Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40775025›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) induces zebrafish spinal cord defects and scoliosis by inhibiting the hedgehog pathway.

Hao Cheng, Yulian Li, Fasheng Liu, Shanshan Zhu, Li Chen, Huiqiang Lu, Xiaowen Shi, Ling Huang

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Hao ChengJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Epigenetics, Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Basic, Medicine College of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, 343009, China.
Yulian LiJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Epigenetics, Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Basic, Medicine College of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, 343009, China.
Fasheng LiuJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Epigenetics, Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Basic, Medicine College of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, 343009, China.
Shanshan ZhuJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Epigenetics, Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Basic, Medicine College of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, 343009, China.
Li ChenCenter for Drug Screening and Research, School of Geography and Environmental Engineering, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, 341000, Jiangxi, China.
Huiqiang LuClinical Medical Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China. Luhq2@126.com.
Xiaowen ShiJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Epigenetics, Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Basic, Medicine College of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, 343009, China. shixiaowen@nwafu.edu.cn.
Ling HuangDepartment of Interventional and Vascular Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Clinical Medical College of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, 343009, Jiangxi, China. hzh_0796@163.com.

Funding

Ji'an City Science and Technology Project 20222-201564Jiangxi Provincial Education Department General Science and Technology Project GJJ211019
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is widely employed as an antioxidant in various industries. However, concerns persist regarding its safety and environmental impact, as its toxicological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to BHT at 3, 5, and 7 mg/L to assess developmental toxicity. BHT exposure dose-dependently induced spinal cord malformations concomitant with reduced larval motility. Mechanistically, BHT suppressed Hedgehog signaling, evidenced by dysregulation of Shha, Gli1, and Smo. Notably, pharmacological activation of the Hh pathway by SAG rescued both structural defects and gene expression anomalies, confirming Hh inhibition as the primary toxicity mechanism. These results indicate that BHT inhibits Hh signaling, disrupting floor plate function and leading to spinal curvature.

Indexed as

Butylated HydroxytolueneHedgehog ProteinsScoliosisSignal TransductionSpinal CordZebrafish ProteinsAnimalsAntioxidantsEmbryo, NonmammalianZebrafishAntioxidantsButylated HydroxytolueneHedgehog ProteinsZebrafish ProteinsBody axis curvatureButylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathwaySpinal cord

Identifiers

PMID40775025
PMCPMC12332052

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.