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Updated: Dec 21, 2025
Small Molecule Screening and Toxicity Testing in Early-stage Zebrafish Larvae
Published on: March 7, 2025
Fluxapyroxad induces developmental delay in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Wenhua Li1, Yaqin Wu1, Mingrui Yuan1
1Engineering Research Center of Molecular Medicine of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Fujian Molecular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Xiamen Marine and Gene Drugs, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis of Fujian Universities, School of Biomedical Sciences, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, PR China.
Fluxapyroxad (FLU), a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicide, causes developmental toxicity and oxidative stress in zebrafish embryos. This fungicide may pose risks to aquatic organisms.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Ecotoxicology
- Aquatic Toxicology
Background:
- Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides are widely used in agriculture.
- Some SDHI fungicides exhibit developmental, immune, and liver toxicity in fish.
- The impact of fluxapyroxad (FLU) on fish embryonic development remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of fluxapyroxad (FLU) on zebrafish embryonic development.
- To assess the potential toxicity and underlying mechanisms of FLU exposure in fish embryos.
Main Methods:
- Zebrafish embryos were exposed to varying concentrations of FLU (1, 2, and 4 μM).
- Developmental endpoints such as malformations, pigmentation, and hatching were observed.
- Gene expression analysis (foxb1a, foxa2, ntl, eve1, gh, crx, neuroD, nkx2.4b) and glutathione (GSH) content were measured.
Main Results:
- FLU exposure induced developmental abnormalities, including yolk sac absorption disorder, reduced pigmentation, and delayed hatching.
- Significant upregulation of the ectoderm marker foxb1a was observed, with no significant changes in endoderm or mesoderm markers.
- FLU significantly decreased the transcription of early developmental genes (gh, crx, neuroD, nkx2.4b) and increased glutathione levels, indicating oxidative stress.
Conclusions:
- Fluxapyroxad (FLU) demonstrates toxicity to zebrafish embryos, primarily through developmental effects and induced oxidative stress.
- The findings suggest that FLU may pose risks to non-target aquatic organisms, necessitating further environmental risk assessment.
