Gene expression alteration associated with early embryonic MeHg exposure in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Methylmercury (MeHg) is an environmental neurotoxicant known to cause adverse effects in fish, such as locomotor abnormalities, visual deficits or teratogenesis. However, very few studies have investigated the effects of environmentally realistic MeHg exposures on the gene expression of fish embryos. Since the primary source of MeHg exposure in wild fish is through the diet, this study analyzed differential gene expression in zebrafish embryos from parents that had been subjected to environmentally relevant dietary MeHg exposures (0, 1, 3, and 10ppm) throughout their whole life cycle. Overall design: Parental generations of zebrafish were exposed to environmentally realistic MeHg dietary regimes (0, 1, 3, and 10ppm) throughout their whole life cycles. Upon reaching adulthood, their offspring was analyzed for gene expression alteration.