Browsing by Author "Cadena, Pabyton Gonçalves"

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    Behavioral Effects of the Mixture and the Single Compounds Carbendazim, Fipronil, and Sulfentrazone on Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Larvae
    (MDPI, 2024-05-25) Gomes, Samara da Silva; da Silva, Jadson Freitas; Padilha, Renata Meireles Oliveira; de Vasconcelos, João Victor Alves; Neto, Luís Gomes de Negreiros; Marrs, James A.; Cadena, Pabyton Gonçalves; Biology, School of Science
    Pesticides are often detected in freshwater, but their impact on the aquatic environment is commonly studied based on single compounds, underestimating the potential additive effects of these mixtures. Even at low concentrations, pesticides can negatively affect organisms, altering important behaviors that can have repercussions at the population level. This study used a multi-behavioral approach to evaluate the effects of zebrafish larvae exposure to carbendazim (C), fipronil (F), and sulfentrazone (S), individually and mixed. Five behavioral tests, thigmotaxis, touch sensitivity, optomotor response, bouncing ball test, and larval exploratory behavior, were performed to assess potential effects on anxiety, fear, and spatial and social interaction. Significant changes were observed in the performance of larvae exposed to all compounds and their mixtures. Among the single pesticides, exposure to S produced the most behavioral alterations, followed by F and C, respectively. A synergistic effect between the compounds was observed in the C + F group, which showed more behavioral effects than the groups exposed to pesticides individually. The use of behavioral tests to evaluate pesticide mixtures is important to standardize methods and associate behavioral changes with ecologically relevant events, thus creating a more realistic scenario for investigating the potential environmental impacts of these compounds.
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    Essential Oils Produce Developmental Toxicity in Zebrafish Embryos and Cause Behavior Changes in Zebrafish Larvae
    (MDPI, 2023-10-18) da Silva, Ivanildo Inacio, Jr.; da Silva, Niely Priscila Correia; Marrs, James A.; Cadena, Pabyton Gonçalves; Biology, School of Science
    Essential oils have gained significant popularity in various industries due to their biological properties, but their potential toxic effects on living organisms have been poorly investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of lemongrass, thyme, and oregano essential oils on zebrafish embryos and larvae as animal models. Embryos were exposed to different concentrations of essential oils, and various endpoints were assessed, including epiboly, mortality (LC50), morphometry, and behavioral changes. All three essential oils reduced epiboly, affecting embryonic development. LC50 values were calculated for lemongrass (3.7 µg/mL), thyme (14.4 µg/mL), and oregano (5.3 µg/mL) oils. Larvae exposed to these oils displayed morphological defects, including growth reduction, spinal deformation, pericardial edema, eye size reduction, and reduced swim-bladder inflation. Morphometric analysis confirmed reduced larval length at higher oil concentrations. Essential-oil exposure altered zebrafish larval swimming behavior, with lemongrass oil reducing dark-cycle activity and oregano oil increasing light-cycle activity, suggesting neurodevelopmental toxicity. These findings illustrate the adverse effects of these oils on zebrafish embryos and larvae and reveal essential-oil toxicity, indicating careful use should be considered, particularly during pregnancy.
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    Marijuana and Opioid Use during Pregnancy: Using Zebrafish to Gain Understanding of Congenital Anomalies Caused by Drug Exposure during Development
    (MDPI, 2020-08-08) Sarmah, Swapnalee; Sales Cadena, Marilia Ribeiro; Cadena, Pabyton Gonçalves; Marrs, James A.; Biology, School of Science
    Marijuana and opioid addictions have increased alarmingly in recent decades, especially in the United States, posing threats to society. When the drug user is a pregnant mother, there is a serious risk to the developing baby. Congenital anomalies are associated with prenatal exposure to marijuana and opioids. Here, we summarize the current data on the prevalence of marijuana and opioid use among the people of the United States, particularly pregnant mothers. We also summarize the current zebrafish studies used to model and understand the effects of these drug exposures during development and to understand the behavioral changes after exposure. Zebrafish experiments recapitulate the drug effects seen in human addicts and the birth defects seen in human babies prenatally exposed to marijuana and opioids. Zebrafish show great potential as an easy and inexpensive model for screening compounds for their ability to mitigate the drug effects, which could lead to new therapeutics.
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    Protective effects of quercetin, polydatin, and folic acid and their mixtures in a zebrafish (Danio rerio) fetal alcohol spectrum disorder model
    (Elsevier, 2020) Cadena, Pabyton Gonçalves; Cadena, Marilia Ribeiro Sales; Sarmah, Swapnalee; Marrs, James A.; Biology, School of Science
    Protective effects of quercetin (QUE), polydatin (POL), and folic acid (FA) and their mixtures were tested using zebrafish to model fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in this study. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 150 mM ethanol for 6 or 22 h and co-treated with QUE, POL, FA, and their mixtures (37.5 – 100.0 μM). Epiboly progression, teratogenic effects, and behavior were evaluated. Ethanol exposure reduced epiboly, and FA and QUE protected against these ethanol-induced defects. POL did not reduce epiboly defects. The mixture QUE+FA showed a possible antagonistic effect. The observed teratogenic effects were similar in all ethanol exposed groups. QUE, FA and QUE+POL reduced the percentage of affected animals, but treatments did not eliminate teratogenic effects. Behavioral measurements were divided into small (between 4 and 8 mm/s) and high swimming activity (> 8 mm/s). All experimental groups displayed a reduction in small swimming activity as compared to control and ethanol groups when exposed to bright light. Additionally, larvae exposed to ethanol were more inhibited than control, not showing a habituation period (after 60 min of experiment) in high swimming activity. Chemical treatments like QUE and POL reduced behavioral defects induced by ethanol exposure. In conclusion, this study presents new evidence that QUE, POL, FA and their mixtures partially protected epiboly, teratogenic, and behavioral defects induced by ethanol exposure. QUE, FA and QUE+POL were more effective in reducing these defects than the other studied compounds and mixtures.