Summary
Published in Aquatic Toxicology (2017), this peer-reviewed study used 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds to form scaffold-free 3D microtissues. Full citation: Rodd, April L., et al. A 3D fish liver model for aquatic toxicology: Morphological changes and Cyp1a induction in PLHC-1 microtissues after repeated benzo(a)pyrene exposures
A 3D fish liver model for aquatic toxicology: Morphological changes and Cyp1a induction in PLHC-1 microtissues after repeated benzo(a)pyrene exposures
Research Overview
Assessing aquatic pollutants requires rapid, sensitive screening tools. This study characterized a fish liver microtissue model built from the PLHC-1 cell line as an in vitro aquatic toxicity platform.
The 3D microtissues stayed viable and stable across an 8-day testing period and, compared with 2D monolayers, showed increased basal expression of the xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 1A. Responsiveness to the model toxicant benzo(a)pyrene was assessed after single and repeated pulsed low-dose exposures at environmentally relevant concentrations — matching the exposure pattern real aquatic organisms experience.
Key Discoveries
- PLHC-1 fish liver microtissues remained viable and stable across an 8-day test period
- Basal cytochrome P450 1A expression increased relative to 2D monolayers
- Pulsed low-dose benzo(a)pyrene exposures modeled environmentally realistic contamination
