Parental transfer of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate and transgenerational inhibition of growth of zebrafish exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations

•TDCIPP could selectively inhibit the growth of female zebrafish.•Residues of TDCIPP were detected in F1 eggs after exposure of parents.•Parental exposure had effect on survival and growth of F1 individuals.•Expression of GH/IGF genes was associated with growth in both F0 and F1 zebrafish.

Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) is a re-emerging environmental contaminant that has been frequently detected at sub-ppb (<μg/L) concentrations in natural waters. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of TDCIPP on growth in initial generation (F0) zebrafish after chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations, and to examine possible parental transfer of TDCIPP and transgenerational effects on growth of first generation (F1) larvae. When zebrafish (1-month old) were exposed to 580 or 7500 ng TDCIPP/L for 240 days, bioconcentration resulted in significantly less growth as measured by body length, body mass, brain-somatic index (BSI) and hepatic-somatic index (HSI) in F0 females but not F0 males. These effects were possibly due to down-regulation of expression of genes along the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) axis. Furthermore, residues of TDCIPP were detected in F1 eggs after exposure of parents, which resulted in less survival, body length and heart rate in F1 individuals. Down-regulation of genes in the GH/IGF axis (e.g., gh, igf1) might be responsible for transgenerational toxicity. This study provides the first known evidence that exposure of zebrafish to environmentally relevant concentrations of TDCIPP during development can inhibit growth of offspring, which were not exposed directly to TDCIPP.

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