Abstract
The herbicide atrazine, a suspected endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC), frequently contaminates potable water supplies. Studies suggest alterations in the neuroendocrine system along the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis; however, most studies address either developmental, pubertal, or adulthood exposures, with few investigations regarding a developmental origins hypothesis. In this study, zebrafish were exposed to 0, 0.3, 3, or 30 parts per billion (ppb) atrazine through embryogenesis and then allowed to mature with no additional chemical exposure. Reproductive function, histopathology, hormone levels, offspring morphology, and the ovarian transcriptome were assessed. Embryonic atrazine exposure resulted in a significant increase in progesterone levels in the 3 and 30 ppb groups. A significant decrease in spawning and a significant increase in follicular atresia in the 30 ppb group were observed. In offspring, a decrease in the head length to body ratio in the 30 ppb group, along with a significant increase in head width to body ratio in the 0.3 and 3 ppb groups occurred. Transcriptomic alterations involved genes associated with endocrine system development and function, tissue development, and behavior. This study provides evidence to support atrazine as an EDC causing reproductive dysfunction and molecular alterations in adults exposed only during embryogenesis and morphological alterations in their offspring.
Highlights
The herbicide atrazine, a suspected endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC), frequently contaminates potable water supplies
These studies seek to investigate the developmental origin of health and adult disease (DOHaD) hypothesis which states that exposure to stressors during sensitive times during an organism’s life, during developmental stages, can cause changes to the genome and epigenome thereby resulting in an increased susceptibility to the development of health issues or diseases later on in life[1,2]
Epidemiological studies show several potential adverse health effects associated with maternal atrazine exposure including an increased risk of babies born small for their gestational age (SGA), intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and birth defects[22,23,24]
Summary
The herbicide atrazine, a suspected endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC), frequently contaminates potable water supplies. A key element complicating the establishment of a link between exposure and a disease state is the time that elapses between exposure and outward response or development of a disease[1,3] It may take years for an individual to present a disease state and in addition may pass on these adverse health effects to future generations[4]. Atrazine is often reported to exceed the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 3 parts per billion (ppb; μ g/L) set by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in potable water supplies[18,19]. As such the European Union banned the use of atrazine in 200320,21. Epidemiological studies show several potential adverse health effects associated with maternal atrazine exposure including an increased risk of babies born small for their gestational age (SGA), intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and birth defects[22,23,24]
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