Effects of Methacrylate Exposure on Developing Zebrafish Embryos

Aim: M ethacrylate (MA), is widely used as a monomer in dentistry as well as medicine. MAderivatives have a long established role in biomedical devices and are utilized in restorative dental composites, contact lens materials, and bone cement. Zebrafish is one of the most commonly used fish species in toxicity potential testing. Aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a MA derivative, polyethylmethacrylate (PEMA) exposure on the development of zebrafish embryo. Materials and Method: Adult AB strain zebrafish were kept in an aquarium rack system (Zebtec, Tecniplast, Italy) at 27 ± 1 °C under a light/dark cycle of 14/10 h. Normally dividing and spherical embryos were selected and utilized for all of the described studies. After range-finding experiments zebrafish embryos were exposed to MA in well plates containing 20 embryos, having four replicates. Developmental effects and mortality rate were evaluated for 120h. Nitric oxide (NO) levels of the embryos were evaluated using Griess Method.  Results: In present study no significant difference was observed in the NO levels of the embryos in the control group and in the MA exposed group. However, some developmental defects were observed in some of the MA exposed embryos. Lack of pigmentation was evident in one DMSO exposed embryo and pericardial edema was observed in some of the MA exposed embryos. Conclusions:  Our findings suggest that zebrafish embryos are useful models for the assessment of toxicity of dental MA and further research is needed to determine the potential effects of MA exposure in embryos.