Developmental effects of three textile chemicals on locomotor activity, antioxidant markers and acetylcholine esterase activity in zebrafish

Abstract

Textile chemicals discharged into the water bodies cause huge impact on human health and environment. However, the adverse effects of textile chemicals during critical period of brain development are not explored. This study uses zebrafish to assess the developmental toxicity of three textile chemicals. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to different concentrations (1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 PPM) of Naphthalene sulfonic acid (NSA), Metanilic acid (MA) and Acid blue 113 (AB113) from 18 h post-fertilization (HPF) to 96 HPF, respectively. Several endpoints, such as mortality, morphological abnormalities and locomotor activity of embryos and larvae were studied. Biochemical detection of oxidative stress, glutathione and acetylcholine esterase was subsequently tested. The survival rate was decreased (LC (50): 1PPM) by NSA, MSA or AB113 and at > 5PPM a 90% mortality was observed respectively. Exposure to 1 PPM of NSA, MSA or AB113 significantly reduced the locomotor activity in an age dependent manner. However, no neurodegenerative phenotypes were noted. The glutathione and acetylcholine esterase activity (<em>P</em> <0.05) was decreased while malondialdehyde content was accumulated by NSA, MSA or AB113 treatment. The overall findings suggest that the selected textile dyes exposed during critical window development is able to produce oxidative stress and exert noticeable effects on locomotor activity in zebrafish embryos by altering acetylcholine esterase activity.