Hilda Witters

Sex hormones originating from different livestock production systems: fate and potential disrupting activity in the environment

Abstract Endogenous hormones of human or animal origin have been reaching the environment for thousands of years, even though to an increasing extent due to growing population and more intensive farming. During the last decade the hormonal disrupting activity of different substances of both natural and anthropogenic origin, has been discussed for wildlife populations in various ecosystems and even for human fertility. So far, natural recycling has not been causally linked to any known severe adverse effect on wildlife or human endocrine system, but discussion on environmental endocrine disrupters has to be extended by this important aspect. The amount of sex steroids excreted by humans and livestock seems in the same order of magnitude, but the available data on their importance is still limited. Besides endogenous hormones, exogenous sex steroids used as anabolics in animals are excreted and reach the environment. The environmental fate of steroids originating from livestock excreta seems to be strongly influenced by storage conditions and also by the soil type of the fields where the dung is spread. Particle size and organic components strongly affect adsorption and migration in the soil. Our studies indicate that low concentrations of trenbolone and melengestrol acetate are very mobile in agricultural soils. However, both hormones have a high affinity to the organic fraction of the immobile phase leading to a high retardation within soil materials.

Zebrafish embryos as an alternative to animal experiments. A commentary on the definition of the onset of protected life stages in animal welfare regulations

Worldwide, the zebrafish has become a popular model for biomedical research and (eco)toxicology. Particularly the use of embryos is receiving increasing attention, since they are considered as replacement method for animal experiments. Zebrafish embryos allow the analysis of multiple endpoints ranging from acute and developmental toxicity determination to complex functional genetic and physiological analysis. Particularly the more complex endpoints require the use of post-hatched eleutheroembryo stages. According to the new EU Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, the earliest life-stages of animals are not defined as protected and, therefore, do not fall into the regulatory frameworks dealing with animal experimentation. Independent feeding is considered as the stage from which free-living larvae are subject to regulations for animal experimentation. However, despite this seemingly clear definition, large variations exist in the interpretation of this criterion by national and regional authorities. Since some assays require the use of post-hatched stages up to 120 h post fertilization, the literature and available data are reviewed in order to evaluate if this stage could still be considered as non-protected according to the regulatory criterion of independent feeding. Based on our analysis and by including criteria such as yolk consumption, feeding and swimming behavior, we conclude that zebrafish larvae can indeed be regarded as independently feeding from 120 h after fertilization. Experiments with zebrafish should thus be subject to regulations for animal experiments from 120 h after fertilization onwards.

Development of a screening assay to identify teratogenic and embryotoxic chemicals using the zebrafish embryo

We developed and optimized a screening procedure, in which zebrafish embryos were explored as a model for the evaluation of the specific embryotoxic and teratogenic potential of chemicals. A selection of known positive (retinoic acid, valproic acid, caffeine, lithium chloride) and negative (glucose, saccharin) compounds for developmental toxicity were used to evaluate this method. We exposed embryos and evaluated embryotoxicity and morphological characteristics of the embryos at 24, 48, 72 and 144 h post fertilization. After evaluation of the induced effects, concentration-response curves were created for both embryotoxicity and teratogenic effects. Values for teratogenic indices (TI) were calculated as the ratio LC(50)/EC(50). The results obtained were compared to existing data from studies with laboratory animals and humans. We demonstrated that our classification of the compounds, based on TI values, allows to distinguish teratogens from non-teratogens and supports the application of zebrafish embryos as an alternative method for developmental toxicity studies to predict effects in mammals.

Comparison of vitellogenin responses in zebrafish and rainbow trout following exposure to environmental estrogens

In this comparative study, the suitability of the commonly used in vivo biomarker for estrogenicity, vitellogenin (VTG), upon waterborne exposure to known environmental estrogens is evaluated in both male zebrafish (Danio rerio) and juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The results from initial experiments in which both species were exposed to 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) or 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol under semistatic conditions for 3 weeks demonstrated a difference in species sensitivity for OP exposure. Additional dose-response studies (semistatic, 3 weeks) with 4-nonylphenol (20, 100, and 500 microg/L), bisphenol A (40, 200, and 1000 microg/L), dibutylphthalate (40, 200, and 1000 microg/L DBP), and 17beta-estradiol (20 and 100 ng/L E2) were conducted. All these compounds, except for DBP, were found to be estrogenic to both fish species. The results demonstrated a difference in species sensitivity for NP with the zebrafish being about 5 times less sensitive. For the other compounds tested, no indications for a difference in species sensitivity was found. The results from this study demonstrated that both fish species can be used for the detection of VTG as biomarker for estrogenicity, taken into the potential interspecies differences in sensitivity which might be important for the evaluation of fish population effects.

Effects of 17α-ethynylestradiol in a partial life-cycle test with zebrafish (Danio rerio): effects on growth, gonads and female reproductive success

In this study, the impact of an exposure of zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio) until 3 months post fertilization to 17alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE2: 0; 0,1; 1; 10; 25 ng/l) was evaluated for growth and development, gonad development and body vitellogenin (VTG) content. After a recovery period of 5 months, the female reproductive success was evaluated. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in total body length, body weight, whole body Ca and P content and an increase in morphological abnormalities for fish exposed to 25 ng/l EE2 as a function of exposure time. An increase in total body VTG content was observed for fish exposed for a period of 3 months down to levels of 1 ng/l EE2. At the age of 3 months, a dose-dependent increase of the number of fish with no macroscopic recognizable gonads was observed (up to 100% at 25 ng/l EE2). After a recovery period on clean tap water for 5 months, all fish had developed either ovaries or testis with a gonadosomatic index not different from control fish and the sex ratio was similar in EE2 treatment groups and controls. Nevertheless, a reduced number of spawning females and a reduced egg production were found for the female fish exposed to 10 or 25 ng/l EE2 for 3 months and which were allowed to recover for 5 months. Although the underlying mechanism could not be elucidated, these findings did indicate that the reproduction potential of fish populations might be disturbed by a long-term exposure to EE2 (> or =10 ng/l) from fertilization until sexual maturity.

Feasibility study of the zebrafish assay as an alternative method to screen for developmental toxicity and embryotoxicity using a training set of 27 compounds

To anticipate to increased testing needs for reproductive toxicity and 3R approaches, we studied zebrafish embryo/larva as an alternative for animal testing for developmental toxicity and embryotoxicity and evaluated a training set of 27 compounds with a standardized protocol. The classification of compounds in the zebrafish embryo/larva assay, based on a prediction model using a TI (teratogenic index) cut-off value of 2, was compared to available animal and human data. When comparing the classification of compounds in the zebrafish embryo/larva assay to available animal classification, a sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 100% were obtained. The predictive values obtained in comparison to a limited set of human data were 50, 60% respectively for teratogens, non-teratogens. Overall, we demonstrated that the zebrafish embryo/larva assay, may be used as screening tool for prioritization of compounds and could contribute to reduction of animal experiments in the field of developmental toxicology.

Locomotor activity in zebrafish embryos: a new method to assess developmental neurotoxicity.

Currently, neurotoxicity testing defined by OECD and FDA is based solely on in vivo experiments, using large numbers of animals, being expensive, time-consuming and unsuitable for screening numerous chemicals. The great demand for thousands of chemicals yet to be evaluated, urges the development of alternative test methods which are cheaper, faster and highly predictive for developmental neurotoxicity. In this study, we developed a new method to assess locomotor activity in early life stage of zebrafish at 24 h post fertilization (hpf), in comparison to locomotor activity of zebrafish larvae at 96 to 192 hpf. We hypothesized that this endpoint at early life stages could be used to predict the developmental neurotoxic potential of chemicals and performed exposure studies with chlorpyrifos to demonstrate this. Furthermore, the case study with chlorpyrifos was used to critically evaluate behavioral data analysis and improve method sensitivity. The approach for data analysis using distribution plots for parameters on locomotor activity, next to mean values allowed to obtain more accurate information from the same set of behavioral data, both for embryos and larvae. Embryos exposed to chlorpyrifos, within the range 0.039 to 10 mg/l, exhibited a significant concentration-dependent increase in the frequency and total duration of their spontaneous tail coilings at 24-26 hpf. Larvae exhibited altered swimming activity, as evidenced by a significant decrease in the total duration of movement and an increase in mean turn angle in the range 0.18 to 0.75 mg/l chlorpyrifos. Methodological evaluation showed that locomotor effects in larvae were most pronounced and reproducible at 96 hpf, compared to older individuals (120, 144, 168 and 192 hpf). These new methods based on locomotor activity at early life stages of zebrafish allowed to classify chlorpyrifos as a developmental neurotoxicant. Further research to judge the validity of these alternative methods is currently performed with an extended set of expected positive or negative chemicals for developmental neurotoxicity.

Immunolocalization of Na+, K+-ATPase in the gill epithelium of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Abstract.The Na+,K+-ATPase (the sodium pump) plays a crucial role in ion transport in the fish gill. An immunocytochemical method has been optimized, using the mouse monoclonal antibody IgG α5, raised against the αsubunit of the avian sodium pump, to localize Na+,K+-ATPase in fish gill cells. The method appears to be successful for the immunolocalization of Na+,K+-ATPase in both paraffin-embedded gill tissue sections and primary cultures of fish gill epithelial cells. The immunostaining has demonstrated that Na+,K+-ATPase-positive cells are mainly localized on the primary lamellae, in the interlamellar region, which is in agreement with the distribution of ion-transporting cells, also called chloride cells, as shown by electron microscopy. Na+,K+-ATPase-positive cells have been demonstrated for the first time in primary cultures of gill epithelial cells. Comparative labeling studies of primary cultures have shown that sites of Na+,K+-ATPase-positive cells correspond to sites of cells labeled with dimethylaminostyrylmethyl-pyridiniumiodine, a fluorescent mitochondrial probe for ion-transporting cells. The immunocytochemical detection method for Na+,K+-ATPase in cells is proposed as an easy and specific Na+-transport-related method to characterize and localize ion-transporting cells in primary cultures and in tissue sections of fish gill epithelium.

A European perspective on alternatives to animal testing for environmental hazard identification and risk assessment

Tests with vertebrates are an integral part of environmental hazard identification and risk assessment of chemicals, plant protection products, pharmaceuticals, biocides, feed additives and effluents. These tests raise ethical and economic concerns and are considered as inappropriate for assessing all of the substances and effluents that require regulatory testing. Hence, there is a strong demand for replacement, reduction and refinement strategies and methods. However, until now alternative approaches have only rarely been used in regulatory settings. This review provides an overview on current regulations of chemicals and the requirements for animal tests in environmental hazard and risk assessment. It aims to highlight the potential areas for alternative approaches in environmental hazard identification and risk assessment. Perspectives and limitations of alternative approaches to animal tests using vertebrates in environmental toxicology, i.e. mainly fish and amphibians, are discussed. Free access to existing (proprietary) animal test data, availability of validated alternative methods and a practical implementation of conceptual approaches such as the Adverse Outcome Pathways and Integrated Testing Strategies were identified as major requirements towards the successful development and implementation of alternative approaches. Although this article focusses on European regulations, its considerations and conclusions are of global relevance.

A cell-based in vitro alternative to identify skin sensitizers by gene expression

The ethical and economic burden associated with animal testing for assessment of skin sensitization has triggered intensive research effort towards development and validation of alternative methods. In addition, new legislation on the registration and use of cosmetics and chemicals promote the use of suitable alternatives for hazard assessment. Our previous studies demonstrated that human CD34(+) progenitor-derived dendritic cells from cord blood express specific gene profiles upon exposure to low molecular weight sensitizing chemicals. This paper presents a classification model based on this cell type which is successful in discriminating sensitizing chemicals from non-sensitizing chemicals based on transcriptome analysis of 13 genes. Expression profiles of a set of 10 sensitizers and 11 non-sensitizers were analyzed by RT-PCR using 9 different exposure conditions and a total of 73 donor samples. Based on these data a predictive dichotomous classifier for skin sensitizers has been constructed, which is referred to as VITOSENS. In a first step the dimensionality of the input data was reduced by selectively rejecting a number of exposure conditions and genes. Next, the generalization of a linear classifier was evaluated by a cross-validation which resulted in a prediction performance with a concordance of 89%, a specificity of 97% and a sensitivity of 82%. These results show that the present model may be a useful human in vitro alternative for further use in a test strategy towards the reduction of animal use for skin sensitization.