Developmental toxicity of procymidone to larval zebrafish based on physiological and transcriptomic analysis

Area of Science:

• Environmental Toxicology
• Aquatic Toxicology
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Procymidone (PCM) is a widely used agricultural fungicide with low toxicity but is frequently detected in aquatic environments.
• Potential impacts of PCM on aquatic organisms necessitate investigation into its developmental toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the developmental toxicity of procymidone (PCM) in embryonic and larval zebrafish.
• To investigate the effects of PCM on physiological parameters, gene expression, and behavior in zebrafish.

Main Methods:

• Zebrafish embryos and larvae were exposed to varying concentrations of PCM (0, 1, 10, 100 μg/L) for 7 days.
• Physiological parameters, glycolipid metabolism, and gene expression (transcriptomics) were analyzed.
• Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was performed on differentially expressed genes (DEGs).

Main Results:

• High PCM concentrations induced pericardial edema and increased heart rates in larval zebrafish.
• PCM exposure altered physiological parameters (TBA, GLU, pyruvic acid) and glycolipid metabolism gene expression.
• Transcriptomics revealed significant changes in 1065 genes, enriched in GABA-nervous system, lipid metabolism, and drug response pathways. GABA receptor gene expression was inhibited, and swimming behavior was affected.

Conclusions:

• Procymidone (PCM) exhibits developmental toxicity in zebrafish.
• PCM influences lipid metabolism and the GABA-mediated nervous system, leading to behavioral changes.
• These findings provide crucial data on PCM's impact on aquatic animals.