Xenobiotics Produce Distinct Metabolomic Responses in Zebrafish Larvae (Danio rerio)

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b01128
• Publication Date: 2016-05-27T19:10:55Z
• Authors: Susie S. Y. Huang; Jonathan P. Benskin; Bharat Chandramouli; Heather Butler; Caren C. Helbing; John R. Cosgrove
• Keywords: Xenobiotic; Danio

Sensitive and quantitative protocols for characterizing low-dose effects are needed to meet the demands of 21st century chemical hazard assessment. To test hypothesis that xenobiotic exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations produces specific biochemical fingerprints in organisms, metabolomic perturbations zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo/larvae were measured following 24 h exposures 13 individual chemicals covering a wide range contaminant classes. Measured metabolites (208 total) included amino acids, biogenic amines, fatty bile sugars, lipids. The 96-120 post-fertilization developmental stage was most appropriate model detecting xenobiotic-induced perturbations. Metabolomic largely chemical- dose-specific reproducible multiple over 16-month period. Furthermore, chemical-specific responses detected presence an effluent matrix; importantly, absence morphological response. In addition improving sensitivity biological low-level exposures, these data can aid classification novel contaminants based on similarity well-characterized "model" compounds. This approach is clearly use rapid, sensitive, analyses effect supplement existing methods, such as Zebrafish Embryo Toxicity assay (OECD TG236), with molecular-level information.