanks every two to three days. General water quality characteristics (mean ± SD) measured regularly over the course of the Experiment were: temperature, 24.8 ± 0.7 oC; pH, 7.87 ± 0.04; dissolved oxygen, 6.8 ± 0.35 mg/L. Ovary RNA samples from twenty four fish (n=5 for all treatments except TRB alone; n=4) were selected for microarray analysis.

Project description:Fluoxetine (FLX) is the most common selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor pharmaceutical used for the treatment of psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety. Increased prescription use of FLX by human populations has led to its pseudo-persistence in effluent-receiving waterways. Despite emerging concerns of FLX becoming a potential threat to the aquatic environment, there is currently limited information on effects of FLX on aquatic wildlife, including its specific mechanism of action and associated toxicity pathways in fish. The main goal of this study was to identify and validate key molecular toxicity pathways that are predictive of apical endpoints induced by exposure to FLX using the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), a model species common to North American freshwater systems. Adult fathead minnows were exposed to three concentrations of FLX (2.42, 10.7, and 56.7 µg/L) and a control for 21 days. After 96 hours, a subset of fish was sampled, and liver and brain tissue were collected to characterize molecular toxicity pathways using whole transcriptome and proteome analyses. In addition, at the end of the 21-day exposure, individuals were assessed for apical outcomes of regulatory relevance including histopathology and fecundity. Differential gene expression observed in the liver of fish exposed to the highest FLX treatment and revealed dysregulation of pathways associated with biosynthesis and metabolism of fatty acids, which may be an upstream molecular response that led to lipid-type vacuolation of hepatocytes, as observed in the histology analysis. Whole proteome analysis of the same fish revealed dysregulation of PPAR signalling, which may be associated with the enrichment of lipid-related pathways observed in the transcriptome. In addition, there was an indication of pathway enrichment of transcription- and translation-related pathways in the proteome. Common dysregulated genes in the brain of the treated fish were related to cellular signalling processes that are influenced by serotonin levels and shown to be involved in reproductive behaviour and, in turn, reproductive success. This was confirmed through a significant decrease in fecundity following the 21-day exposure. Pathways to measurable adverse outcomes are complex, however, this research does provide some important clues to the mechanistic toxicity that FLX inflicts.

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Pimephales promelas

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