Life Cycle Exposure to Cyhalofop-Butyl Induced Reproductive Toxicity in Zebrafish

Abstract

Cyhalofop-butyl (CyB) is a herbicide widely used in paddy fields that may transfer to aquatic ecosystems and cause harm to aquatic organisms. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to CyB at environmental concentrations (0.1, 1 and 10 µg/L) throughout their adult life cycle, from embryo to sexual maturity. The effects of CyB on zebrafish growth and reproduction were studied. It was found that female spawning was inhibited, and adult male fertility decreased. In addition, we examined the expression of sex steroid hormones and genes related to the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonad–liver (HPGL) axis. After 150 days of exposure, the hormone balance in zebrafish was disturbed, and the concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E2) and vitellogenin (VTG) were decreased. Changes in sex hormone were regulated by the expression of genes related to the HPGL axis. These results confirmed that long-term exposure to CyB at environmental concentrations can damage the reproductive capacity of zebrafish by disrupting the transcription of genes related to the HPGL axis. Overall, these data may provide a new understanding of the reproductive toxicity of long-term exposure to CyB in zebrafish parents and offspring.