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Lack of methodological consistency impedes interpretation of developmental neurotoxicity larval zebrafish behavioral assays
Citation:
Hill, B., K. Britton, D. Hunter, J. Olin, M. Lowery, AND S. Padilla. Lack of methodological consistency impedes interpretation of developmental neurotoxicity larval zebrafish behavioral assays. European Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (Virtual meeting) (originally was to be held in Seville, Spain), It will be a virtual meeting, NC, May 03 - 06, 2021. https://doi.org/10.23645/epacomptox.17912045
Impact/Purpose:
Poster presented to the European Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Virtual meeting May 2021. Many laboratories are using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an alternative vertebrate model to detect developmental neurotoxicity, but without a standardized protocol for larval behavioral assays, comparison of results among laboratories is hampered. We conducted a robust literature review covering developmental neurotoxicity studies for chemicals focusing on zebrafish larval behavior assays. There is not only a strong need for the development of a standardized testing protocol for larval zebrafish locomotor assays, but also a standardized protocol for reporting experimental variables in the literature.
Description:
There is a need for new consistent approaches in developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) screening due to the tens of thousands of chemicals requiring risk determinations. Many laboratories are using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an alternative vertebrate model to conduct DNT tests, but without a standardized protocol for larval behavioral assays, comparison of results among laboratories is hampered. To determine if there is a consistent experimental design among laboratories, we conducted a robust literature review covering DNT studies for 48 chemicals focusing on zebrafish larval behavior assays as an endpoint. This allowed us to compare the similarity of the experimental protocols among laboratories and understand exactly which methodological information was commonly reported. Publications were gathered from PubMed via an Abstract Sifter (Baker et al. 2017), screened for relevance, and critiqued by two independent reviewers. Our initial round of review focused on 65 unique methodological variables where chemical exposure occurred in early development and subsequent locomotor assays included a light/dark photoperiod transition. Our detailed review first revealed a troubling issue: often basic variables were unclear or not reported. There was not a single publication that reported 100% of our targeted variables. Only between 62-88% of these variables were reported in the reviewed publications. Moreover, while there were some aspects of the experimental design that were consistent, no experimental design was the same among any of the publications. On a variable by variable basis, only one variable was the same among all papers selected: in all cases the chemical was introduced within the first 24 hours after fertilization, whereas pH of media was the least reported variable. An attempt was made to compare behavior results on a chemical by chemical basis, however this was further complicated by the inconsistencies within each experimental method which led to differences in statistical approaches and data reporting. Overall, there is not only a strong need for the development of a standardized testing protocol for larval zebrafish locomotor assays, but also a standardized protocol for reporting experimental variables in the literature. This abstract may not necessarily reflect official Agency policy.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Lack of methodological consistency impedes interpretation of developmental neurotoxicity larval zebrafish behavioral assays
HILL SETAC EUROPE 2021 DNT LIT REVIEW POSTER__FINAL.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 1013.581 KB, about PDF)