Department Environmental Toxicology

Chemical pollution of aquatic environments poses a significant threat to both humans and wildlife. Of particular concern are chemicals that affect the nervous system and can cause behavioral changes in aquatic organisms. Neuroactive chemicals are abundant in the environment, yet their toxicological effects remain poorly understood due to the lack of reliable methods to assess the wide range of different aspects of neurotoxicity.

Our research aims to fill this critical gap by investigating how neuroactive chemicals affect zebrafish larvae, a well-established model organism for studying neurotoxicity. In particular, we are focusing on how these chemicals affect the fish's ability to control its position in water and maintain neutral buoyancy, key survival behaviors that are often overlooked. Our preliminary studies have shown that certain chemicals cause zebrafish larvae to exhibit abnormal surfacing behavior and swim bladder hyperinflation, an unusual phenomenon that can potentially impair their ability to avoid predators and hunt for prey.

To understand the mechanisms underlying these observations, we are systematically studying how neuroactive chemicals induce abnormal surfacing behavior and swim bladder hyperinflation in zebrafish larvae. We are using cutting-edge techniques to identify the molecular pathways that trigger these behavioral changes. We also aim to map the neural circuits responsible for surfacing behavior.

Our team uses behavioral assays, imaging techniques, and whole-transcriptome sequencing to link molecular changes to physiological and behavioral outcomes. This line of research paves the way for the development of predictive and animal-free approaches to assess the environmental risks of neuroactive chemicals, ultimately helping to protect aquatic ecosystems and maintain biodiversity.