2021 journal article

PAH-pollution effects on sensitive and resistant embryos: Integrating structure and function with gene expression

PLOS ONE, 16(4).

By: G. Bozinovic  n, D. Shea n , Z. Feng *, D. Hinton *, T. Sit n  & M. Oleksiak  n

MeSH headings : Adaptation, Physiological / drug effects; Animals; Embryo, Nonmammalian / drug effects; Embryo, Nonmammalian / metabolism; Embryo, Nonmammalian / physiology; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / chemistry; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / toxicity; Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity
TL;DR: Gene expression analysis of early somitogenesis, heartbeat initiation, late organogenesis, and pre-hatching developmental stages reveals genes whose expression significantly differs between sensitive and resistant embryo populations and helps to explain mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance to polluted environments during vertebrate animal development. (via Semantic Scholar)
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
14. Life Below Water (OpenAlex)
Source: Web Of Science
Added: May 10, 2021

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the most widespread natural and anthropogenic pollutants, and some PAHs are proven developmental toxicants. We chemically characterized clean and heavily polluted sites and exposed fish embryos to PAH polluted sediment extracts during four critical developmental stages. Embryos were collected fromFundulus heteroclituspopulations inhabiting the clean and heavily polluted Superfund estuary. Embryos of parents from the clean sites are sensitive to PAH pollutants while those of parents from the heavily polluted site are resistant. Chemical analysis of embryos suggests PAH accumulation and pollution-induced toxicity among sensitive embryos during development that ultimately kills all sensitive embryos before hatching, while remarkably, the resistant embryos develop normally. The adverse effects on sensitive embryos are manifested as developmental delays, reduced heart rates, and severe heart, liver, and kidney morphological abnormalities. Gene expression analysis of early somitogenesis, heartbeat initiation, late organogenesis, and pre-hatching developmental stages reveals genes whose expression significantly differs between sensitive and resistant embryo populations and helps to explain mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance to polluted environments during vertebrate animal development.