Project description:Metformin, along with its biotransformation product guanylurea, are commonly observed in municipal wastewaters and subsequent surface waters. Previous studies in fish have identified metformin as a potential endocrine active compound but there are inconsistencies in the literature with regard to effects. To further investigate the potential reproductive toxicity of metformin and guanylurea to fish, a series of experiments were performed with reproductively mature fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). First, explants of mature fathead minnow ovary tissue were exposed to 0.001-100 µM metformin or guanylurea to investigate whether they can directly perturb steroidogenesis. Second, spawning pairs of fathead minnows were exposed to metformin (0.41, 4.1, 41 µg/L) or guanylurea (1.0, 10, 100 µg/L) for 23 d to assess impacts on reproduction. Lastly, male fathead minnows were exposed to 41 µg/L metformin, 100 µg/L guanylurea, or a mixture of both compounds, with samples collected over a 96 h time course to investigate potential impacts to the hepatic transcriptome or metabolome. Neither metformin or guanylurea effected estradiol or testosterone by ovary tissue exposed in vitro. In the 23 d exposure, neither compound significantly impacted transcription of endocrine-related genes in male liver or gonad, circulating steroid concentrations in male or female fish, or fecundity of spawning pairs. In the 96 h time course, 100 µg guanylurea/L elicited more differential gene expression than 41 µg metformin/L , and showed the greatest impacts after 96 h. A number of DEGs up-regulated after 24 h were subsequently down-regulated after 96 h, demonstrating time-dependent impacts of guanylurea on the liver. Overall, metformin and guanylurea did not elicit effects consistent with reproductive toxicity in adult fathead minnows at environmentally relevant concentrations. Where effects were identified using ‘omics approaches, guanylurea induced greater impacts than metformin.

Project description:Production, usage and disposal of the munitions constituent (MC) cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) has led to environmental releases on military facilities. The chemical attributes of RDX are conducive for leaching to surface water which may put aquatic organisms at risk of exposure. Because RDX has been observed to cause aberrant neuromuscular effects across a wide range of animal phyla, we assessed the effects of RDX on central nervous system (CNS) function in the representative aquatic ecotoxicological model species, fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). A brain-tissue based cDNA library enriched for transcripts differentially expressed in response to RDX exposure was developed for fathead minnow and was transitioned to custom cDNA-based microarrays. All 4,128 cDNAs were sequenced, quality filtered and assembled yielding 3,018 unique sequences and 945 significant blastx matches (E ≤ 10-5). Bioassays were conducted exposing fathead minnows to RDX at 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 mg/L or an acetone-spike control for 10d. Overt toxicity of RDX in fathead minnow occurred only at the highest exposure concentration resulting in 50% mortality. Conversely, Bayesian analysis of microarray data indicated significant changes in transcript expression in fathead minnow brain tissue at RDX concentrations as low as 0.625 mg/L. In total, 154 microarray targets representing 44 unique transcript identities were differentially expressed in RDX exposures, the majority of which were validated by RT-qPCR. Investigation of molecular pathways, gene ontology and individual gene functions indicated that RDX exposures affected metabolic processes involved in: oxygen transport, neurological function, calcium binding / signaling, energy metabolism, cell cycle / cell proliferation, oxidative stress and ubiquitination. In total, our study indicated that RDX exposure affected molecular processes critical to CNS function in fathead minnow. 10 Day RDX Exposure, Brain Tissue Investigation: Sub-adult fathead minnows were exposed to RDX in a 10d dose-series experiment (0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, or 10 mg/L RDX) which included an acetone-spike control (1% acetone). Each experimental treatment included 8 replicate fish (48 total fish) and endpoints included mortality, total weight and neurotoxicogenomics. The 1.25mg/L dose was not included in the microarray experiment. Please see attached PDF file for detailed 'Balanced, Interwoven Loop Design'.

Project description:Interpretation of toxicogenomic experiments conducted with ovary tissue from asynchronous-spawning small fish species are complicated by background variation in the relative abundance and proportion of follicles at different stages within the ovary tissue sample. This study employed both real-time quantitative PCR and a 15,000 gene oligonucleotide microarray to examine variation in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) ovarian transcriptional profile as a function of quantitative and qualitative differences in ovarian histology. Multiple lines of evidence supported the conclusion that variation in the transcriptional profile was primarily dependent on the relative abundance of previtellogenic versus vitellogenic follicles in the ovary tissue. Due to the relatively small proportions of mature ovulated follicles or atretic follicles in the overall follicle population, few putative molecular markers of maturation, ovulation, or atresia could be identified. However, among the 460 differentially expressed genes identified in the study, targets including HtrA serine peptidase 3 (htra3), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (timp3), aquaporin 8 (aqp8), transgelin 2 like (tagln2), Nedd4 family interacting protein 2 (ndfip2), chemokine ligand 12a (cxcl12a), midkine related growth factor (mdka), and jagged 1b (jag 1b) exhibited responses and functional properties that support them as candidate molecular markers of significant shift in gross ovarian stage. Overall, results of this study provide insights into background variation in ovary transcript profiles that should aid and enhance the interpretation of toxicogenomic data generated in experiments conducted with small, asynchronous spawning fish species. Relative abundance of approximately 15,000 RNA transcripts in 26 ovary samples and 4 expelled oocyte (egg) samples, representing the five different histoclasses defined for the present study, was evaluated using fathead minnow oligonucleotide microarrays. Fathead minnow 15,000 gene arrays were purchased from Agilent (Palo Alto, CA, USA). The Agilent one-color microarray hybridization protocol (One-Color Microarray-Based Gene Expression Analysis, version 5.7, Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA) was used for microarray hybridizations following the manufacturerM-bM-^@M-^Ys protocol and recommendations. One ug of total RNA was used for all hybridizations. cDNA synthesis, cRNA labeling, amplification and hybridization were performed following the manufacturerM-bM-^@M-^Ys kits and protocols (Quick Amp Labeling kit; Agilent, Palo Alto, CA). An Axon GenePixM-BM-. 4000B Microarray Scanner (Molecular Devices Inc., city, state) was used to scan microarray images at 5 M-NM-<m resolution.

Project description:Traditional toxicity testing has been unable to keep pace with the introduction of new chemicals into commerce. Consequently, there are limited or no toxicity data upon which to base a risk assessment for many chemicals to which fish and wildlife may be exposed. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emblematic of this issue in that most the ecological hazards of most PFAS remain uncharacterized. The present study employed a high throughput assay to identify the concentration at which 20 PFAS, with diverse properties, elicited a concerted gene expression response in larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas, 5-6 days post-fertilization) exposed for 24 h. Based on a reduced transcriptome approach that measured whole body expression of 1832 genes, the median transcriptomic point of departure (tPOD) for the 20 PFAS tested was 10 µM. Longer chain carboxylic acids (12-13 C-F) and an eight C-F di-alcohol, N-alkyl sulfonamide, and telomer sulfonic acid were among the most potent PFAS, eliciting gene expression responses at concentrations below 1 µM. With a few exceptions, larval fathead minnow tPODs were concordant with those based on whole transcriptome response in human cell lines. However, larval fathead minnow tPODs were often greater than those for Daphnia magna exposed to the same PFAS. The tPODs overlapped concentrations at which other sub-lethal effects have been reported in fish (available for 10 PFAS; including a range of species, life stages, and study designs). Nonetheless, fathead minnow tPODs were all orders of magnitude higher than aqueous PFAS concentrations detected in tributaries of the North American Great Lakes suggesting a substantial margin of safety in those systems, even for PFAS with significant potential for bioaccumulation. Overall, results broadly support the use of a fathead minnow larval transcriptomics assay to derive screening level potency estimates for use in ecological risk-based prioritization. Traditional toxicity testing has been unable to keep pace with the introduction of new chemicals into commerce. Consequently, there are limited or no toxicity data upon which to base a risk assessment for many chemicals to which fish and wildlife may be exposed. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emblematic of this issue in that most the ecological hazards of most PFAS remain uncharacterized. The present study employed a high throughput assay to identify the concentration at which 20 PFAS, with diverse properties, elicited a concerted gene expression response in larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas, 5-6 days post-fertilization) exposed for 24 h. Based on a reduced transcriptome approach that measured whole body expression of 1832 genes, the median transcriptomic point of departure (tPOD) for the 20 PFAS tested was 10 µM. Longer chain carboxylic acids (12-13 C-F) and an eight C-F di-alcohol, N-alkyl sulfonamide, and telomer sulfonic acid were among the most potent PFAS, eliciting gene expression responses at concentrations below 1 µM. With a few exceptions, larval fathead minnow tPODs were concordant with those based on whole transcriptome response in human cell lines. However, larval fathead minnow tPODs were often greater than those for Daphnia magna exposed to the same PFAS. The tPODs overlapped concentrations at which other sub-lethal effects have been reported in fish (available for 10 PFAS; including a range of species, life stages, and study designs). Nonetheless, fathead minnow tPODs were all orders of magnitude higher than aqueous PFAS concentrations detected in tributaries of the North American Great Lakes suggesting a substantial margin of safety in those systems, even for PFAS with significant potential for bioaccumulation. Overall, results broadly support the use of a fathead minnow larval transcriptomics assay to derive screening level potency estimates for use in ecological risk-based prioritization.

Project description:Propranolol is a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist (Î²-blocker) that has been detected in United States wastewater effluents at concentrations ranging from 0.026 to 1.90 Âµg/l. In mammals, there is evidence that Î²-blockers can cause sexual dysfunction, and alter serotonergic pathways which may impact reproductive behavior but little is known about the effects on fish behavior. The present study tested the effects of propranolol on fecundity and on reproductive behavior of the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas, a fish that exhibits male parental care. Sexually mature fathead minnows were housed at a ratio of one male and two females per tank and exposed to nominal concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1, 10 Âµg/l for 21 days. Measured concentrations (Â±SD) of propranolol were 0.05Â±0.02, 0.88Â±0.34 and 4.11Â±1.19 Âµg/l. There were no statistically significant differences in fecundity, fertilization rate, hatchability and time to hatch. Propranolol exposure was not associated with a change in nest rubbing behavior, time spent in the nest or approaching the females. There was a significant difference in the number of visits to the nest with males receiving low and medium propranolol treatments. The microarray analysis showed that there were 335 genes up-regulated and 400 genes down-regulated in the brain after exposure to the highest dose of propranolol. Among those genes, myoglobin and calsequestrin transcripts (fold change=10.84 and 5.49, respectively) were highly up-regulated. Ontological analyses indicated changes in genes involved in calcium ion transport, transcription, proteolysis and apoptosis/anti-apoptosis. The results showed that exposure to propranolol at concentrations as high as 4.11 Âµg/l did not significantly impact reproductive behavior or spawning abilities of fathead minnow but did alter the regulation of genes within the brain of fish. Effects of propanolol exposure were investigated in the brain of adult male fathead minnow exposed to 10 Âµg/L of propanolol or a solvent control solution (0.01% ethanol). For each treatment, the brain of four different fish were analyzed.

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Effects of metformin and its metabolite guanylurea on fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) reproduction

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