¹H NMR-metabolomics studies on acute toxicity effect of lead in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) model

Abstract

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is ideal for studying the effects of toxins like lead or plumbum (Pb) which persist in the environment and harm body systems when absorbed. Increasing Pb concentration could result in a higher mortality rate and alteration of behavior and metabolism. The present study evaluates the acute toxicity effect of Pb on metabolome and behavior in adult zebrafish. The zebrafish were exposed to various Pb concentrations ranging from 0 to 30 mg/L for different periods (24, 48, and 72 h) before the fish samples were subjected to Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)-multivariate data analysis (MVDA) with additional support from behavioral assessment. The behavior of zebrafish was significantly altered after Pb inducement and the differential metabolites increased in low (5 mg/L) while decreased in high (10 mg/L) Pb concentrations. An ideal Pb induction could be achieved by 5 mg/L concentration in 24 h, which induced significant metabolite changes without irreversible damage. Continuing research on the effects of lead toxicity is crucial to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Keywords:

• NMR metabolomics
• MVDA
• Pb toxicity
• zebrafish
• open field test

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mr. Salahudin Md. Raof for his assistance in NMR analysis.

Ethical approval

This experimental protocol has been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care Use Committee (IACUC) of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM/IACUC/AUP-R026/2021).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Raw data or any supporting data will be provided upon acceptable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work supported by a grant from Universiti Putra Malaysia PUTRA GRANT 9677400.