Impacts of di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate on multi-generational fitness
of Caenorhabditis elegans via lipid metabolism and neural regulation
Abstract
Di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP) is a substitutive plasticizer
with various industrial applications. However, its wide occurrence in
environmental matrices and human tissues is urging concerns on its
toxicities. Presently, the effects of DEHTP on the fitness of
Caenorhabditis elegans were explored with a consecutive exposure
from F1 to F4 generations. The fitness was represented by reproduction,
lifespan and behavior. Effects of DEHTP on reproduction showed an
oscillation pattern with alteration from stimulation to inhibition and
backwards. Influences of DEHTP on reproduction and lifespan showed
trade-off relationships. Regarding behavior, DEHTP inhibited satiety
quiescence duration, body bending and head swing, while stimulated
reverse and Omega turns. At the biochemical level, DEHTP disturbed the
lipid metabolites and lipid metabolism enzymes. Moreover, positive
correlations were found between the effects on reproduction and with
those on fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acyl-CoA (FA-CoA). DEHTP also
disturbed the neural regulations including neural transmitters and the
expressions of related genes. Out of expectation, the effects on neural
regulations were positively correlated with those on lipid metabolism,
but not with locomotion behavior. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA)
results also indicated oscillatory changes underlying multi-generational
effects of DEHTP, e.g., serotonin was more connected with other neural
regulations than other indicators in F1 and F3, while it was more
connected with behavior than others in F2 and F4.