Toxic effects of bisphenol AF on the embryonic development of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma)

Bisphenol AF (BPAF), an emerging environmental endocrine disruptor, has been detected in surface waters worldwide and has adverse effects on aquatic organisms. The accumulation of BPAF in oceans and its potential toxic effect on marine organisms are important concerns. In this study, the effects of BPAF (10, 100, 1, and 5 mg/L) on marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) were evaluated, including effects on the survival rate, heart rate, hatchability, morphology, and gene expression in embryos. The survival rate of marine medaka embryos was significantly lower after treatment with 5 mg/L BPAF than in the solvent control group. Exposure to 1 mg/L and 5 mg/L BPAF significantly reduced hatchability. Low-dose BPAF (10 mu g/L) significantly accelerated the heart rate of embryos, while high-dose BPAF (5 mg/L) significantly decreased the heart rate. BPAF exposure also resulted in notochord curvature, pericardial edema, yolk sac cysts, cardiovascular bleeding, and caudal curvature in marine medaka. At the molecular level, BPAF exposure affected the transcript levels of genes involved in the thyroid system (dio1, dio3a, trhr2, tg, and thra), cardiovascular system (gata4, atp2a1, and cacna1da), nervous system (elavl3 and gap43), and antioxidant and inflammatory systems (sod, ppar beta, and il-8) in embryos. These results indicate that BPAF exposure can alter the expression of functional genes, induce abnormal development, and reduce the hatching and survival rates in marine medaka embryos. Overall, BPAF can adversely affect the survival and development of marine medaka embryos, and BPAF may not be an ideal substitute for BPA.