Dinitroaniline herbicide pendimethalin affects development and induces biochemical and histological alterations in zebrafish early-life stages

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 828; p. 154414
• Main Authors: Merola, Carmine, Fabrello, Jacopo, Matozzo, Valerio, Faggio, Caterina, Iannetta, Annamaria, Tinelli, Antonella, Crescenzo, Giuseppe, Amorena, Michele, Perugini, Monia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-07-2022
• Subjects: Aniline Compounds - toxicity; Animals; Danio rerio; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Embryotoxicity; Herbicides - metabolism; Larva; Neurotoxicity; Osteotoxicity; Oxidative Stress; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Zebrafish - physiology; Embryotoxicity; Oxidative stress; Neurotoxicity; Osteotoxicity; Danio rerio
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154414

Pendimethalin (PND) is a dinitroaniline preemergent herbicide widely used to control grasses and weeds. The present study aimed to evaluate the PND potential effects on the development of zebrafish early-life stages. The research focuses first on acute toxicity, followed by the integration of toxicity results through histopathology, oxidative status, and neurotoxicity evaluation of sublethal and environmentally relevant concentrations. Zebrafish larvae exposed to PND showed mortality and developed sublethal alterations including impaired fin development, lordosis, scoliosis, blood congestion, impaired blood flow, and reduced heartbeat. PND exposure (0.5 mg/L) affects musculoskeletal development leading to delayed and reduced ossification of the vertebral centra in the developing vertebral column and disruption of muscle morphology. Herbicide exposure (0.5 mg/L and 0.05 mg/L) led also to biochemical changes of antioxidant enzymes, increasing the activity of CAT, GR, and GPx, while no effects were observed on the activity of SOD and GST in zebrafish larvae. Lastly, AChE activity, a biochemical marker of neurotoxicity, was also increased in zebrafish larvae exposed to 0.5 mg/L of PND. These results confirm the developmental toxicity of PND in zebrafish early-life stages, pointing out the potential role of oxidative stress in the onset of sublethal alterations.
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•PND exposure induced sublethal alterations in zebrafish early-life stages•PND exposure affects musculoskeletal development and reduced ossification•PND increase the activity of CAT, GR, and GPx.•Oxidative stress could be implicated in the development of sublethal alterations