Muscarinic receptors mediate the endocrine-disrupting effects of an organophosphorus insecticide in zebrafish.
Environ Toxicol
; 32(7): 1964-1972, 2017 Jul.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28371364
The glucocorticoid cortisol, the end product of hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis in zebrafish (Danio rerio), is synthesized via steroidogenesis and promotes important physiological regulations in response to a stressor. The failure of this axis leads to inability to cope with environmental challenges preventing adaptive processes in order to restore homeostasis. Pesticides and agrichemicals are widely used, and may constitute an important class of environmental pollutants when reach aquatic ecosystems and nontarget species. These chemical compounds may disrupt hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis by altering synthesis, structure or function of its constituents. We present evidence that organophosphorus exposure disrupts stress response by altering the expression of key genes of the neural steroidogenesis, causing downregulation of star, hsp70, and pomc genes. This appears to be mediated via muscarinic receptors, since the muscarinic antagonist scopolamine blocked these effects.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Water Pollutants, Chemical
/
Zebrafish
/
Receptors, Muscarinic
/
Endocrine Disruptors
/
Insecticides
/
Methyl Parathion
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Environ Toxicol
Journal subject:
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
/
TOXICOLOGIA
Year:
2017
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Country of publication:
United States