Resveratrol attenuates ethylene glycol butyl ether-impaired zebrafish fertility via antioxidant mechanism

Industrial pollutants and their metabolite derivatives constitute formidable threats to aquatic ecosystems upon environmental discharge. Ethylene glycol butyl ether (EGBE), an extensively employed organic solvent prevalent in industrial and household products, exhibits well-characterized reproductive toxicity. This investigation evaluated the protective effect of resveratrol (RSV) against EGBE-induced reproductive toxicity in zebrafish ovaries. Findings revealed that subsequent to EGBE (200 mg/L for 20 days), both fertilization rate (from 83.39 % ± 2.37 % to 55.70 % ± 1.91 %, p < 0.05) and hatching rate (from 91.06 % ± 3.69 % to 48.87 % ± 2.25 %, p < 0.05) manifested significant decrements. Transcriptomic analysis unveiled dysregulation of oxidative stress-associated genes, whereas functional enrichment analysis demonstrated differential gene expression clustering within the lysosome, Notch signaling pathway, Apelin signaling pathway, and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids pathways—all fundamental to oxidative stress regulation. EGBE concurrently compromised the endogenous antioxidant system through modulation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymatic activities, concomitant with perturbations in glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Finally, RSV restored ovarian SOD and CAT activities functionality, augmented GSH concentration, attenuated MDA concentration, increased the fertilization rate (from 55.70 % ± 1.91 % to 88.27 % ± 1.17 %, p < 0.05) and hatching rate (from 48.87 % ± 2.25 % to 93.06 % ± 1.66 %, p < 0.05). In summary, our research data substantiate that RSV ameliorates reproductive toxicity in zebrafish caused by EGBE. Nevertheless, comprehensive investigation remains requisite to elucidate EGBE’s chronic ecological ramifications and multi-trophic impacts.