Endocrine effects of Imazalil on aromatase expression, vitellogenesis and ovarian histology using cyp19a1a-eGFP-casper transgenic zebrafish

Considering the hazards and risks posed by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) to organisms, there is a need to study their effects. To that end, transgenic fish are powerful models that can provide mechanistic information regarding the endocrine activity of test chemicals. In this study, we used a newly developed transgenic zebrafish line (cyp19a1a-eGFP-casper) in the OECD 21-day fish assay (OECD TG 230) to provide additional mechanistic insight on Imazalil (IMZ; 1.9; 9.9 and 140.7 µg/L). After 21 days of exposure to IMZ, the circulating concentrations of 17-β-estradiol (E2) and vitellogenin decreased in females, reflecting the aromatase activities inhibition. Exposure to 140.7 µg/L of IMZ for 21 days also resulted in a change in the proportion of the different oocyte stages in the ovaries, with an accumulation of large oocytes in exposed females. In addition to the classical endpoints, in vivo GFP fluorescence was quantified in the ovaries during the time course of the exposure to follow gonadal aromatase expression. After seven days of exposure, ovarian aromatase expression increased in females exposed to medium and high concentrations of IMZ, persisting over the 21-day of exposure in fish from the highest concentration group and reflecting a compensatory response to the aromatase enzymatic activities inhibition. Results from the present study provided valuable information on the mode of action and the effects of IMZ in zebrafish. Transgenic zebrafish exposure to IMZ caused a cascade of responses consistent with effects reported for wild-type fish exposed to azole fungicides, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The cyp19a1a-eGFP(-casper) transgenic zebrafish lines, allowed in vivo monitoring of gonadal aromatase expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner thereby demonstrating their relevance to provide complementary mechanistic information on aromatase in regulatory assays such as OECD TG 230.