Effects of acetaminophen (paracetamol) in the embryonic development of zebrafish, Danio rerio

Acetaminophen, or paracetamol is an over-the-counter analgesic generally used by all groups of people, including pregnant women. The present investigation aims to elucidate the effects of acetaminophen on the development of zebrafish Danio rerio in which embryogenesis is ex utero. Developing eggs (n = 30) were exposed to different doses (0, 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 microg L(-1)) of the drug in triplicate and observations were made hourly until gastrulation and once in 24 h thereafter for seven consecutive days. Acetaminophen induced anomalies at different levels of development in a dose-dependent manner, causing impairment in (1) the early development, (2) hatching, (3) organogenesis (by altering the rate of apoptosis), (4) larval growth and morphometry, (5) tail and tail-fin formation, (6) pigmentation and (7) larval behavior and survival. The results of the present study clearly reveal that acetaminophen interfered with the normal embryonic development, growth, behavior and survival of D. rerio larvae.