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2,4-Dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) exposure induces liver developmental damage and perturbs lipid metabolism and oxygen transport gene expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

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Abstract

2,4-Dinitrotoluene (2, 4-DNT) is a common environmental pollutant. The toxic effect on mammals of 2,4-DNT has been well studied, but its toxicity on aquatic organisms is little known. In this study, 126 healthy female zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to different concentrations of 2,4-DNT (0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 mg/L) to determine 96-h semi-lethal concentrations (LC50). And then, 90 female zebrafish were exposed to 0, 2, 4 and 8 mg/L 2,4-DNT for 5 days to study liver toxicity. Exposed zebrafish developed hypoxia features, such as floating head and breathing rapidly, and then died. 96-h LC50 of 2,4-DNT in zebrafish was 9.36 mg/L. Histological data revealed that 2,4-DNT severely damaged the liver tissues, following with the round nucleus, dense interstitial tissue, dense arranged hepatocyte cords and more inflammatory cells. Additionally, the further result showed that the lower levels of lipid transport and metabolism (apoα2, mtp, ppar-α and acox) were noticed. But, exposed to 2,4-DNT for 5 days significantly upregulated the expression levels of genes involved in respiration (hif1a, tfa and ho1, p < 0.05). These results indicated that 2,4-DNT exposure disturbed lipid transport and metabolism and oxygen supply in zebrafish, which could contribute to severe damage in liver and death.

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Data availability

The data used to support the fndings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31201983) and Fujian Key Laboratory of Special Aquatic Formula Feed (No. TMKJZ2102).

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Author notes

  1. Liangxia Su and Hang Sha contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Animal Science and Nutritional Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, China

    Liangxia Su, Jun Liu, Le Yu, Huanhuan Li & Rui Wang

  2. Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuhan, 430223, China

    Hang Sha

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  1. Liangxia Su
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  2. Hang Sha
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  3. Jun Liu
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  4. Le Yu
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  5. Huanhuan Li
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  6. Rui Wang
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Contributions

Data analysis, wrinting, reviewing and editing were performed by Liangxia Su; methodology, data collect and reviewing were performed by Hang Sha; reviewing and supervision were performed by Jun Liu and Rui Wang; methodology and data collect were performed by Le Yu and Huanhuan Li.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rui Wang.

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Ethics approval

This research project has been approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Wuhan polytechnic university (Approval protocol No. WPU-F20150701) and were in accordance with the National Guiding Principles for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

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Su, L., Sha, H., Liu, J. et al. 2,4-Dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) exposure induces liver developmental damage and perturbs lipid metabolism and oxygen transport gene expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 76104–76111 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27843-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27843-z

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