TY - JOUR
T1 - How toxic is a non-toxic nanomaterial
T2 - Behaviour as an indicator of effect in Danio rerio exposed to nanogold
AU - Botha, Tarryn L.
AU - Brand, Sarel J.
AU - Ikenaka, Yoshinori
AU - Nakayama, Shouta M.M.
AU - Ishizuka, Mayumi
AU - Wepener, Victor
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2019/10
Y1 - 2019/10
N2 - Gold nanoparticles are used as drug delivery vectors based on the assumption that they have low toxicity. Literature has, however, produced conflicting results over the last few years. As such, this study aimed to investigate the toxicological effects of nanogold (nAu) on several indicators that range from subcellular to whole-organism level. Gene regulation, changes in oxidative stress biomarkers and swimming performance were assessed in Danio rerio (zebrafish) following exposures to nAu. Adult zebrafish were exposed in vivo to nAu for 96 h and swimming performance measured post-exposure. Liver tissue was collected for DNA microarray and Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reactions (RT-PCR) analyses to determine changes in gene expression (catalase, superoxide dismutase and metallothioneins) and protein biomarker analyses (catalase, superoxide dismutase, acetylcholine esterase, malondialdehyde, cellular energy allocation and metallothionein) were performed on whole-body samples. Swimming behaviour was assessed in 1.1 L Tecniplast™ tanks for a period of six hours and videos were analysed using Noldus EthoVision software. Critical swimming speed was measured in a Loligo® swimming tunnel. The DNA microarray revealed that fish exposed to 20 mg/L differed most from the control group. At 20 mg/L there was a significant increase in gene expression for all genes analysed but this didn't translate to significant responses in protein biomarker levels except for an increase in protein carbonyl formation. The behaviour results demonstrated significant changes in distance moved, swimming speed, acceleration bouts, zone alterations and time spent within the top zone – responses that are usually observed in fish responding to toxicological stress. Furthermore, the critical swimming speed of exposed fish was decreased significantly compared to the control. Since swimming performance and social interaction among zebrafish is essential to their survival, whole-organism behaviour that suggests a toxicological response after exposure to nAu is in agreement with the genetic responses measured in this study.
AB - Gold nanoparticles are used as drug delivery vectors based on the assumption that they have low toxicity. Literature has, however, produced conflicting results over the last few years. As such, this study aimed to investigate the toxicological effects of nanogold (nAu) on several indicators that range from subcellular to whole-organism level. Gene regulation, changes in oxidative stress biomarkers and swimming performance were assessed in Danio rerio (zebrafish) following exposures to nAu. Adult zebrafish were exposed in vivo to nAu for 96 h and swimming performance measured post-exposure. Liver tissue was collected for DNA microarray and Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reactions (RT-PCR) analyses to determine changes in gene expression (catalase, superoxide dismutase and metallothioneins) and protein biomarker analyses (catalase, superoxide dismutase, acetylcholine esterase, malondialdehyde, cellular energy allocation and metallothionein) were performed on whole-body samples. Swimming behaviour was assessed in 1.1 L Tecniplast™ tanks for a period of six hours and videos were analysed using Noldus EthoVision software. Critical swimming speed was measured in a Loligo® swimming tunnel. The DNA microarray revealed that fish exposed to 20 mg/L differed most from the control group. At 20 mg/L there was a significant increase in gene expression for all genes analysed but this didn't translate to significant responses in protein biomarker levels except for an increase in protein carbonyl formation. The behaviour results demonstrated significant changes in distance moved, swimming speed, acceleration bouts, zone alterations and time spent within the top zone – responses that are usually observed in fish responding to toxicological stress. Furthermore, the critical swimming speed of exposed fish was decreased significantly compared to the control. Since swimming performance and social interaction among zebrafish is essential to their survival, whole-organism behaviour that suggests a toxicological response after exposure to nAu is in agreement with the genetic responses measured in this study.
KW - Adverse outcomes pathway
KW - Nanogold
KW - Swimming behaviour
KW - Zebrafish
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85071527371&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.aquatox.2019.105287
DO - 10.1016/j.aquatox.2019.105287
M3 - Article
C2 - 31491706
AN - SCOPUS:85071527371
SN - 0166-445X
VL - 215
JO - Aquatic Toxicology
JF - Aquatic Toxicology
M1 - 105287
ER -