Histopathological lesions, P-glycoprotein and PCNA expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio) liver after a single exposure to diethylnitrosamine

•Histological alterations in liver were observed after exposure to DEN.•P-gp and PCNA expression was increased in zebrafish liver after exposure to DEN.•A single exposure to DEN resulted in long term morphological changes in liver.•Zebrafish is a good model to study mechanisms involved in disease processes.

The presence of carcinogenic compounds in the aquatic environment is a recognized problem. ABC transporters are well known players in the multidrug-resistance (MDR) phenomenon in mammals associated with resistance to chemotherapy, however little is known in fish species. Thus, the aim of this study was to induce hepatic tumours and evaluate long-term effects on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) proteins in Danio rerio liver, after exposure to diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Several hepatic histopathological alterations were observed in zebrafish after exposure to DEN including pre-neoplastic lesions 6 and 9 months post-exposure. After 3, 6 and 9 months of exposure to DEN, P-gp and PCNA proteins expression were up-regulated. In conclusion, this study has shown that zebrafish ABC transporters can play a similar role as in human disease, hence zebrafish can be used also as a biological model to investigate in more deep mechanisms involved in disease processes.