Evaluation of the deleterious effects of psychotropic drugs on the development of the embryonic stages of zebrafish

Author(s)

Maíra Rocha de Souza Prado

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2018-03-02

Examining board members

Danielle Palma de Oliveira; Evaldo Luiz Gaeta Espindola; Mônica Valdyrce dos Anjos Lopes Ferreira; Gisele Augusto Rodrigues de Oliveira

• Advisor: Danielle Palma de Oliveira

Abstract

In the last years, the prescription and use of psychotropic drugs have being increasing around the world, consequently the discharge of these drugs and their metabolites have also increased in wastewater. Considering the presence in the environment and the toxic effects to target and non target species, these compounds were classified as emerging water contaminants. The main sources of these compounds are the domestic and hospital treated effluents, because the conventional treatment applied by effluent treatment plants is not efficient to remove most of drugs, and consequently these pollutants reach the water bodies. In this context, it is important to understand the possible damages to humans and ecosystems after exposure to these drugs through contaminated water. In that way, the hypothesis of this research is that psychotropic drugs present in water samples could induce neurologic and development damages in non-target organisms, such as fish. Therefore, we propose the evaluation of teratogenic and neurotoxic effects of the psychotropic drugs Fluoxetine, Carbamazepine, Venlafaxine and Haloperidol using the determination of the activity of cholinesterase enzyme as biomarker of neurotoxicity in larvae, after the exposure of Danio rerio eggs. Lethality and sub-lethality parameters will be also analyzed in the same organisms to establish the potential of teratogenic effects, the movement analysis was also performed. These drugs will be tested individually and in mixtures to evaluate the effects of coexposure simulating a real scenario of water pollution. Carbamazepine and venlafaxine don\'t responde with significant results in any of these evaluations. Haloperidol and Fluoxetine presented negative results in teratogenic and moviment effects, but they incresed the activity of acetylcholinesterase enzime, this result was different from another study, that these drugs in highest concentrations decrease this activity, so it can indicate the presence of hormesis effect. However, the mixtures of drugs don\'t present any significant effect on all evaluations, this result can suggest that these effects caused by haloperidol and fluoxetine on the enzime activity were canceled, it can be a interaction of antagonist effects on the mixtures. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/08042-2 - Evaluation of the deleterious effects of psychotropic drugs to Zebrafish embryo-larval development
• Grantee: Maíra Rocha de Souza Prado
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master