Stress-Induced Transcriptional Changes and DNA Damage Associated with Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Adipate Exposure in Zebrafish...

The present study evaluates potential toxic effects of bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) plasticizer to larval (72 h post fertilization) zebrafish (Danio rerio) by analyzing changes in expression levels of stress-related genes (p53, rad51 and xrcc5) and assessing possible DNA damage of DEHA in larvae. The lethal concentration for 50% mortality (LC₅₀) in larval zebrafish exposed for 96 h to 0-200 mg L^-1 DEHA was 89.9 ± 8.03 mg L^-1. A concentration-dependent increase in DNA strand breaks was detected in cells from larvae exposed for 96 h to DEHA. There were some significant differences in induction of stress-related genes in larvae exposed to DEHA relative to control.