Long-term tributyltin exposure alters behavior, oocyte maturation, and histomorphology of the ovary due to oxidative stress in adult zebrafish

Rajkumar S Delvadiya; Urvesh D Patel; Mihir R Tank; Harshad B Patel; Swati S Patel; Bhavesh J Trangadia

doi:10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108600

Long-term tributyltin exposure alters behavior, oocyte maturation, and histomorphology of the ovary due to oxidative stress in adult zebrafish

Reprod Toxicol. 2024 Apr 24:126:108600. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108600. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Rajkumar S Delvadiya¹, Urvesh D Patel², Mihir R Tank¹, Harshad B Patel¹, Swati S Patel³, Bhavesh J Trangadia³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Junagadh, India.
² Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Junagadh, India. Electronic address: urvesh1981@yahoo.com.
³ Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Junagadh, India.

PMID: 38670349
DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108600

Abstract

Tributyltin (TBT), an organotin endocrine-disrupting substance, is recognized as one of the important toxic environmental pollutants. The present study was carried out to investigate the toxic effects of TBT on behavior and the ovary of adult zebrafish with a focus on oxidative stress markers and oocyte maturation. Adult zebrafish were exposed to three different concentrations (125, 250, and 500 ng/L of water) of TBT for 28 days. TBT exposure produced a concentration-dependent negative effect on the body weight and behavior (anxiety-like symptoms) of adult zebrafish. Alterations in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), the total antioxidant capacity of ovarian tissue by the highest exposure level of TBT resulted in lipid peroxidation as indicated by increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level. The numbers of early-vitellogenic oocytes were significantly increased in zebrafish exposed to TBT as low as 125 ng/L. However, the numbers and size of fully-grown (mature) oocytes were significantly reduced in the highest exposure group only. Correlation between the MDA level and pre-vitellogenic oocytes in the 500 ng/L group indicated that lipid peroxidation prevented the maturation of pre-vitellogenic oocytes. TBT exposure produced significant histological changes in the ovary as evidenced by disturbed maturation of oocytes. In conclusion, TBT adversely affected the maturation of oocytes in zebrafish ovary through oxidative stress-mediated mechanisms.

Keywords: Behavior; Histological changes; Ovary; Oxidative stress; Tributyltin; Zebrafish.