Early Life Stage and Genetic Toxicity of Stannous Chloride on Zebrafish Embryos and Adults: Toxic Effects of Tin on Zebrafish

Humans are exposed to stannous chloride (SnCl2), known as tin chloride, present in packaged food, soft drinks, biocides, dentifrices, etc. Health effects in children exposed to tin and tin compounds have not been investigated yet. Therefore, we evaluated the possible teratogenic effects and genotoxic of SnCl2 in zebrafish (Danio rerio) adults and their embryos. In the embryo-larval study, SnCl2 showed embryo toxicity and developmental delay after exposure to the various concentrations of 10-250 mu M for 120 h. Teratogenic effects including morphological malformations of the embryos and larvae were observed. The embryos exposed to 100 mu M displayed tail deformation at 28 hpf and the larvae exposed to 50 mu M showed reduced body growth, smaller head and eyes, bent trunk, mild pericardial edema, and smaller caudal fin at 96 hpf. The results of the teratological study show that SnCl2 induced a significant decrease in the number of living embryos and larvae. Regarding the chromosome analysis, SnCl2 induced a dose-dependent increase in the micronucleus (MN) frequency in peripheral erythrocytes of adult zebrafish. In blood cells, the 25 mu M dose of SnCl2 caused a nonsignificant increase in the total chromosomal aberrations, but the high doses significantly increased the total number of chromosomal aberrations compared with the control groups. Overall, the results clearly indicate that SnCl2 is teratogenic and genotoxic to zebrafish. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 26:240-249, 2011.