Exposure of Zebrafish Embryos to Urea Affects NOS1 Gene Expression in Neuronal Cells

• DOI: 10.3390/environments11030041
• Publication Date: 2024-02-21T15:52:00Z
• Authors: Pietro Cacialli; Serena Ricci; Flavia Frabetti; Sara Ferrando; Valeria Franceschini

Nitrogen-based fertilizers represent the most common fertilization tools, particularly used in crop food agriculture, despite low cost-efficiency and high negative environmental impact. At present, there is still inadequate information available about effects of urea on human health; nevertheless, previous studies animals observed that concentration exposure can damage different tissues, including brain. In several vertebrates, a crucial factor involved neuronal cell formation represented by gas molecule, nitric oxide (NO), derived from conversion arginine to citrulline through enzymatic activity synthases (NOS). zebrafish, three isoforms NOS gene are known: nos1, nos2a, nos2b. present study we show nos1 represents unique isoform with stable expression brain spinal cord during all embryonic stages zebrafish development. Then, using specific transgenic line, Tg(HuC:GFP), mark cells, be specifically expressed neurons. Interestingly, at sub-lethal doses affected proliferation number nos1-expressing inducing apoptosis. Consistently, NO levels were reduced urea-treated compared untreated ones. This finding first evidence affects key