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Inorganic arsenic alters the development of dopaminergic neurons but not serotonergic neurons and induces motor neuron development via Sonic hedgehog pathway in zebrafish. Neurosci Lett 2023; 795:137042. [PMID: 36587726 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.137042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The mechanism of inorganic arsenic-induced neurotoxicity at the cellular level is not known. In zebrafish, teratological effects of inorganic arsenic have been shown at various concentrations. Here, we used similar concentrations of inorganic arsenic to evaluate the effects on specific neuron types. Exposure of zebrafish embryos at 5 h post fertilization (hpf) to sodium arsenite induced developmental toxicity (reduced body length) in 72 hpf larvae, beginning at a concentration of 300 mg/L concentration. Mortality or overt morphological deformity was detected at 500 mg/L sodium arsenite. While 200 mg/L sodium arsenite induced development of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive (dopaminergic) neurons, there was no significant effect on the development of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonergic) neurons. Sodium arsenite reduced acetylcholinesterase activity. In the hb9-GFP transgenic larvae, both 200 and 400 mg/L sodium arsenite produced supernumerary motor neurons in the spinal cord. Inhibition of the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway that is essential for motor neuron development, by Gant61, prevented sodium arsenite-induced supernumerary motor neuron development. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) revealed that with 200 mg/L and 400 mg/L sodium arsenite treatment, each larva had an average of 387.8 pg and 847.5 pg arsenic, respectively. The data show for the first time that inorganic arsenic alters the development of dopaminergic and motor neurons in the zebrafish larvae and the latter occurs through the Shh pathway. These results may help understand why arsenic-exposed populations suffer from psychiatric disorders and motor neuron disease and Shh may, potentially, serve as a plasma biomarker of arsenic toxicity.
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2
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Assessment of the Preventive Effect of L-carnitine on Post-statin Muscle Damage in a Zebrafish Model. Cells 2022; 11:cells11081297. [PMID: 35455976 PMCID: PMC9032104 DOI: 10.3390/cells11081297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Statins, such as lovastatin, are lipid-lowering drugs (LLDs) that have been used to treat hypercholesterolaemia, defined as abnormally elevated cholesterol levels in the patient’s blood. Although statins are considered relatively safe and well tolerated, recipients may suffer from adverse effects, including post-statin myopathies. Many studies have shown that supplementation with various compounds may be beneficial for the prevention or treatment of side effects in patients undergoing statin therapy. In our study, we investigated whether L-carnitine administered to zebrafish larvae treated with lovastatin alleviates post-statin muscle damage. We found that exposure of zebrafish larvae to lovastatin caused skeletal muscle disruption observed as a reduction of birefringence, changes in muscle ultrastructure, and an increase in atrogin-1. Lovastatin also affected heart performance and swimming behaviour of larvae. Our data indicated that the muscle-protective effect of L-carnitine is partial. Some observed myotoxic effects, such as disruption of skeletal muscle and increase in atrogin-1 expression, heart contraction could be rescued by the addition of L-carnitine. Others, such as slowed heart rate and reduced locomotion, could not be mitigated by L-carnitine supplementation.
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3
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Huang W, Wu T, Wu K. Zebrafish (Danio rerio): A potential model to assess developmental toxicity of ketamine. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 291:133033. [PMID: 34822872 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Ketamine is a non-competitive antagonist of NMDA glutamate receptor. It is used as an anesthetic, analgesic, sedative, and anti-depressive agent in clinical practice and also an illegal recreational drug. The increasing use has contributed to the measurable levels of ketamine in both wastewaters and hospital effluents, thereby classified as an emergent contaminant. Lately, the potential toxicity of ketamine has raised serious concerns about its iatrogenic or illicit use during pregnancy, neonatal and childhood stages. However, to assess its long-term toxicity potentially by the use of early life stages in human and rodents is limited. In this regard, the zebrafish has been considered as excellent model organism for biosafety assessments of ketamine due to it boasts an in vivo model with the advantages of an in vitro assay. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the reported toxicity studies with ketamine in early life stage of zebrafish. The adverse effects of ketamine are known to cause overall developmental and multi-organ toxicity, including cardio-, neuro-, and skeletal toxicity. Furthermore, multiple mechanisms are found to be responsible for perpetrating toxicity of ketamine. The current findings confluence to emphasize the zebrafish embryo as an appealing model system for developmental toxicity testing in higher vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlong Huang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Tianjie Wu
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Shantou Central Hospital, Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Kusheng Wu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, PR China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, PR China
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4
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Gu Q, Kanungo J. Effect of ketamine on gene expression in zebrafish embryos. J Appl Toxicol 2021; 41:2083-2089. [PMID: 34002392 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Ketamine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. Used as an anesthetic, potential neurotoxic and cardiotoxic effects of ketamine in animal models have been reported. The underlying mechanisms of ketamine-induced toxicity are not clear. The zebrafish is an ideal model for toxicity assays because of its predictive capability in chemical testing, which compares well with that of mammalian models. To gain insight into potential mechanisms of ketamine effects, we performed real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction-based gene expression array analyses. Gene expression analysis was conducted for multiple genes (a total of 84) related to 10 major signaling pathways including the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), Wingless and Int-1 (Wnt), nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT), p53, Notch, Hedgehog, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), oxidative stress, and hypoxia pathways. Our results show that ketamine altered the expression of specific genes related to hypoxia, p53, Wnt, Notch, TGFβ, PPAR, and oxidative stress pathways. Thus, we can further focus on these specific pathways to elucidate the mechanisms by which ketamine elicits a toxic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Gu
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Jyotshna Kanungo
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
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5
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Latham LE, Wang C, Patterson TA, Slikker W, Liu F. Neuroprotective Effects of Carnitine and Its Potential Application to Ameliorate Neurotoxicity. Chem Res Toxicol 2021; 34:1208-1222. [PMID: 33570912 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Carnitine is an essential metabolite that is absorbed from the diet and synthesized in the kidney, liver, and brain. It ferries fatty acids across the mitochondrial membrane to undergo β-oxidation. Carnitine has been studied as a therapy or protective agent for many neurological diseases and neurotoxicity (e.g., prolonged anesthetic exposure-induced developmental neurotoxicity in preclinical models). Preclinical and clinical data support the notion that carnitine or acetyl carnitine may improve a patient's quality of life through increased mitochondrial respiration, release of neurotransmitters, and global gene expression changes, showing the potential of carnitine beyond its approved use to treat primary and secondary carnitine deficiency. In this review, we summarize the beneficial effects of carnitine or acetyl carnitine on the central nervous system, highlighting protective effects against neurotoxicity-induced damage caused by various chemicals and encouraging a thorough evaluation of carnitine use as a therapy for patients suffering from neurotoxicant exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah E Latham
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research/FDA, Jefferson, Arkansas 72079, United States
| | - Cheng Wang
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research/FDA, Jefferson, Arkansas 72079, United States
| | - Tucker A Patterson
- Office of Director, National Center for Toxicological Research/FDA, Jefferson, Arkansas 72079, United States
| | - William Slikker
- Office of Director, National Center for Toxicological Research/FDA, Jefferson, Arkansas 72079, United States
| | - Fang Liu
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research/FDA, Jefferson, Arkansas 72079, United States
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6
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Gu Q, Ali SF, Kanungo J. Effects of acetyl L-carnitine on zebrafish embryos: Phenotypic and gene expression studies. J Appl Toxicol 2020; 41:256-264. [PMID: 32691447 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Acetyl L-carnitine (ALCAR), a dietary supplement and an antioxidant, plays a vital role in the bioenergetic process that produces ATP. Although there are reports on antioxidant toxicity, there is no information on the potential toxicity of ALCAR. Here, using zebrafish embryos, we explored whether ALCAR modulated ATP synthesis, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and expression of specific genes related to major signaling pathways that control metabolism, growth, differentiation, apoptosis and oxidative stress. First, we show that ALCAR elicits a physiologic response, as ATP levels increased after ALCAR treatment. Simultaneously, an increase in the expression of ROS, a by-product of ATP synthesis, was observed in the ALCAR-treated embryos. Consistent with higher ROS expression, the level of cysteine, a precursor of glutathione, was significantly reduced. ALCAR did not have any drastic effect on overall development and heart rate. Polymerase chain reaction-based gene expression array analyses showed no significant change in the expression of 83 genes related to 10 major signaling pathways including: the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), Wingless and Int-1 (Wnt), nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT), p53, Notch, Hedgehog, Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), oxidative stress, and hypoxia pathways. Our results show that the expression of 83 genes related to these major signaling pathways did not change significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Gu
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Syed F Ali
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Jyotshna Kanungo
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
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7
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Wang Z, Xu Z, Wu Y, Zhang Z, Li X. Impact of ketamine on the behavior and immune system of adult medaka (Oryzias latipes) at environmentally relevant concentrations and eco-risk assessment in surface water. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 393:121577. [PMID: 32126430 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This work for the first time investigated the bioconcentration factor (BCF), toxicity, and eco-risk of KET using adult medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) as model organism after exposure at environmental concentrations (0.05-0.5 μg L-1) and higher levels (5-100 μg L-1) for 90 days. The BCF of KET was approximately 1.07- to 10.94- folds. The behavioral functions, including swimming properties, feeding rate, and food preference, were significantly impacted by KET (≥0.05 μg L-1). After 90-days exposure, KET induced histological abnormalities in liver and kidney tissue at 0.1 and 0.2 μg L-1, respectively. Additionally, the condition factor, hepatic-somatic index (HSI), and nephric-somatic index (NSI) of medaka were markedly impacted by KET treatment at 0.5, 0.5, and 0.1 μg L-1, respectively. Morphological inflammation (i.e., haemorrhage and erosion) in the fish body was observed exposed to KET, and the EC10 value was 0.407 μg L-1. Alterations in the expressions of genes (i.e., cacna1c, oxtr, erk1, and c-fos) and proteins (i.e., OXT and PKA), involved in in calcium ion channels induced by KET, could partly elucidate the underlying mechanism of the toxicity. The inflammatory risk to fish posed by KET in some rivers in southern China was at high level, suggesting the long-term concentration monitoring was required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenglu Wang
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China; Department of Marine Biology, College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
| | - Zeqiong Xu
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China
| | - Yuexia Wu
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Geographic Sciences, Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 73 East Beijing Road, 210008, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Zhaobin Zhang
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China
| | - Xiqing Li
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China.
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8
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Robinson BL, Gu Q, Tryndyak V, Ali SF, Dumas M, Kanungo J. Nifedipine toxicity is exacerbated by acetyl l-carnitine but alleviated by low-dose ketamine in zebrafish in vivo. J Appl Toxicol 2019; 40:257-269. [PMID: 31599005 DOI: 10.1002/jat.3901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Calcium channel blocker (CCB) poisoning is a common and sometimes life-threatening emergency. Our previous studies have shown that acetyl l-carnitine (ALCAR) prevents cardiotoxicity and developmental toxicity induced by verapamil, a CCB used to treat patients with hypertension. Here, we tested whether toxicities of nifedipine, a dihydropyridine CCB used to treat hypertension, can also be mitigated by co-treatment with ALCAR. In the zebrafish embryos at three different developmental stages, nifedipine induced developmental toxicity with pericardial sac edema in a dose-dependent manner, which were surprisingly exacerbated with ALCAR co-treatment. Even with low-dose nifedipine (5 μm), when the pericardial sac looked normal, ALCAR co-treatment showed pericardial sac edema. We hypothesized that toxicity by nifedipine, a vasodilator, may be prevented by ketamine, a known vasoconstrictor. Nifedipine toxicity in the embryos was effectively prevented by co-treatment with low (subanesthetic) doses (25-100 μm added to the water) of ketamine, although a high dose of ketamine (2 mm added to the water) partially prevented the toxicity.As expected of a CCB, nifedipine either in the presence or absence of ketamine-reduced metabolic reactive oxygen species (ROS), a downstream product of calcium signaling, in the rapidly developing digestive system. However, nifedipine induced ROS in the trunk region that showed significantly stunted growth indicating that the tissues under stress potentially produced pathologic ROS. To the best of our knowledge, these studies for the first time show that nifedipine and the dietary supplement ALCAR together induce adverse effects while providing evidence on the therapeutic efficacy of subanesthetic doses of ketamine against nifedipine toxicity in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie L Robinson
- Division of Neurotoxicology, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas
| | - Qiang Gu
- Division of Neurotoxicology, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas
| | - Volodymyr Tryndyak
- Division of Biochemical Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas
| | - Syed F Ali
- Division of Neurotoxicology, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas
| | | | - Jyotshna Kanungo
- Division of Neurotoxicology, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas
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9
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Félix L, Coimbra AM, Valentim AM, Antunes L. Review on the use of zebrafish embryos to study the effects of anesthetics during early development. Crit Rev Toxicol 2019; 49:357-370. [PMID: 31314655 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2019.1617236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Over the years, the potential toxicity of anesthetics has raised serious concerns about its safe use during pregnancy. As evidence emerged from research in animal models, showing that some anesthetic drugs are potential teratogenic, the determination of the risk of exposures to anesthetic drugs at early life stages became mandatory. However, due to inaccessibility and ethical constrains related to experimental conditions, the use of early life stages in mammalian models is limited. In this regard, some animal and nonanimal models have been suggested to surpass mammalian use in experimentation. Among them, the zebrafish embryo test has been recognized as a promising alternative in toxicology research, as well as an inexpensive and practical test. Substantial information collected from developmental research following compounds exposure, has contributed to the application of zebrafish assays in research, although only a few studies have focused on the use of early life stages of zebrafish to evaluate the developmental effects of anesthetics. Based on the recent advances of science and technology, there is a clear potential for zebrafish early life stages to provide new insights into anesthetics teratogenicity. This review provides an overview of recent anesthesia research using zebrafish embryos, demonstrating its usefulness to the anesthesia field, discussing the recent findings on various aspects related to the effects of anesthetics during early life development and the strengths and limitations of this model system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Félix
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, Laboratory Animal Science, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.,Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro , Vila Real , Portugal
| | - Ana Maria Coimbra
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro , Vila Real , Portugal
| | - Ana Maria Valentim
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, Laboratory Animal Science, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.,Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro , Vila Real , Portugal
| | - Luís Antunes
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, Laboratory Animal Science, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.,Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro , Vila Real , Portugal
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10
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Robinson B, Gu Q, Ali SF, Dumas M, Kanungo J. Ketamine-induced attenuation of reactive oxygen species in zebrafish is prevented by acetyl l-carnitine in vivo. Neurosci Lett 2019; 706:36-42. [PMID: 31078678 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Ketamine, an anesthetic, is a non-competitive antagonist of the calcium-permeable N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. High concentrations of ketamine have been implicated in cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Often, these toxicities are thought to be mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, findings to the contrary showing ketamine reducing ROS in mammalian cells and neurons in vitro, are emerging. Here, we determined the effects of ketamine on ROS levels in zebrafish larvae in vivo. Based on our earlier studies demonstrating reduction in ATP levels by ketamine, we hypothesized that as a calcium antagonist, ketamine would also prevent ROS generation, which is a by-product of ATP synthesis. To confirm that the detected ROS in a whole organism, such as the zebrafish larva, is specific, we used diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) that blocks ROS production by inhibiting the NADPH Oxidases (NOX). Upon 20 h exposure, DPI (5 and 10 μM) and ketamine at (1 and 2 mM) reduced ROS in the zebrafish larvae in vivo. Using acetyl l-carnitine (ALCAR), a dietary supplement, that induces mitochondrial ATP synthesis, we show elevated ROS generation with increasing ALCAR concentrations. Combined, ketamine and ALCAR counter-balanced ROS generation in the larvae suggesting that ketamine and ALCAR have opposing effects on mitochondrial metabolism, which may be key to maintaining ROS homeostasis in the larvae and affords ALCAR the ability to prevent ketamine toxicity. These results for the first time show ketamine's antioxidative and ALCAR's prooxidative effects in a live vertebrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie Robinson
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Qiang Gu
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Syed F Ali
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Melanie Dumas
- The Bionetics Corporation, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Jyotshna Kanungo
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA.
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11
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Marcon M, Mocelin R, de Oliveira DL, da Rosa Araujo AS, Herrmann AP, Piato A. Acetyl-L-carnitine as a putative candidate for the treatment of stress-related psychiatric disorders: Novel evidence from a zebrafish model. Neuropharmacology 2019; 150:145-152. [PMID: 30917915 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Stress-related psychiatric disorders are mental conditions that affect mood, cognition and behavior and arise because of the impact of prolonged stress on the central nervous system (CNS). Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) is an acetyl ester of L-carnitine that easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and was recently found to be decreased in patients with major depressive disorder. ALC plays a role in energy metabolism and is widely consumed as a nutritional supplement to improve physical performance. In this study, our objective was to evaluate the effects of ALC treatment (0.1 mg/L, 10 min) for 7 days on behavior and oxidative stress in zebrafish subjected to unpredictable chronic stress (UCS) protocol. Behavioral outcomes were assessed in the novel tank test, and parameters of oxidative status (lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defenses) were evaluated in the brain using colorimetric methods. According to our previous findings, UCS increased anxiety-like behavior and lipid peroxidation, while it decreased non-protein thiol levels and superoxide dismutase activity. However, ALC reversed the anxiety-like behavior and oxidative damage in stressed animals, while it was devoid of effect in control animals. Although our data reinforce the neuroprotective potential of ALC in the treatment of psychiatric disorders related to stress, further investigations are required to clarify its mechanisms of action and confirm its efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Marcon
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Neurociências, ICBS, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ricieri Mocelin
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Neurociências, ICBS, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Diogo L de Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica, ICBS, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Alex Sander da Rosa Araujo
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Fisiologia, ICBS, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ana P Herrmann
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Farmacologia e Terapêutica, ICBS, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Angelo Piato
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Neurociências, ICBS, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Farmacologia e Terapêutica, ICBS, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Slidell, LA, USA.
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12
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Robinson B, Dumas M, Gu Q, Kanungo J. N-acetylcysteine prevents ketamine-induced adverse effects on development, heart rate and monoaminergic neurons in zebrafish. Neurosci Lett 2018; 682:56-61. [PMID: 29890257 PMCID: PMC6102060 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
N-acetylcysteine, a precursor molecule of glutathione, is an antioxidant. Ketamine, a pediatric anesthetic, has been implicated in cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity including modulation of monoaminergic systems in mammals and zebrafish. Here, we show that N-acetylcysteine prevents ketamine's adverse effects on development and monoaminergic neurons in zebrafish embryos. The effects of ketamine and N-acetylcysteine alone or in combination were measured on the heart rate, body length, brain serotonergic neurons and tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH-IR) neurons. In the absence of N-acetylcysteine, a concentration of ketamine that produces an internal embryo exposure level comparable to human anesthetic plasma concentrations significantly reduced heart rate and body length and those effects were prevented by N-acetylcysteine co-treatment. Ketamine also reduced the areas occupied by serotonergic neurons in the brain, whereas N-acetylcysteine co-exposure counteracted this effect. TH-IR neurons in the embryo brain and TH-IR cells in the trunk were significantly reduced with ketamine treatment, but not in the presence of N-acetylcysteine. In our continued search for compounds that can prevent ketamine toxicity, this study using specific endpoints of developmental toxicity, cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity, demonstrates protective effects of N-acetylcysteine against ketamine's adverse effects. This is the first study that shows the protective effects of N-acetylcysteine on ketamine-induced developmental defects of monoaminergic neurons as observed in a whole organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie Robinson
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Melanie Dumas
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Qiang Gu
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Jyotshna Kanungo
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA.
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13
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Shi Y, Li J, Chen C, Xia Y, Li Y, Zhang P, Xu Y, Li T, Zhou W, Song W. Ketamine Modulates Zic5 Expression via the Notch Signaling Pathway in Neural Crest Induction. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:9. [PMID: 29472839 PMCID: PMC5810301 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ketamine is a potent dissociative anesthetic and the most commonly used illicit drug. Many addicts are women at childbearing age. Although ketamine has been extensively studied as a clinical anesthetic, its effects on embryonic development are poorly understood. Here, we applied the Xenopus model to study the effects of ketamine on development. We found that exposure to ketamine from pre-gastrulation (stage 7) to early neural plate (stage 13.5) resulted in disruption of neural crest (NC) derivatives. Ketamine exposure did not affect mesoderm development as indicated by the normal expression of Chordin, Xbra, Wnt8, and Fgf8. However, ketamine treatment significantly inhibited Zic5 and Slug expression at early neural plate stage. Overexpression of Zic5 rescued ketamine-induced Slug inhibition, suggesting the blockage of NC induction was mediated by Zic5. Furthermore, we found Notch signaling was altered by ketamine. Ketamine inhibited the expression of Notch targeted genes including Hes5.2a, Hes5.2b, and ESR1 and ketamine-treated embryos exhibited Notch-deficient somite phenotypes. A 15 bp core binding element upstream of Zic5 was induced by Notch signaling and caused transcriptional activation. These results demonstrated that Zic5 works as a downstream target gene of Notch signaling in Xenopus NC induction. Our study provides a novel teratogenic mechanism whereby ketamine disrupts NC induction via targeting a Notch-Zic5 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Shi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing City Key Lab of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders and Ministry of Education Key Lab of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiejing Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of KMUST, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Chunjiang Chen
- Chongqing City Key Lab of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders and Ministry of Education Key Lab of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yongwu Xia
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing City Key Lab of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders and Ministry of Education Key Lab of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yanxi Li
- Chongqing City Key Lab of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders and Ministry of Education Key Lab of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Pan Zhang
- Chongqing City Key Lab of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders and Ministry of Education Key Lab of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Anesthesiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ying Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tingyu Li
- Chongqing City Key Lab of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders and Ministry of Education Key Lab of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Weihui Zhou
- Chongqing City Key Lab of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders and Ministry of Education Key Lab of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Weihong Song
- Chongqing City Key Lab of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders and Ministry of Education Key Lab of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Townsend Family Laboratories, Department of Psychiatry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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14
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Robinson BL, Dumas M, Ali SF, Paule MG, Gu Q, Kanungo J. Mechanistic studies on ketamine-induced mitochondrial toxicity in zebrafish embryos. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2017; 69:63-72. [PMID: 29225006 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2017.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Ketamine, a phencyclidine derivative, is an antagonist of the Ca2+-permeable N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-type glutamate receptors. It is a pediatric anesthetic and has been implicated in developmental neurotoxicity. Ketamine has also been shown to deplete ATP in mammalian cells. Our previous studies showed that acetyl l-carnitine (ALCAR) prevented ketamine-induced cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity in zebrafish embryos. Based on our finding that ALCAR's protective effect was blunted by oligomycin A, an inhibitor of ATP synthase, we further investigated the effects of ketamine and ALCAR on ATP levels, mitochondria and ATP synthase in zebrafish embryos. The results demonstrated that ketamine reduced ATP levels in the embryos but not in the presence of ALCAR. Ketamine reduced total mitochondrial protein levels and mitochondrial potential, which were prevented with ALCAR co-treatment. To determine the cause of ketamine-induced ATP deficiency, we explored the status of ATP synthase. The results showed that a subunit of ATP synthase, atp5α1, was transcriptionally down-regulated by ketamine, but not in the presence of ALCAR, although ketamine caused a significant upregulation in another ATP synthase subunit, atp5β and total ATP synthase protein levels. Most of the ATP generated by heart mitochondria are utilized for its contraction and relaxation. Ketamine-treated embryos showed abnormal heart structure, which was abolished with ALCAR co-treatment. This study offers evidence for a potential mechanism by which ketamine could cause ATP deficiency mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie L Robinson
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Melanie Dumas
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Syed F Ali
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Merle G Paule
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Qiang Gu
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Jyotshna Kanungo
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA.
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15
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Guo X, Dumas M, Robinson BL, Ali SF, Paule MG, Gu Q, Kanungo J. Acetyl L-carnitine targets adenosine triphosphate synthase in protecting zebrafish embryos from toxicities induced by verapamil and ketamine: An in vivo assessment. J Appl Toxicol 2016; 37:192-200. [PMID: 27191126 DOI: 10.1002/jat.3340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Verapamil is a Ca2+ channel blocker and is highly prescribed as an anti-anginal, antiarrhythmic and antihypertensive drug. Ketamine, an antagonist of the Ca2+ -permeable N-methyl-d-aspartate-type glutamate receptors, is a pediatric anesthetic. Previously we have shown that acetyl l-carnitine (ALCAR) reverses ketamine-induced attenuation of heart rate and neurotoxicity in zebrafish embryos. Here, we used 48 h post-fertilization zebrafish embryos that were exposed to relevant drugs for 2 or 4 h. Heart beat and overall development were monitored in vivo. In 48 h post-fertilization embryos, 2 mm ketamine reduced heart rate in a 2 or 4 h exposure and 0.5 mm ALCAR neutralized this effect. ALCAR could reverse ketamine's effect, possibly through a compensatory mechanism involving extracellular Ca2+ entry through L-type Ca2+ channels that ALCAR is known to activate. Hence, we used verapamil to block the L-type Ca2+ channels. Verapamil was more potent in attenuating heart rate and inducing morphological defects in the embryos compared to ketamine at specific times of exposure. ALCAR reversed cardiotoxicity and developmental toxicity in the embryos exposed to verapamil or verapamil plus ketamine, even in the presence of 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid 8-(diethylamino)octyl ester, an inhibitor of intracellular Ca2+ release suggesting that ALCAR acts via effectors downstream of Ca2+ . In fact, ALCAR's protective effect was blunted by oligomycin A, an inhibitor of adenosine triphosphate synthase that acts downstream of Ca2+ during adenosine triphosphate generation. We have identified, for the first time, using in vivo studies, a downstream effector of ALCAR that is critical in abrogating ketamine- and verapamil-induced developmental toxicities. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Guo
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological, Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA.,Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Melanie Dumas
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological, Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Bonnie L Robinson
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological, Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Syed F Ali
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological, Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Merle G Paule
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological, Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Qiang Gu
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological, Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Jyotshna Kanungo
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological, Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
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16
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Kyzar EJ, Kalueff AV. Exploring Hallucinogen Pharmacology and Psychedelic Medicine with Zebrafish Models. Zebrafish 2016; 13:379-90. [PMID: 27002655 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2016.1251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
After decades of sociopolitical obstacles, the field of psychiatry is experiencing a revived interest in the use of hallucinogenic agents to treat brain disorders. Along with the use of ketamine for depression, recent pilot studies have highlighted the efficacy of classic serotonergic hallucinogens, such as lysergic acid diethylamide and psilocybin, in treating addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. However, many basic pharmacological and toxicological questions remain unanswered with regard to these compounds. In this study, we discuss psychedelic medicine as well as the behavioral and toxicological effects of hallucinogenic drugs in zebrafish. We emphasize this aquatic organism as a model ideally suited to assess both the potential toxic and therapeutic effects of major known classes of hallucinogenic compounds. In addition, novel drugs with hallucinogenic properties can be efficiently screened using zebrafish models. Well-designed preclinical studies utilizing zebrafish can contribute to the reemerging treatment paradigm of psychedelic medicine, leading to new avenues of clinical exploration for psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan J Kyzar
- 1 Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago, Illinois
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- 2 Research Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University (GDOU) , Zhanjiang, China .,3 ZENEREI Institute , Slidell, Louisiana.,4 Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University , St. Petersburg, Russia .,5 Institutes of Chemical Technology and Natural Sciences, Ural Federal University , Ekaterinburg, Russia .,6 The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC) , Slidell, Louisiana
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17
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Robinson BL, Dumas M, Cuevas E, Gu Q, Paule MG, Ali SF, Kanungo J. Distinct effects of ketamine and acetyl L-carnitine on the dopamine system in zebrafish. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2016; 54:52-60. [PMID: 26898327 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2016.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Revised: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ketamine, a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist is commonly used as a pediatric anesthetic. We have previously shown that acetyl L-carnitine (ALCAR) prevents ketamine toxicity in zebrafish embryos. In mammals, ketamine is known to modulate the dopaminergic system. NMDA receptor antagonists are considered as promising anti-depressants, but the exact mechanism of their function is unclear. Here, we measured the levels of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites, 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA), in the zebrafish embryos exposed to ketamine in the presence and absence of 0.5 mM ALCAR. Ketamine, at lower doses (0.1-0.3 mM), did not produce significant changes in DA, DOPAC or HVA levels in 52 h post-fertilization embryos treated for 24 h. In these embryos, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA expression remained unchanged. However, 2 mM ketamine (internal embryo exposure levels equivalent to human anesthetic plasma concentration) significantly reduced DA level and TH mRNA indicating that DA synthesis was adversely affected. In the presence or absence of 2 mM ketamine, ALCAR showed similar effects on DA level and TH mRNA, but increased DOPAC level compared to control. ALCAR reversed 2 mM ketamine-induced reduction in HVA levels. With ALCAR alone, the expression of genes encoding the DA metabolizing enzymes, MAO (monoamine oxidase) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), was not affected. However, ketamine altered MAO mRNA expression, except at the 0.1 mM dose. COMT transcripts were reduced in the 2 mM ketamine-treated group. These distinct effects of ketamine and ALCAR on the DA system may shed some light on the mechanism on how ketamine can work as an anti-depressant, especially at sub-anesthetic doses that do not affect DA metabolism and suppress MAO gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie L Robinson
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Melanie Dumas
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Elvis Cuevas
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Qiang Gu
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Merle G Paule
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Syed F Ali
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Jyotshna Kanungo
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA.
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