Differential effects of bisphenol a and di (2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate exposure on crestin and the expression of some genes related to apoptosis and inflammation in zebrafish embryos

Abstract

Objective: Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) in plastics may disrupt proper endocrine system functioning. Zebrafish embryos are formed through external fertilization, and their rapid development, short life cycle, and transparency provide imaging advantages. In zebrafish embryos, neural crest development occurs similarly to other vertebrate embryos and crestin is found in the neural crest during embryogenesis. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) and Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), which are the most widely used EDCs, on the expression of crestin, apoptosis, and inflammation-related parameters in zebrafish embryos. Materials and Methods: The embryos were exposed to either DEHP or BPA in well plates for 72 h post fertilization (hpf). Expressions of crestin were evaluated by in situ hybridization, while the expressions of bax, casp8, casp3a, ifng1, fas, and tp53 were evaluated by RT-PCR. Results: Expressions of bax and casp8 increased and casp3a, ifng1, and fas decreased in BPA and DEHP groups. tp53 expression increased in the BPA group but decreased in the DEHP group compared with the control group. In the DEHP group, casp3a, ifng1, fas, bax, casp8, and tp53 expressions decreased compared with the BPA group. No significant change was observed in the crestin expressions in the groups. When compared with the control group, an inverse relation between ifng1 expression and apoptosis, as evidenced by increased bax and casp8 expressions, was observed in the BPA and DEHP groups. Conclusion: Our study provided important data on the effects of EDCs on the relationship between inflammation and apoptosis.