Neuroglial alterations in the zebrafish brain exposed to cadmium chloride

Cadmium is an extremely toxic heavy metal that widely occurs in industrial workplaces with various hazardous effects on brain functions. The cytotoxic effects of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) on the neuroglial components of the zebrafish brain were analysed by detecting the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression and the mRNA levels of myelin genes mbp, mpz and plp1 in adult specimens exposed to cadmium for 2, 7 and 16days. A significant decrease in the GFAP protein by Western blotting experiments was observed after 2days of treatment, reaching 55% after 16days. No change was observed in the mRNA levels. Using immunohistochemistry, a reduction in GFAP-positive structures was revealed with a progressive trend in all the brains at 2, 7 and 16days of treatment. In particular, a considerable reduction in GFAP-positive fibres, with a different course, was observed in the ventricle areas and at the pial surface and in blood vessels after 16days. Our experiments also showed a structural and chemical alteration of myelin and upregulation of mpz mRNA levels, the oligodendrocyte gene that is upregulated in experiments of neuronal injury, but not of plp1 and mbp mRNA levels, other myelin structural genes. These data confirm the toxic action of cadmium on the zebrafish brain. This action is time-dependent and involves the glial cells, key components of the protection and function of nerve cells, hence the basis for many neurological diseases. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The effects of cadmium chloride on zebrafish brain were analysed by detecting the GFAP expression and mRNA levels of mbp, mpz and plp1 in specimens exposed to cadmium for 2, 7 and 16days. A significant decrease in GFAP protein was observed already after 2days reaching 50% after 16days. This reduction was observed around ventricle areas and at the pial surface. Alterations in myelin were observed with upregulation of mpz mRNA levels. These data confirm the neurotoxic action of cadmium.