Toxic effects of TBBPA on in vivo and in vitro developments in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos
四溴双酚A对斑马鱼胚胎体内外发育的毒性效应

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a widely used brominated flame retardant that is present widely in the environment. The developmental toxicity effects of TBBPA on the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were studied both in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that exposure to water-borne TBBPA would cause teratogenic effects and death of zebrafish embryos. The teratogenic defects included pericardial edema, hemoglutinations and axial malformation. The lethality rate significantly increased when the embryos were treated with higher concentrations of TBBPA. Furthermore, the death of zebrafish embryos mainly happened in 24 h post-fertilization (hpf). The zebrafish embryos exposed to 6.4 mg·L-1 TBBPA were all dead during 48 hpf. The activities of spontaneous movement of zebrafish embryos exposed to different TBBPA concentrations higher than 0.4 mg·L-1 decreased in 20s. The main toxic effect to the embryos in 48 hpf was pericardial edema. No difference in the heart rates of embryos was observed between the control group and treated groups. The main toxic effect for the embryos in 72 h was pericardial edema and curved trunk. The hatching rates and survival rates were significantly decreased. These results suggested that TBBPA in the water were toxic directly to zebrafish embryos' early development in a dose-response manner. The lethality of offspring embryos was increased at the endpoints of 24 h and 72 h in a time-response manner when the adult zebrafish were exposed to 1.5 mg·L-1 TBBPA for 3~7 days. The lethality rate showed significant difference in 72 hpf between TBBPA treated groups and the control group in vivo. The hatching rates of offspring embryos decreased when adult zebrafish were treated with TBBPA, however, no significant difference was observed. The teratogenesis rates of offspring embryos significantly increased, and showed marked difference between the treated groups and the control groups. The results indicated that TBBPA residue in water was potentially hazardous to the development of fishes.