Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their oxygenated derivatives, termed oxy-PAHs, have been simultaneously detected in diesel exhaust, atmospheric particulate matter and soils sampled in urban areas. While there has been extensive research on the parent PAHs, limited studies exist on the biological effects of oxy-PAHs which have been shown to be more soluble and more mobile in the environment. Additionally, investigations on the uptake and the induced-metabolic changes resulting from parent PAHs and oxy-PAHs exposures have not been reported. To address these knowledge gaps, we have assessed the potentially different uptakes and metabolic responses of these pollutants using an embryonic zebrafish model. Zebrafish embryos were exposed between 6 and 120 hours post fertilization to 4 µM of benz[a]anthracene and benz[a]anhracene-7,12-dione. These compounds were selected because of their different chemical/physical properties, and because both have been simultaneously detected in several environment matrices at similar concentrations. Each embryo was assessed for mortality, developmental malformations, and behavioral abnormalities during the exposure period. Subsequently, the embryos were pooled, homogenized and the extracts were analyzed using GC/MS and LC-MS/MS. One set of extracts was analyzed to measure the uptake of the compounds and to determine if there were differences in overall bioavailability within the embryos. The resulting metabolic profile was determined using an untargeted metabolomics approach with multivariate statistical methods. The preliminary results show, on average, a 90% decrease in the internal concentrations of the selected compounds during the time course and it was also observed that the exposure resulted in several alterations in metabolite pools, including a striking increase in the levels of essential amino acids. The discussed results will help to elucidate the effects of oxy-PAHs and PAHs on the metabolome, and may allow for a better understanding of the mode of action of these contaminants following exposure.

Assessing the uptake and effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their oxygenated derivatives on zebrafish using a metabolomics approach

249th National Meeting (2015)

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