Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42142733›Full record

ArticleToxicology2026

Atrazine alters kisspeptin signaling and downstream neuroendocrine regulation following embryonic exposure in zebrafish.

Sydney C Stradtman, Umamaheswari Sathisaran, Benjamin K Dierolf, Grace Sumner, Wagner Antonio Tamagno, Jennifer L Freeman

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Toxicology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

6 authors.

Sydney C StradtmanSchool of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Umamaheswari SathisaranSchool of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Benjamin K DierolfSchool of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Grace SumnerSchool of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Wagner Antonio TamagnoSchool of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Jennifer L FreemanSchool of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA. Electronic address: jfreema@purdue.edu.

Funding

Developmental neuroendocrine toxicity targeting the kisspeptin pathwayR21ES034966 · NIEHS · PURDUE UNIVERSITY · PI FREEMAN, JENNIFER L. · 2023 to 2024
$398k
NIEHS NIH HHS R21 ES034966
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Atrazine is an herbicide used to control broadleaf and grassy weeds but is also a known endocrine disrupting chemical classified by the US EPA for its effect on the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. The US EPA's maximum contaminant level (MCL) for atrazine in drinking water is 3 parts per billion (ppb; µg/L), though concentrations may exceed this during peak crop seasons. Because drinking water is the primary exposure route, studying environmentally relevant concentrations near the MCL is critical for understanding public health impacts. Atrazine has been shown in epidemiological and toxicological studies to disrupt neuroendocrine and reproductive functions, including suppression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuron activity, leading to decreased LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) surges. Given the breadth of observed effects, this study hypothesized that atrazine targets an upstream neuroendocrine regulator-the kisspeptin signaling pathway-due to its dual role in reproductive and dopaminergic regulation. Kisspeptin expression was characterized in developing zebrafish, showing increases every 24 h from 1 to 120 h post fertilization (hpf). Zebrafish were exposed during embryogenesis (1-72 hpf) to atrazine at 0, 0.3, 3, or 30 ppb. Immunofluorescence at 120 hpf showed reduced kisspeptin expression in the habenula at 3 ppb and near-complete loss of kiss1/kiss2 expression with brain disorganization at 30 ppb. Kisspeptin, LH, and FSH levels were measured at 168 hpf and 6 months post fertilization (mpf). Age- and sex-dependent alterations were observed. Behavioral tests revealed anxiety-like phenotypes in larvae and adults. These findings indicate atrazine disrupts neuroendocrine and behavioral function through kisspeptin pathway dysfunction.

Indexed as

AtrazineEmbryo, NonmammalianEndocrine DisruptorsHerbicidesKisspeptinsNeurosecretory SystemsSignal TransductionZebrafish ProteinsAnimalsFemaleHypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal AxisZebrafishAtrazineEndocrine DisruptorsHerbicidesKisspeptinsZebrafish ProteinsAtrazineBehaviorDevelopmentKisspeptinReproductionZebrafish

Identifiers

PMID42142733
PMCPMC13249398

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.