Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as inadequate oxygen supply, or hypoxia, can lead to a broad range of effects on the mitochondria of zebrafish, according to an SRP-funded study. Changes to the function and integrity of mitochondria, which are organelles that make energy for the cell, can disrupt metabolism and reduce organism fitness and performance. Duke University SRP Center researchers led by trainee Casey Lindberg, Ph.D., and project leader Richard Di Giulio, Ph.D., used zebrafish as a model to study the potential interactions between PAHs and hypoxia and their effect on mitochondria.