DC1 will investigate how thyroid hormone system disruptors (THSDs) (and their mixtures) can interfere with neurodevelopment, namely brain and sensory organs, in zebrafish embryos. Impaired neurodevelopment is the priority adverse health effect of THSDs in humans, while it has not been sufficiently addressed from that perspective in fish. Previous research has demonstrated that zebrafish eye development is sensitive to THSDs (see AOP#363). Within this project, this previous work will be substantially extended by investigating the impact of THSDs on other sensory organs like the lateral line and the olfactory epithelium of zebrafish. Moreover, the effects of THSDs (and their mixtures) on brain development and specific nervous cells will be studied. The work will include exposure experiments with transgenic zebrafish embryos and subsequent analyses of brain and sensory organ development using (confocal) microscopy, histopathology, behaviour assays and different molecular techniques.
- Host Institution: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Lead Supervisor: Lisa Baumann, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment
- Subject area: Ecotoxicology, hormones, thyroid, nervous system