Name: protocol for acute and chronic ecotoxicity testing of the turquoise killifish nothobranchius furzeri
Uploaded: 2018-04-24T14:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Protocol for Acute and Chronic Ecotoxicity Testing of the Turquoise Killifish Nothobranchius furzeri at JoVE.com

We are grateful to the SPHERE group of the UAntwerpen and the Department of crop protection of the Ugent for analysis of water samples. Support during this project was provided by the Excellence Center &#39;Eco and socio-evolutionary dynamics (PF/10/007) of the KU Leuven Research Fund. AFG (11Q0516N) and ESJT (FWO-SB151323) were funded as doctoral and TP (12F0716N) as post-doctoral fellow by FWO Flanders (Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek).

All methods described here have been approved by the Ethical committee of KULeuven.
1. Hatching and General Maintenance of N. furzeri 
<ol>
	<li>Prepare fish medium (pH 7) at a temperature of 14 &#176;C and add purified Type II water, with added standardized salts, to a conductivity of 600 &#181;S/cm (24 &#176;C).</li>
	<li>Select eggs from the GRZ (Gona-Rhe-Zhou) laboratory line that have been stored under standardized conditions13. Select eggs in the DIII s...

<ol>
	<li>European-Chemicals-Bureau. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> TAPIR Three point three-A Project for the Information Requirements of REACH. Final Report-2 August 2005. Scoping study on the development of a Technical Guidance Document on information requirements on intrinsic properties of substances (RIP 3.3-1). , (2005).</li><li>Philippe, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Acute+and+chronic+sensitivity+to+copper+of+a+promising+ecotoxicological+model+species,+the+annual+killifish+Nothobranchius+furzeri.">Acute and chronic sensitivity to copper of a promising ecotoxicological model species, the annual killifish Nothobranchius furzeri.</a> Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. , 26-35 (2017).</li><li>Noyes, P. D., Lema, S. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Forecasting+the+impacts+of+chemical+pollution+and+climate+change+interactions+on+the+health+of+wildlife.">Forecasting the impacts of chemical pollution and climate change interactions on the health of wildlife.</a> Current Zoology. 61 (4), 669-689 (2015).</li><li>Consommateurs, S. S. d. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Health &amp; Consumer Protection Directorate-General European Commission. 4, (2002).</li><li>Commission, E. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Guidance+document+on+aquatic+ecotoxicology.+Under+Council+directive+91/414/EEC.">Guidance document on aquatic ecotoxicology. Under Council directive 91/414/EEC.</a> SANCO/3268/2001 Rev 4. 2002b. , (2002).</li><li>. Ecological Effects Test Guidelines, OPPTS 850.1500 Fish life cycle toxicity Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-07/documents/850-1500.pdf">https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-07/documents/850-1500.pdf</a> (1996)</li><li>Philippe, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Acute+and+chronic+sensitivity+to+copper+of+a+promising+ecotoxicological+model+species,+the+annual+killifish+Nothobranchius+furzeri.">Acute and chronic sensitivity to copper of a promising ecotoxicological model species, the annual killifish Nothobranchius furzeri.</a> Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. , (2017).</li><li>Ankley, G. T., Villeneuve, D. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+fathead+minnow+in+aquatic+toxicology:+past,+present+and+future.">The fathead minnow in aquatic toxicology: past, present and future.</a> Aquatic Toxicology. 78 (1), 91-102 (2006).</li><li>Pola&#269;ik, M., Bla&#382;ek, R., Reichard, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Laboratory+breeding+of+the+short-lived+annual+killifish+Nothobranchius+furzeri.">Laboratory breeding of the short-lived annual killifish Nothobranchius furzeri.</a> Nature Protocols. 11 (8), 1396-1413 (2016).</li><li>Reichwald, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Insights+into+Sex+Chromosome+Evolution+and+Aging+from+the+Genome+of+a+Short-Lived+Fish.">Insights into Sex Chromosome Evolution and Aging from the Genome of a Short-Lived Fish.</a> Cell. 163 (6), 1527-1538 (2015).</li><li>Valenzano, D. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+African+Turquoise+Killifish+Genome+Provides+Insights+into+Evolution+and+Genetic+Architecture+of+Lifespan.">The African Turquoise Killifish Genome Provides Insights into Evolution and Genetic Architecture of Lifespan.</a> Cell. 163 (6), 1539-1554 (2015).</li><li>Shedd, T. R., Widder, M. W., Toussaint, M. W., Sunkel, M. C., Hull, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluation+of+the+annual+killifish+Nothobranchius+guentheri+as+a+tool+for+rapid+acute+toxicity+screening.">Evaluation of the annual killifish Nothobranchius guentheri as a tool for rapid acute toxicity screening.</a> Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 18 (10), 2258-2261 (1999).</li><li>Platzer, M., Englert, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nothobranchius+furzeri:+a+model+for+aging+research+and+more.">Nothobranchius furzeri: a model for aging research and more.</a> Trends Genet. 32 (9), 543-552 (2016).</li><li>Watters, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+ecology+and+distribution+of+Nothobranchius+fishes.">The ecology and distribution of Nothobranchius fishes.</a> J Am Killifish Assoc. 42, 58-61 (2009).</li><li>Op de Beeck, L., Verheyen, J., Stoks, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Competition+magnifies+the+impact+of+a+pesticide+in+a+warming+world+by+reducing+heat+tolerance+and+increasing+autotomy.">Competition magnifies the impact of a pesticide in a warming world by reducing heat tolerance and increasing autotomy.</a> Environ Pollut. 233, 226-234 (2018).</li><li>Patra, R. W., Chapman, J. C., Lim, R. P., Gehrke, P. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+effects+of+three+organic+chemicals+on+the+upper+thermal+tolerances+of+four+freshwater+fishes.">The effects of three organic chemicals on the upper thermal tolerances of four freshwater fishes.</a> Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 26 (7), 1454-1459 (2007).</li><li>Beitinger, T. L., Bennett, W. A., McCauley, R. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Temperature+tolerances+of+North+American+freshwater+fishes+exposed+to+dynamic+changes+in+temperature.">Temperature tolerances of North American freshwater fishes exposed to dynamic changes in temperature.</a> Environ Biol Fishes. 58 (3), 237-275 (2000).</li><li>Cellerino, A., Valenzano, D. R., Reichard, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=From+the+bush+to+the+bench:+the+annual+Nothobranchius+fishes+as+a+new+model+system+in+biology.">From the bush to the bench: the annual Nothobranchius fishes as a new model system in biology.</a> Biological Reviews. , (2015).</li></ol>

This work describes a new bioassay using Nothobranchius furzeri, an emerging model organism, to study the individual and combined long-term effects of toxicants and other stressors. The presented protocols were successfully applied to measure the sensitivity of the species to an array of toxicants (copper, cadmium, 3,4-dichloroaniline, and chlorpyrifos). Due to its fast life-cycle, this vertebrate model allows for assessment of sublethal and transgenerational effects within four months. Another major advantage o...

Sensitivity profiles of an array of species to strategically selected toxicants have been described1 for the European REACH legislation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals). Acute or short-term toxicity tests were mostly used for this purpose as they give a quick indication of a species&#39; sensitivity. However, in their natural environment, organisms are exposed over much longer periods and full life-cycles or even several generations could be affected2. Moreover, organisms in polluted environments are typically exposed to more than one stressor at a time, which may interact with each other, possibly resulting in synergistic effects3. Hence, safe concentrations calculated based on acute, single stressor toxicity tests may underestimate the actual risks imposed by toxicants in natural environments. It is, therefore, advisable to also study the chronic and multigenerational effects of sublethal concentrations of toxicants in an environmentally relevant context as advocated by the European Commission4,5 and the USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency)6,7. Especially in vertebrate research, the costs in terms of labor, money, and time are high when performing chronic and multigenerational exposure studies because of the relatively long lifespan of vertebrates compared to invertebrate model organisms. Therefore, it is advisable to choose the most appropriate fish model organism, depending on the research question. Furthermore, a wide array of vertebrate species should be available in order to test the generality of responses across species to be able to adapt regulations based on the most sensitive species. For now, there is a need to develop new, efficient protocols with vertebrate model species characterized by short life-cycles to lower the costs of performing chronic and multigenerational exposures on vertebrates7,8.
The turquoise killifish Nothobranchius furzeri is an interesting fish model to use in such long-term exposure experiments because of its short maturation time and life-cycle (generation time less than 4 weeks9). This means that ecologically relevant endpoints such as maturation time and fecundity can be studied within a short time frame compared to other fish models7. Furthermore, these fish produce drought-resistant, dormant eggs that remain viable for several years when stored under standard conditions, thereby eliminating the need for a continuous culture9. In ecotoxicological studies, this also implies that replicate fish can all be hatched at the exact same moment, resulting in time synchrony for all animals, even among batches of eggs produced at different times. We advise using the laboratory GRZ strain to perform exposure experiments. This strain performs well under laboratory conditions, is homozygous (except for sex chromosomes) and the genome is well characterized10,11.
In ecotoxicological studies, it is important to select the appropriate range of test concentrations. Several complementary methods can be used to this end. The nominal concentration range can be based on the sensitivity of a related species, such as Nothobranchius guentheri12. Alternatively, the range can be based on the sensitivity of standard fish models, such as zebrafish (Danio rerio)2 that have a comparable sensitivity to most toxicants (Philippe et al. (in review)). In combination, with both of these options, a range finding experiment should be conducted to select the nominal concentration range. For acute testing, researchers should aim for concentration treatments with 100% mortality, intermediate mortality and 0% mortality after 24 h of exposure to the toxicant. For chronic testing, it is advisable to run the range finding experiment for two weeks to verify if larval mortality in the condition with the highest test concentrations does not exceed 10% during this reference period.
The protocol can serve as a baseline to perform acute and chronic exposure to waterborne pollutants on N. furzeri, examining potential effects of stressors both at the individual and cellular level. It can also be used to perform multi-stressor research to accommodate a higher ecological relevance, mixing different toxic compounds or studying interactive effects between pollution and other natural stressors (e.g. predation) or anthropogenic stressors (e.g. warming due to climate change).

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>purified water Type 1 (milli Q)</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sea Salt</td>
			<td>Instant Ocean</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2L plastic tank</td>
			<td>SAVIC</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Always separate material for control and toxicity treatments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1L plastic tank (spawning)</td>
			<td>Avamoplast</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Always separate material for control and toxicity treatments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>nets</td>
			<td>Aqua bilzen</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Always separate material for control and toxicity treatments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2L glass jars</td>
			<td>Sepac-Flacover</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Always separate material for control and toxicity treatments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>0,5L glass jars</td>
			<td>Sepac-Flacover</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Always separate material for control and toxicity treatments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Artemia eggs</td>
			<td>Ocean Nutrition</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>chironomus</td>
			<td>Ocean Nutrition</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>frozen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>tricaine</td>
			<td>Sigma aldrich</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>petri dishes</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Parafilm</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pipettes</td>
			<td>MLS</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>tweezers</td>
			<td>FST</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>500 &#181;m mesh sieve</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>self-made</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>microcentrifuge tube (2ml)</td>
			<td>BRAND</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>To store fish in freezer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>glass vials</td>
			<td>Sigma aldrich</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>For water analysis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>weighing boat</td>
			<td>MLS</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Jiffy 7c pellets</td>
			<td>Jiffy</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>water bath</td>
			<td>Gilac</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>for Ctmax</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>liquid nitrogen</td>
			<td>Air liquide</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>digital thermometer</td>
			<td>Testo AG</td>
			<td>testo 926</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HETO therm heater</td>
			<td>Anker Schmitt</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>calibrated balance</td>
			<td>Mettler-Toledo AG</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>camera</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>platform for camera</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>self-made</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Multiparameter kit</td>
			<td>HACH</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Freezer (-80&#176;C)</td>
			<td>Panasonic Ultra low temperature freezer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fysio</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>homogenisation buffer</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>0.1&#160;M TRIS&#8211;HCl, pH 8.5, 15&#160;% polyvinyl pyrrolidone, 153&#160;&#181;M MgSO4&#160;and 0.2&#160;% Triton X-100</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>chloroform:methanol</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>glyceryl tripalmitate</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>amyloglucosidase</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>A7420</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>glucose assay reagent</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>G3293</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biorad protein dye</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>96-well microtiter plate</td>
			<td>Greiner Bio-one</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>384 microtiter plates</td>
			<td>Greiner Bio-one</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2 ml glass tubes</td>
			<td>Fiers</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>For fat analysis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2,5ml eppendorf tubes</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>homogeniser</td>
			<td>Ultra-turrax TP 18/10</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>photospectrometer</td>
			<td>Infinite M200 TECAN</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>heater for glass tubes</td>
			<td>Hach COD REACTOR</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>centrifuge</td>
			<td>Eppendorf Centrifuge 5415 R</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Incubator</td>
			<td>Bumako</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

protocol for acute and chronic ecotoxicity testing of the turquoise killifish nothobranchius furzeri

The killifish Nothobranchius furzeri is an emerging model organism in the field of ecotoxicology and its applicability in acute and chronic ecotoxicity testing has been demonstrated. Overall, the sensitivity of the species to toxic compounds is in the range with, or higher than, that of other model species.
This work describes protocols for acute, chronic, and multigenerational bioassays of single and combined stressor effects on N. furzeri. Due to its short maturation time and life-cycle, this vertebrate model allows the study of endpoints such as maturation time and fecundity within four months. Transgenerational full life-cycle exposure trials can be performed in as little as 8 months. Since this species produces eggs that are drought-resistant and remain viable for years, the on-site culture of the species is not needed but individuals can be recruited when required. The protocols are designed to measure life-history traits (mortality, growth, fecundity, weight) and critical thermal maximum.

The results of the acute exposure of N. furzeri to different concentrations of copper, calculated as in 2.5.2, show cleardose-response relationships (Figure 1). There is an increase in mortality with increasing toxicant concentration. LC50 values decrease over time, meaning that with decreasing concentrations, more time passes before 50% of the replicates die. For detailed results on the acute and chronic exposure of N. furzeri to...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Protocol for Acute and Chronic Ecotoxicity Testing of the Turquoise Killifish Nothobranchius furzeri at JoVE.com

Protocol for Acute and Chronic Ecotoxicity Testing of the Turquoise Killifish Nothobranchius furzeri

In this work, we describe an acute, chronic and multigenerational bioassay to study the effects of single and combined stressors on the Turquoise killifish Nothobranchius furzeri. This protocol is designed to study life-history traits (mortality, growth, fecundity, weight) and critical thermal maximum.

Protocol for Acute and Chronic Ecotoxicity Testing of the Turquoise Killifish Nothobranchius furzeri

The killifish Nothobranchius furzeri is an emerging model organism in the field of ecotoxicology and its applicability in acute and chronic ecotoxicity ...

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