Oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide disrupts visual development in zebrafish by altering apoptosis-, antioxidant-, and estrogen-related genes

Abstract Hydrogen peroxide is considered deleterious molecule that cause cellular damage integrity and function. Its key redox signaling molecule in oxidative stress and exerts toxicity on a wide range of organisms. Thus, to understand whether oxidative stress alters visual development, zebrafish embryos were exposed to H₂O₂ at concentration of 0.02, 0.1, and 0.5 mM. Eye to body length ratio (EBR) and apoptosis in retina at 48 hpf, and optomotor response (OMR) at 7 dpf were all measured. To investigate whether hydrogen peroxide-induced effects were mediated by oxidative stress, embryos were co-incubated with the antioxidant, glutathione (GSH) at 50 µM. Exposure to 1 mM H₂O₂ decreased EBR at 48 hpf and impaired OMR visual behavior at 7 dpf. Additionally, exposure increased the area of apoptotic cells in the retina at 48 hpf. The addition of GSH reversed the effects of H₂O₂, suggesting the involvement of oxidative stress. H₂O₂ decreased the expression of eye development-related genes, pax6α and pax6β. The expression of apoptosis-related genes, tp53, casp3 and bax, significantly increased, while bcl2α expression decreased. Antioxidant-related genes sod1, cat and gpx1a showed decreased expression. Expression levels of estrogen receptors (ERs) (esr1, esr2α, and esr2β) and ovarian and brain aromatase genes (cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b, respectively) were also significantly reduced. Interestingly, co-incubation of GSH effectivity reversed the impact of H₂O₂ on most parameters. Overall, these results demonstrate that H₂O₂ induces adverse effects on visual development via oxidative stress, which leads to alter apoptosis, diminished antioxidant defenses and estrogen production.