The food preservative ethoxyquin impairs zebrafish development, behavior and alters gene expression profile

In the present study, we investigated the detrimental effects of ethoxyquin (EQ) on zebrafish embryonic development using different endpoints including lethality, malformations, locomotion and gene expression. EQ is primarily used as a preservative in animal feed and it has been shown to have negative impacts on different laboratory animals. However, studies on the adverse effects of EQ in aquatic animals are still limited. In this study, zebrafish eggs were exposed to different concentrations of EQ ranging from 1 to 100 μM for six days. In the 100 μM treated groups 95 and 100% mortality was observed at 24 and 48 h, respectively. Delayed development, decreased pigmentation and pericardial edema were observed in larvae. Behavioral analysis of larvae demonstrated a distinct locomotive pattern in response to EQ both in light and dark indicating a possible developmental neurotoxicity and deficits in locomotion. The expression levels of genes involved in several physiological pathways including stress response, cell cycle and DNA damage were altered by EQ. Our results demonstrate that EQ could cause developmental and physiological toxicity to aquatic organisms. Hence, its toxic effect should be further analyzed and its use and levels in the environment must be monitored carefully.