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Updated: Dec 5, 2025
Author Spotlight: Assessment of Environmental and Drug-Induced Behavioral Changes in Adult Zebrafish
Published on: November 3, 2023
Behavioral changes occur earlier than redox alterations in developing zebrafish exposed to Mancozeb
Luana Paganotto Leandro1, Renata Siqueira de Mello1, Dennis Guilherme da Costa-Silva1
1Oxidative Stress and Cell Signaling Research Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research - CIPBIOTEC, Campus São Gabriel, Federal University of Pampa, São Gabriel, RS, 97307-020, Brazil.
Behavioral changes in zebrafish embryos exposed to the fungicide Mancozeb (MZ) occurred earlier than biochemical oxidative stress markers. This highlights the potential of behavioral biomarkers for early biomonitoring of agrochemical contamination.
Area of Science:
- Environmental toxicology
- Aquatic toxicology
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Agrochemicals, like the fungicide Mancozeb (MZ), are widely used in agriculture, raising concerns about aquatic ecosystem health.
- Mancozeb is a potent inducer of oxidative stress, necessitating sensitive biomarkers for early detection.
- Current biomonitoring methods may not detect effects of sublethal agrochemical concentrations early enough.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if behavioral alterations precede biochemical oxidative stress responses in zebrafish embryos exposed to sublethal Mancozeb concentrations.
- To evaluate the potential of behavioral changes as early biomarkers for Mancozeb exposure.
- To compare the sensitivity of behavioral endpoints versus oxidative stress markers for Mancozeb biomonitoring.
Main Methods:
- Zebrafish embryos (4 hpf) were exposed to sublethal concentrations of Mancozeb (5, 10, 20 μg/L).
- Behavioral parameters (spontaneous movement, escape response, swimming capacity, exploratory behavior) were assessed at multiple time points (24, 28, 72, 168 hpf).
- Biochemical markers of oxidative stress (ROS levels, antioxidant enzyme activity) were measured concurrently.
Main Results:
- Mancozeb significantly altered all assessed behavioral parameters at all exposure times.
- Biochemical oxidative stress markers showed alterations only at later time points (72 and 168 hpf).
- Behavioral changes were consistently observed earlier than biochemical responses to Mancozeb.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral alterations serve as a more sensitive and earlier indicator of Mancozeb toxicity than biochemical oxidative stress markers in zebrafish embryos.
- Behavioral biomarkers show significant promise for developing more effective and sensitive biomonitoring programs for agrochemical contamination.
- Early detection of environmental contaminants through behavioral analysis can aid in mitigating risks to aquatic ecosystems.
