Combined effect of anthracene and polyethylene microplastics on swimming speed and cytochrome P4501A monooxygenase expression of Java medaka (Oryzias javanicus).

Microplastics have been detected in a variety of aquatic ecosystems, and the combined effect of microplastics and chemical pollutants has become a matter of increasing concern. We conducted a 12-d co-exposure test of anthracene and spherical or fragmented polyethylene microplastics (size 200 µm) on Java medaka (Oryzias javanicus). The accumulation of anthracene in Java medaka muscle reached a plateau on day 5 in all anthracene exposure groups, and no significant differences were detected among the groups (ANT, 20.4 ± 5.5; ANT + SPPE-MP, 24.7 ± 2.7; ANT + FRPE-MP, 24.6 ± 4.7 µg/g). However, co-exposure to anthracene and spherical or fragmented polyethylene microplastics increased the duration of slow swimming in a swimming behavior test (control, 4.1 ± 1.4; ANT, 5.2 ± 2.8; ANT + SPPE-MP, 12.4 ± 3.7; ANT + FRPE-MP, 17.4 ± 5.1 min/30 min), and co-exposure to anthracene and fragmented polyethylene microplastics induced higher cytochrome P4501A monooxygenase (CYP1A) expression in Java medaka livers than the other anthracene exposure groups (ANT, 189 ± 74; ANT + SPPE-MP, 203 ± 75; ANT + FRPE-MP 272 ± 36% of control). Polyethylene microplastics appear to be weak vectors of anthracene at the size tested (200 µm), and the effect of shape (spherical or fragmented) on the vector effect was small. However, the presence of polyethylene microplastics could affect the swimming behavior and CYP1A expression in Java medaka.

Hydroxylated benzo[c]phenanthrene metabolites cause osteoblast apoptosis and skeletal abnormalities in fish.

To study the toxicity of 3-hydroxybenzo[c]phenanthrene (3-OHBcP), a metabolite of benzo[c]phenanthrene (BcP), first we compared it with its parent compound, BcP, using an in ovo-nanoinjection method in Japanese medaka. Second, we examined the influence of 3-OHBcP on bone metabolism using goldfish. Third, the detailed mechanism of 3-OHBcP on bone metabolism was investigated using zebrafish and goldfish. The LC50s of BcP and 3-OHBcP in Japanese medaka were 5.7 nM and 0.003 nM, respectively, indicating that the metabolite was more than 1900 times as toxic as the parent compound. In addition, nanoinjected 3-OHBcP (0.001 nM) induced skeletal abnormalities. Therefore, fish scales with both osteoblasts and osteoclasts on the calcified bone matrix were examined to investigate the mechanisms of 3-OHBcP toxicity on bone metabolism. We found that scale regeneration in the BcP-injected goldfish was significantly inhibited as compared with that in control goldfish. Furthermore, 3-OHBcP was detected in the bile of BcP-injected goldfish, indicating that 3-OHBcP metabolized from BcP inhibited scale regeneration. Subsequently, the toxicity of BcP and 3-OHBcP to osteoblasts was examined using an in vitro assay with regenerating scales. The osteoblastic activity in the 3-OHBcP (10-10 to 10-7 M)-treated scales was significantly suppressed, while BcP (10-11 to 10-7 M)-treated scales did not affect osteoblastic activity. Osteoclastic activity was unchanged by either BcP or 3-OHBcP treatment at each concentration (10-11 to 10-7 M). The detailed toxicity of 3-OHBcP (10-9 M) in osteoblasts was then examined using gene expression analysis on a global scale with fish scales. Eight genes, including APAF1, CHEK2, and FOS, which are associated with apoptosis, were identified from the upregulated genes. This indicated that 3-OHBcP treatment induced apoptosis in fish scales. In situ detection of cell death by TUNEL methods was supported by gene expression analysis. This study is the first to demonstrate that 3-OHBcP, a metabolite of BcP, has greater toxicity than the parent compound, BcP.

Effects of the antifouling agent tributyltin on the sinking behavior, photosynthetic rate and biochemical composition of the marine planktonic diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana.

This study investigated the changes in the sinking rates and physiochemical characteristics of the planktonic marine diatom, Thalassiosira pseudonana, caused by 72 h exposure to antifouling agent tributyltin (TBT) at 1.0 µg L-1 (72-h 10% effective concentration for growth rate, EC10), and 1.7 µg L-1 (EC50). After 72 h of exposure, the sinking rates of T. pseudonana cells were changed from 0.13-0.08 m day-1 in the control, 0.08-0.05 m day-1 in the EC10 treatment, and 0.04-0.006 m day-1 in the EC50 treatment. The results revealed that the sinking rate of T. pseudonana decreased significantly compared with the control at 48 h in the EC10 treatment group and at 24, 48, and 72 h in the EC50 treatment group. The photosynthetic performance index on an absorption basis and the maximum quantum yields of photosystem II also decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the TBT treatments compared with the control. There was a significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation between sinking rates and cellular protein contents (ng cell-1). Changes in the biochemical and physiochemical composition of the cells suggest that interference with photosynthetic processes by TBT may have reduced their specific gravity and thereby caused a decrease in the sinking rates of T. pseudonana. The results of this investigation suggest the importance of considering the effects of pollutants on the sinking behaviors of diatoms when evaluating the adverse effects of pollutants on marine primary production.

Uptake and depuration kinetics of microplastics with different polymer types and particle sizes in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes).

Microplastic (MP) pollution and the related impacts on aquatic species have drawn worldwide attention. However, knowledge of the kinetic profiles of MPs in fish remains fragmentary. In this study, we conducted exposure and depuration tests of the following fluorescent-labeled MPs: polyethylene (PE; sphere with 200 or 20 µm diameter) and polystyrene (PS; sphere with 20 or 2 µm diameter) using juvenile Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). The distribution and concentration of MPs in medaka were directly determined in-situ after tissue transparency. During the 14-day exposure, MPs was mainly detected in the gastrointestinal tract, while some MPs at the size of ≤ 20 µm were located in the area of the gills and head. The bioconcentration factor (BCF; L/kg) for MPs in medaka was estimated as 74.4 (200 µm PE), 25.7 (20 µm PE), 16.8 (20 µm PS), and 139.9 (2 µm PS). Within the first five days of depuration, MPs were exponentially eliminated from the fish body, but 2 µm PS-MPs could be still detected in the gastrointestinal tract at the end of the 10-day depuration phase. Our results suggest that MPs 2 µm in diameter may pose ecological risks to aquatic species due to their relatively higher BCF and the potential for long-term persistence in the body.

Comparison of social behavior responses of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) to lethal and sublethal chlorpyrifos concentrations at different exposure times.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is one of the most widely used insecticides and has been found in both urban and rural water bodies. In this study, we studied variations in the social behavioral patterns, swimming behavior, and brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of Japanese medaka exposed to lethal (0.12mg/L) and sublethal (0.012mg/L) concentrations of CPF after different exposure times. Group behavior performance (schooling, shoaling, and solitary) was determined on day 4 of lethal exposure and on days 4, 8, and 12 of sublethal exposure. Swimming speed and brain AChE activity were measured on days 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 of sublethal CPF exposure. We observed significant decreases in social behavior and swimming speed (i.e., hypoactivity) in fish exposed to lethal CPF concentrations for 4 days. At the sublethal concentration, there was increased schooling duration and hyperactivity of fish on day 8 but not on day 4. In contrast, 12 days of sublethal CPF exposure resulted in social behavior responses similar to those after 4 days' lethal exposure, i.e., significant decreases in schooling frequency and duration with a notable increase in duration of solitary behavior. Brain AChE activity was inhibited in a time-dependent manner. Altered fish behavior in response to organophosphorus pesticides such as CPF may be mediated by more than AChE inhibition alone.

Contaminants in Liquid Organic Fertilizers Used for Agriculture in Japan.

To provide an overview of anthropogenic contaminants in liquid organic fertilizers (LOFs), products from four biogas plants in Kyushu, Japan, were analyzed for a wide range of contaminants, including copper, cadmium, tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT), perfluorooctane sulfonate, 952 semi-volatile organic compounds, and 89 antibiotics. The highest concentrations of copper (31.1 mg/L) and cadmium (0.08 mg/L) were found in LOFs from the Hita biogas plant. Only ofloxacin and sulfapyridine were detected in total 89 antibiotics screened. TBT, DBT, and perfluorooctane sulfonate were present at low concentrations in the LOFs from all four locations. Among the 952 semi-volatile organic compounds, 78 compounds were detected in at least one sample and were present at concentrations between 1.2 and 139.6 mg/L. On the basis of comparisons with previous studies and quality standards for the use of organic fertilizers, the concentrations of contaminants in the studied LOFs indicate that they might be safe for agricultural purposes.

Effects of Calcium and Magnesium Ions on Acute Copper Toxicity to Glochidia and Early Juveniles of the Chinese Pond Mussel Anodonta woodiana.

We evaluated the effects of calcium (Ca(2+)) and magnesium (Mg(2+)) ions on copper (Cu) toxicity to glochidia and newly-transformed juvenile mussels (age 1-2 days) of the Chinese pond mussel (Anodonta woodiana). Acute Cu toxicity tests were performed with glochidia for 24 h and juveniles for 96 h with measured Ca(2+) concentrations of 1.1, 14, 26, 51, and 99 mg L(-1), or measured Mg(2+) concentrations of 2.6, 11, 21, and 39 mg L(-1). The Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) cations provided no statistically significant protection against Cu toxicity to glochidia or juveniles. The 24-h EC50 value for glochidia was 82 µg L(-1) Cu, and contrastly, 96-h EC50 value for newly-transformed juvenile mussels was as low as 12 µg L(-1) Cu, implying that the juveniles of A. woodiana are more vulnerable to Cu contamination at concentrations close to currently-accepted levels.

Identification of perfluorooctane sulfonate binding protein in the plasma of tiger pufferfish Takifugu rubripes.

It is well known that perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) preferentially accumulates in the plasma of wildlife and humans. Although earlier studies have suggested that this was due to binding of PFOS to a plasma protein, definite characterization of the protein in in vivo exposure studies was not conducted thus far. In this study, we conducted both in vitro and in vivo experiments to identify PFOS binding protein in the plasma of fish. For the in vivo studies, PFOS was administered intraperitoneally to tiger pufferfish, Takifugu rubripes, and the plasma was separated by ammonium sulfate fractionation. High concentrations of PFOS were found in the 65-70 percent ammonium sulfate fraction (190ng/mL). After SDS-PAGE and N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis, the PFOS-binding protein was identified as an apolipoprotein A-I, which was confirmed on the basis of a significant correlation to the PFOS concentration in each fraction. The plasma samples fractionated by ammonium sulfate from untreated pufferfish were subjected to PFOS binding assay by the equilibrium dialysis method. The results further confirmed that the 60-65 percent ammonium sulfate fraction showed a high PFOS-binding ratio, similar to that found from in vivo studies. We demonstrated that PFOS is likely bound to an apolipoprotein A-I in the plasma of tiger pufferfish in in vivo and in vitro studies.

Diurnal-Rhythmic Relationships between Physiological Parameters and Photosynthesis- and Antioxidant-Enzyme Genes Expression in the Raphidophyte Chattonella marina Complex.

Diurnal rhythms in physiological functions contribute to homeostasis in many organisms. Although relationships between molecular biology and diurnal rhythms have been well studied in model organisms like higher plants, those in harmful algal bloom species are poorly understood. Here we measured several physiological parameters and the expression patterns of photosynthesis-related and antioxidant-enzyme genes in the Chattonella marina complex to understand the biological meaning of diurnal rhythm. Under a light-dark cycle, Fv/Fm and expression of psbA, psbD, and 2-Cys prx showed significant increases in the light and decreases during the dark. These rhythms remained even under continuous dark conditions. DCMU suppressed the induction of psbA, psbD, and 2-Cys prx expression under both light regimes. Oxidative stress levels and H2O2 scavenging activities were relatively stable, and there was no significant correlation between H2O2 scavenging activities and antioxidant-enzyme gene expression. These results indicate that the Chattonella marina complex has developed mechanisms for efficient photosynthetic energy production in the light. Our results showed that this species has a diurnal rhythm and a biological clock. These phenomena are thought to contribute to the efficiency of physiological activities centered on photosynthesis and cell growth related to the diurnal vertical movement of this species.

Comparative biochemical characterization of pufferfish saxitoxin and tetrodotoxin-binding protein (PSTBP) homologs in the plasma from four Takifugu species: Conservation of heat-stable PSTBP orthologs having three and two tandemly repeated lipocalin domains in genus Takifugu.

To study the relationship between domain characteristics of pufferfish saxitoxin and tetrodotoxin binding protein (PSTBP) proteoforms and their thermal stability, a comparative biochemical characterization of PSTBPs from the plasma of four Takifugu species (T. flavipterus, T. pardalis, T. alboplumbeus and T. rubripes) was conducted by Western blot analysis. The heat-tolerance tetrodotoxin (TTX)-binding ability of PSTBP proteoforms in T. rubripes plasma was verified by ultrafiltration and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). These results suggest that the heat-stable PSTBP proteoforms, composed of three and two tandemly repeated lipocalin domains, are genetically conserved and ubiquitous in the genus Takifugu. This study builds on our knowledge of the structural and functional properties of PSTBP proteoforms, which is vital for understanding how toxins are transmitted and accumulate in organisms and is essential for evaluating the potential risks of toxins in seafood.

Thiobencarb herbicide reduces growth, photosynthetic activity, and amount of Rieske iron-sulfur protein in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana.

We investigated the effects of the herbicide thiobencarb on the growth, photosynthetic activity, and expression profile of photosynthesis-related proteins in the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana. Growth rate was suppressed by 50% at a thiobencarb concentration of 1.26 mg/L. Growth and photosystem II activity (Fv /Fm ratio) were drastically decreased at 5 mg/L, at which the expression levels of 13 proteins increased significantly and those of 11 proteins decreased significantly. Among these proteins, the level of the Rieske iron-sulfur protein was decreased to less than half of the control level. This protein is an essential component of the cytochrome b6 f complex in the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Although the mechanism by which thiobencarb decreased the Rieske iron-sulfur protein level is not clear, these results suggest that growth was inhibited by interruption of the photosynthetic electron transport chain by thiobencarb.

Growth-phase dependent variation in photosynthetic activity and cellular protein expression profile in the harmful raphidophyte Chattonella antiqua.

This study investigated temporal variations in the potential maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (F(v)/F(m) ratio) and growth-phase dependent cellular protein expressions of Chattonella antiqua under laboratory conditions. Despite the culture conditions, significant positive correlations between the F(v)/F(m) ratio and daily growth rate were observed. Threshold F(v)/F(m) ratios associated with positive cell growth were calculated to be >0.44, >0.44, and >0.37, and those associated with active cell growth (growth rate >0.5 div. d(-1)) were >0.58, >0.60, and >0.49 under control culture, low nutrient and intense light conditions, respectively. Proteome profiles obtained by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) indicated that 42 protein spots were differentially expressed at various growth phases of C. antiqua, which indicates changes in cellular physiological status throughout the growth cycle, and suggests that oxygen evolving enhancer 1 and 2-cysteine peroxiredoxin play roles in maintaining the positive growth of C. antiqua.

Accumulation of organotins in wharf roach (Ligia exotica Roux) and its ability to serve as a biomonitoring species for coastal pollution.

In this study, we measured the accumulation of tributyltin (TBT) in wharf roach (Ligia exotica Roux) and examined the species' ability to be used for TBT biomonitoring in coastal environments. In an exposure test, wharf roach were exposed to TBT via diet for 2d. TBT was accumulated in wharf roach, and its metabolite dibutyltin was detected. The concentrations of these compounds gradually decreased during the depuration period, but they were still detected 12d after exposure ceased (TBT 290±140ng/g; dibutyltin 1280±430ng/g). The biological half-life of TBT in wharf roach was estimated to be about 4d. In a field study conducted in 2011-2012, wharf roach were collected from 15 coastal sites in Japan and 3 sites in Manado, Indonesia. TBT was detected in both Japanese and Indonesian samples. The highest concentration of TBT was found in wharf roach collected at Bitung ferry port, Manado (57.9±16.5ng/g), which is close to a shipyard, and the highest concentration at a Japanese site was 12.3±6.2ng/g. Thus, we were able to detect organotins in the coastal environments by testing wharf roach, suggesting that L. exotica might serve as a good bioindicator for monitoring organotin pollution.

Size effect of polystyrene microplastics on the accumulation of anthracene for Java medaka (Oryzias javanicus).

Pollution by microplastics in aquatic ecosystems is a worldwide problem, and the role of microplastics as vectors of pollutants has been a concern. Although small microplastics are thought to have a greater effect than large microplastics as vectors of pollutants, the impact of the size of microplastics on their ability to serve as vectors of pollutants has not been quantified. In this study, we conducted the 14-day experiment (7 days of exposure and 7 days of depuration) with polystyrene microplastics (2-µm or 10-µm diameter) and anthracene. On the last day of the exposure period, the concentration of anthracene in the muscle of Java medaka exposed to both anthracene and 2-µm polystyrene microplastics was the highest (47.4 ± 15.2 µg/g-muscle) of any group, followed by the group exposed to both anthracene and 10-µm polystyrene microplastics (23.0 ± 4.2 µg/g-muscle) and the group exposed to only anthracene (11.2 ± 2.2 µg/g-muscle). These results demonstrated that the size of microplastics was a critical determinant of their ability to serve as vectors of anthracene. The concentrations of anthracene and fine microplastics in the environment are sufficiently low that the effect of microplastics as vectors of anthracene may be observed only under experimental conditions that are unlikely to occur in the present environment. However, because pollution by plastics is expected to become more serious in the future, careful thought and proactive action will be needed to ensure that the impact of microplastics as vectors of pollutants does not become demonstrable under future environmental conditions.

Tributyltin-binding protein type 1 (fish acid glycoprotein) is a potential gatekeeper of ethinylestradiol action in fish.

Tributyltin (TBT)-binding protein type 1 in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) (O.latTBT-bp1) is a fish lipocalin implicated in TBT binding and detoxification. We purified recombinant O.latTBT-bp1 (rO.latTBT-bp1; ca. 30 kDa) by using a baculovirus expression system and His- and Strep-tag chromatography process. Then, we examined O.latTBT-bp1 binding to several endo/exogenous steroid hormones by means of competitive binding assay. The dissociation constants for the binding of rO.latTBT-bp1 to DAUDA and ANS, two fluorescent ligands of lipocalin, were 7.06 and 13.6 µM, respectively. Multiple model validations indicated that a single-binding-site model was the most appropriate for evaluating rO.latTBT-bp1 binding. In the competitive binding assay, testosterone, 11-ketotestosterone, and 17ß-estradiol were each bound by rO.latTBT-bp1; rO.latTBT-bp1 showed the strongest affinity for testosterone (inhibition constant, Ki = 3.47 µM). Endocrine-disrupting chemical (synthetic steroid) also bound to rO.latTBT-bp1; the affinity for ethinylestradiol (Ki = 9.29 µM) was stronger than that for 17ß-estradiol (Ki = 30.0 µM). To determine the function of O.latTBT-bp1, we produced TBT-bp1 knockout medaka (TBT-bp1 KO), which we exposed to ethinylestradiol for 28 days. After exposure, the number of papillary processes in TBT-bp1 KO genotypic male medaka was significantly fewer (3.5), compared to that in wild-type male medaka (22). Thus, TBT-bp1 KO medaka were more sensitive to the anti-androgenic effects of ethinylestradiol than wild-type medaka. These results indicate that O.latTBT-bp1 may bind to steroids and act as a gatekeeper of ethinylestradiol action by regulating the androgen-estrogen balance.

Peek-A-Boo Test: A Simple Test for Assessing the Effect of Anxiolytics on Fish Behavior.

The potential of pharmaceuticals and personal care products to alter the behavior of aquatic organisms is a growing concern. To assess the actual effect of these substances on aquatic organisms, a simple but effective behavioral test is required. We devised a simple behavioral (Peek-A-Boo) test to assess the effect of anxiolytics on the behavior of a model fish (medaka, Oryzias latipes). In the Peek-A-Boo test, we investigated the response of medaka to an image of a predator fish (donko fish, Odontobutis obscura). The test revealed that the time taken for test medaka exposed to diazepam (0.8, 4, 20, or 100 µg/L) to approach the image was shorter by a factor of 0.22 to 0.65, and the time spent in the area close to the image was longer by a factor of 1.8 to 2.7 than in the solvent control group for all diazepam exposure groups (p < 0.05). Hence, we confirmed that the test could detect changes in medaka behavior caused by diazepam with high sensitivity. The Peek-A-Boo test we devised is a simple behavioral test with high sensitivity for fish behavioral alteration. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2358-2363. © 2023 SETAC.

Differences in microplastic degradation in the atmosphere and coastal water environment from two island nations: Japan and New Zealand.

Microplastics are subject to environmental forces that can change polymer organization on a molecular scale. However, it is not clear to what extent these changes occur in the environment and whether microplastics in the atmospheric and water environment differ. Here we identify structural differences between microplastics in the atmosphere and water environment from Japan and New Zealand, representing two archipelagos differing in their proximity to nearby countries and highly populated areas. We first highlight the propensity for smaller microplastics to arrive via air masses from the Asian continent to the Japan Sea coastal area, while New Zealand received larger, locally derived microplastics. Analyses of polyethylene in the Japanese atmosphere indicate that microplastics transported to the Japanese coastal areas were more crystalline than polyethylene particles in the water, suggesting that the plastics arriving by air were relatively more aged and brittle. By contrast, polypropylene particles in New Zealand waters were more degraded than the microplastic particles in the air. Due to the lack of abundance, both polyethylene and polypropylene could not be analyzed for both countries. Nevertheless, these findings show the structural variation in microplastics between environments in markedly different real-world locations, with implications for the toxic potential of these particles.

Persistent impact of amitriptyline on the behavior, brain neurotransmitter, and transcriptional profile of zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Discontinuation of amitriptyline (AMI) has been demonstrated to induce long-term withdrawal syndromes in mammals. However, no studies have focused on the persistent impacts of short-term AMI exposure on teleosts. Here, following exposure to AMI (2.5 and 40 µg/L) for 7 days (E7), zebrafish were transferred into AMI-free water to recover for 21 days (R21). The behavior, brain neurotransmitters, and brain transcriptional profiles were investigated on E7 and R21. AMI exposure induced persistent hypoactivity (2.5 and 40 µg/L) and abnormal schooling behavior (40 µg/L). AMI also induced long-term impacts on the brain serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine levels, several of which showed significant correlations with the locomotor activity or schooling behavior. Transcriptional analysis revealed persistent dysregulation in the pathways involved in the circadian rhythm, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, and axon guidance in brain samples. Twelve genes were predicted as key driver genes in response to AMI exposure, and their significantly differential expression may direct changes across the related molecular networks. Moreover, upregulated brain 5-HT may serve as the central modulator of the persistent AMI pathogenesis in zebrafish. Considering AMI residues in natural waters may temporarily exceed µg/L, corresponding persistent adverse effects on teleosts should not be ignored.

Combined effect of diazepam and polystyrene microplastics on the social behavior of medaka (Oryzias latipes).

The combined effect of microplastics and pharmaceuticals on aquatic organisms is an issue of concern. In this laboratory study, we evaluated the combined effect of polystyrene microplastics (2-µm diameter) and diazepam on the social behavior of medaka (Oryzias latipes) by using the shoaling behavior test with five treatment groups: solvent control, polystyrene microplastics exposure (0.04 mg/L), low-concentration diazepam exposure (0.03 mg/L), high-concentration diazepam exposure (0.3 mg/L), and polystyrene microplastics and low-concentration diazepam co-exposure. After 7 days of exposure, the shoal-leaving behavior of the high-concentration diazepam exposure group (8.9 ± 8.3 counts/medaka) and the co-exposure group (6.8 ± 6.7 counts/medaka) was significantly greater than that in the solvent control group (1.8 ± 2.6 counts/medaka). Even after 5 days of recovery, medaka in the co-exposure group left the shoal more often (7.3 ± 5.0 counts/medaka) than those in the solvent control group (2.6 ± 2.6 counts/medaka), whereas the shoal-leaving behavior in other exposure groups, except for the high-concentration diazepam exposure group, was restored. Our findings show that the combined effects of diazepam and polystyrene microplastics suppressed medaka social behavior, suggesting that the presence of microplastics can enhance the adverse effects of pollutants on the social behavior of aquatic organisms.

Molecular cloning, sequencing, and gene expression analysis of tributyltin-binding protein type 1 in Japanese medaka fish, Oryzias latipes.

The full-length cDNA sequence of tributyltin-binding protein type 1 in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) (Olat.TBT-bp1) was determined by means of rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) of liver tissue. Analysis of the structure of the gene encoding Olat.TBT-bp1 revealed that the exonintron organization of this gene corresponds to that of the genes encoding lipocalin superfamily proteins, suggesting that Olat.TBT-bp1 can be categorized as a member of the lipocalin superfamily, which may play an important role in transportation, detoxification, and excretion of xenobiotic compounds. Reverse transcription - PCR revealed that Olat.TBT-bp1 was expressed mainly in the liver, and upregulation of its expression was detected 1, 2, and 4 weeks post hatching. Relative expression of the Olat.TBT-bp1 gene was significantly downregulated, compared with that in the solvent control, by exposure to tributyltin at 0.01 mg/l or triclosan at 1.7 mg/l. Further studies on Olat.TBT-bp1 expression in conjunction with other biochemical and physiological toxicities in response to chemical exposures are needed to increase our understanding and information of TBT-bps mechanisms and as molecular biomarkers of chemical exposures. The role of Olat.TBT-bp1 in xenobiotic detoxification and/or excretion needs more investigations.