Toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic of depleted uranium in the zebrafish, Danio rerio.

This study investigated the accumulation pattern and biological effects (genotoxicity and histopathology) to adult zebrafish (male and female) exposed to a nominal waterborne concentration of 20 μg L-1 of depleted uranium (DU) for 28 days followed by 27 days of depuration. Accumulation pattern showed that (i) DU accumulated in brain, (ii) levels in digestive tract were higher than those measured in gills and (iii) levels remained high in kidney, brain and ovary despite the 27 days of depuration period. Genotoxicity, assessed by comet assay, was significant not only during DU exposure, but also during depuration phase. Gonads, in particular the testes, were more sensitive than gills. The histology of gonads indicated severe biological damages in males. This study improved knowledge of ecotoxic profile of uranium, for which a large range of biological effects has already been demonstrated.