Combined toxicity of aflatoxin B1 and tebuconazole to the embryo development of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Xuehua An; Shanshan Di; Xinquan Wang; Chong Cao; Dou Wang; Liezhong Chen; Yanhua Wang

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140612

Combined toxicity of aflatoxin B1 and tebuconazole to the embryo development of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Chemosphere. 2024 Jan:346:140612. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140612. Epub 2023 Nov 4.

Authors

Xuehua An¹, Shanshan Di¹, Xinquan Wang¹, Chong Cao², Dou Wang¹, Liezhong Chen³, Yanhua Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Quality and Standard for Agro-products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China.
² State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
³ State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Quality and Standard for Agro-products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address: zwsclz@163.com.
⁴ State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Quality and Standard for Agro-products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address: wangyanh79@hotmail.com.

PMID: 37931711
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140612

Abstract

Mycotoxins and pesticides are pervasive elements within the natural ecosystem. Furthermore, many environmental samples frequently exhibit simultaneous contamination by multiple mycotoxins and pesticides. Nevertheless, a significant portion of previous investigations has solely reported the occurrence and toxicological effects of individual chemicals. Global regulations have yet to consider the collective impacts of mycotoxins and pesticides. In our present study, we undertook a comprehensive analysis of multi-level endpoints to elucidate the combined toxicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and tebuconazole (TCZ) on zebrafish (Danio rerio). Our findings indicated that AFB1 (with a 10-day LC₅₀ value of 0.018 mg L^-1) exhibits higher toxicity compared to TCZ (with a 10-day LC₅₀ value of 2.1 mg L^-1) toward D. rerio. The co-exposure of AFB1 and TCZ elicited synergistic acute responses in zebrafish. The levels of GST, CYP450, SOD, and Casp-9 exhibited significant variations upon exposure to AFB1, TCZ, and their combined mixture, in contrast to the control group. Additionally, eight genes, namely cat, cxcl-cic, il-1β, bax, apaf-1, trβ, ugtlab, and vtg1, displayed marked alterations when exposed to the chemical mixture as opposed to individual substances. Therefore, further exploration of the underlying mechanisms governing joint toxicity is imperative to establish a scientific basis for evaluating the risk associated with the combined effects of AFB1 and TCZ. Moreover, it is essential to thoroughly elucidate the organ system toxicity triggered by the co-occurrence of mycotoxins and pesticides.

Keywords: Biomarker; Health risk; Mixture toxicity; Synergistic effect.

MeSH terms

Aflatoxin B1 / toxicity
Animals
Ecosystem
Embryonic Development
Mycotoxins*
Pesticides* / toxicity
Zebrafish

Substances

tebuconazole
Aflatoxin B1
Pesticides
Mycotoxins