This study examined gene expression in zebrafish embryos exposed to 0 (0.01% DMSO), 16 µM, or 32 µM perfluorobutane sulfonate.

The objective of this study is to compare the toxicity of the emerging replacement surfactant PFBS to the legacy chemical PFOS in the developing pancreas. Because of its chemical properties, it is hypothesized that PFBS would result in fewer or more mild aberrant pancreas phenotypes and ameliorated pancreas gene expression compared to PFOS. Herein, we use transgenic zebrafish models to visualize these processes in vivo throughout the developmental process, and use RNA-Seq to examine major pathways affected by these embryonic exposures. Each sample contained 15 pooled zebrafish embryos at 96 hours post fertilization. Three samples were analyzed per exposure group (n=3 samples for each exposure). Three experimental replicates were performed, each yielding one sample per exposure group. Embryos were exposed in 100 mm polystyrene plates containing 30 ml of exposure media, prepared in 0.3x Danieau's medium. Prior to collection, embryos were thoroughly washed 3 times to remove excess PFBS.