Environmental chemicals affect circadian rhythms. An underexplored effect influencing health and fitness in animals and humans
Authors
Author (Corporation)
Publication date
04/2021
Typ of student thesis
Course of study
Collections
Type
01A - Journal article
Editors
Editor (Corporation)
Supervisor
Parent work
Environment International
Special issue
DOI of the original publication
Series
Series number
Volume
149
Issue / Number
Pages / Duration
Patent number
Publisher / Publishing institution
Elsevier
Place of publication / Event location
Edition
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Practice partner / Client
Abstract
Circadian rhythms control the life of virtually all organisms. They regulate numerous aspects ranging from cellular processes to reproduction and behavior. Besides the light-dark cycle, there are additional environmental factors that regulate the circadian rhythms in animals as well as humans. Here, we outline the circadian rhythm system and considers zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a representative vertebrate organism. We characterize multiple physiological processes, which are affected by circadian rhythm disrupting compounds (circadian disrupters). We focus on and summarize 40 natural and anthropogenic environmental circadian disrupters in fish. They can be divided into six major categories: steroid hormones, metals, pesticides and biocides, polychlorinated biphenyls, neuroactive drugs and other compounds such as cyanobacterial toxins and bisphenol A. Steroid hormones as well as metals are most studied. Especially for progestins and glucocorticoids, circadian dysregulation was demonstrated in zebrafish on the molecular and physiological level, which comprise mainly behavioral alterations. Our review summarizes the current state of knowledge on circadian disrupters, highlights their risks to fish and identifies knowledge gaps in animals and humans. While most studies focus on transcriptional and behavioral alterations, additional effects and consequences are underexplored. Forthcoming studies should explore, which additional environmental circadian disrupters exist. They should clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms and aim to better understand the consequences for physiological processes.
Keywords
Circadian rhythm, Aquatic organism, Environmental chemicals, Ecotoxicology, Toxicology, Human implications
Subject (DDC)
570 - Biowissenschaften, Biologie
Event
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ISBN
ISSN
0160-4120
1873-6750
1873-6750
Language
English
Created during FHNW affiliation
Yes
Strategic action fields FHNW
Publication status
Published
Review
Peer review of the complete publication
Open access category
Gold
License
Citation
ZHENG, Xuehan, Kun ZHANG, Yanbin ZHAO und Karl FENT, 2021. Environmental chemicals affect circadian rhythms. An underexplored effect influencing health and fitness in animals and humans. Environment International. April 2021. Bd. 149. DOI 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106159. Verfügbar unter: https://doi.org/10.26041/fhnw-4115