β-N-Methylamino-L-Alanine (BMAA) and Its Effects on Hatching Success, Heart Rate and Early Development Stage of Danio Rerio (Zebrafish)

Abstract

β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a nonprotein amino acid found naturally in some cyanobacteria and artificial form as chemical product. BMAA is a neurotoxin and once ingested, BMAA can apparently be bound by proteins within the body, resulting in a slow release of free BMAA over years as contaminated proteins is metabolized. This study identified the effects of BMAA on Danio rerio (zebrafish) early development. Hatchingsuccess was not affected by BMAA but later developmental stages of embryos were more sensitive to BMAA than embryonic stage. Higher concentrations of BMAA (500 to 50000 μg L-1) caused increases in the egg diameter, yolk sac length and width, and eye length and width of Danio rerio embryos. All investigated BMAA concentrations increased the larval heart rate during the exposure period. Abnormalities and conditions including oedema, helical body, tail deformities, bend body, flat face, eye deficiency and active performancewere observed as a result of exposure to BMAA