Under the magnification of a microscope, zebrafish exhibit a vibrant green hue.
Glowing Fish Aid Research into Endocrine Disruptors
A groundbreaking study led by Charles Tyler at the U.K.'s University of Exeter is using genetically engineered glowing fish to investigate the effects of endocrine disruptors on various physiological processes. This innovative approach offers a more intelligent way of identifying potential health impacts of pollutants in people, focusing on the heart in this instance.
The research team employed transgenic zebrafish, which express fluorescent proteins linked to specific genes or biochemical pathways, to study pollutants in the body. This allows researchers to observe how chemicals like nonylphenol, ethinyloestradiol, and bisphenol A (BPA) affect various physiological processes dynamically and non-invasively throughout development.
For example, a transgenic zebrafish line engineered to express a fluorescent reporter under the control of the abcg1 gene, which regulates cholesterol efflux in the nervous system, has been used to study neurotoxicity caused by pharmaceutical endocrine disruptors. In this model, glowing fish help trace abcg1 expression changes in response to chemicals, enabling detection of molecular disruptions such as cholesterol metabolism impairment in brain cells.
The study provides a new method for identifying potential health impacts of pollutants, focusing on the heart in this instance. By observing which organs of the small fish glowed in response to the endocrine disruptors, the team confirmed a link between BPA and heart problems. Furthermore, the chemicals were found to affect other parts of the fish's anatomy, including its eyes and skeletal muscles, with their impacts to these parts of the body being unknown.
The research team has identified areas for further study, such as understanding the impacts of endocrine disruptors on the fish's eyes, skeletal muscles, and brain. Endocrine disruptors are substances found in a wide range of industrial products, including plastics, as well as in many female contraceptives. They can target the heart and cause various reproductive problems in both people and animals.
Previous research has shown that endocrine disruptors can cause fish to change gender and have been associated with lower sperm counts and breast and testicular cancers in people. The current glowing-fish research is limited to fish younger than six days old due to their skin pigmentation interfering with observations. The next phase of the research involves breeding fish with a strain that lacks pigment in the skin, allowing for observations on adult fish as well.
The research was published on April 18 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, offering a valuable tool for assessing complex environmental contaminants' effects on developmental, reproductive, and neurological systems. This technology is particularly valuable for revealing impacts that are otherwise difficult to detect.
- The innovative use of glowing fish in the study of endocrine disruptors extends beyond just the heart, as chemicals were found to affect other parts of the fish's anatomy, such as its eyes and skeletal muscles.
- The glowing fish research provides a new method for identifying potential health impacts, not only limited to the heart, as the study aims to understand the broader effects of endocrine disruptors on various physiological systems.
- The research team's findings highlight the importance of further investigating endocrine disruptors' impacts on the fish's eyes, skeletal muscles, and brain, as these substances are often found in a wide range of products and have been associated with various medical conditions like reproductive problems in both people and animals.
