ERα-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress drives 4-tert-octylphenol-induced cardiac developmental toxicity in zebrafish

4-tert-Octylphenol (4-t-OP) is a widespread environmental estrogen, yet its developmental cardiotoxicity and underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Using zebrafish embryos, this study investigated whether Estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) contributes to 4-t-OP-induced cardiac malformations. Developmental exposure to 4-t-OP significantly increased the incidence of cardiac abnormalities, accompanied by pericardial edema and reduced heart rate. Mechanistically, 4-t-OP activated ER signaling, as evidenced by increased ER protein levels and dysregulated transcription of ER-responsive genes, effects that were abolished by the ER antagonist ICI 182780. Gene-specific knockdown identified ERα (esr1), but not ERβ (esr2a), as the key mediator of 4-t-OP-induced cardiotoxicity. Transcriptomic and molecular analyses revealed pronounced activation of ERS and Apoptosis pathways following 4-t-OP exposure. Consistently, ERα activation induced ERS, as indicated by elevated expression of the ER stress markers C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP)​ and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), which was accompanied by excessive cardiomyocyte Apoptosis. Notably, pharmacological inhibition of ERS with 4-phenylbutyric acid significantly alleviated cardiac malformations and Apoptosis. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that aberrant ERα activation links environmental estrogen exposure to ERS-driven cardiomyocyte Apoptosis, disrupting cardiac development.

4-tert-octylphenol; Apoptosis; Cardiac development; Endoplasmic reticulum stress; Estrogen receptor; Zebrafish.