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Miles KD, Barker CM, Russell KP, Appel BH, Doll CA. Electrical Synapses Mediate Embryonic Hyperactivity in a Zebrafish Model of Fragile X Syndrome. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e2275232024. [PMID: 38969506 PMCID: PMC11293453 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2275-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Although hyperactivity is associated with a wide variety of neurodevelopmental disorders, the early embryonic origins of locomotion have hindered investigation of pathogenesis of these debilitating behaviors. The earliest motor output in vertebrate animals is generated by clusters of early-born motor neurons (MNs) that occupy distinct regions of the spinal cord, innervating stereotyped muscle groups. Gap junction electrical synapses drive early spontaneous behavior in zebrafish, prior to the emergence of chemical neurotransmitter networks. We use a genetic model of hyperactivity to gain critical insight into the consequences of errors in motor circuit formation and function, finding that Fragile X syndrome model mutant zebrafish are hyperexcitable from the earliest phases of spontaneous behavior, show altered sensitivity to blockade of electrical gap junctions, and have increased expression of the gap junction protein Connexin 34/35. We further show that this hyperexcitable behavior can be rescued by pharmacological inhibition of electrical synapses. We also use functional imaging to examine MN and interneuron (IN) activity in early embryogenesis, finding genetic disruption of electrical gap junctions uncouples activity between mnx1 + MNs and INs. Taken together, our work highlights the importance of electrical synapses in motor development and suggests that the origins of hyperactivity in neurodevelopmental disorders may be established during the initial formation of locomotive circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaleb D Miles
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Chase M Barker
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Kristen P Russell
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Bruce H Appel
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Caleb A Doll
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
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Kolesnikova TO, Demin KA, Costa FV, de Abreu MS, Kalueff AV. Zebrafish models for studying cognitive enhancers. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 164:105797. [PMID: 38971515 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Cognitive decline is commonly seen both in normal aging and in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. Various experimental animal models represent a valuable tool to study brain cognitive processes and their deficits. Equally important is the search for novel drugs to treat cognitive deficits and improve cognitions. Complementing rodent and clinical findings, studies utilizing zebrafish (Danio rerio) are rapidly gaining popularity in translational cognitive research and neuroactive drug screening. Here, we discuss the value of zebrafish models and assays for screening nootropic (cognitive enhancer) drugs and the discovery of novel nootropics. We also discuss the existing challenges, and outline future directions of research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Konstantin A Demin
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia; Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Fabiano V Costa
- Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
| | - Murilo S de Abreu
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil; West Caspian University, Baku, Azerbaijan.
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia; Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia; Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia; Suzhou Key Laboratory on Neurobiology and Cell Signaling, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China.
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3
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Zhang Q, Li F, Li T, Lin J, Jian J, Zhang Y, Chen X, Liu T, Gou S, Zhang Y, Liu X, Ji Y, Wang X, Li Q. Nomo1 deficiency causes autism-like behavior in zebrafish. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:570-592. [PMID: 38253686 PMCID: PMC10897165 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-023-00036-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with neuropsychiatric disorders often exhibit a combination of clinical symptoms such as autism, epilepsy, or schizophrenia, complicating diagnosis and development of therapeutic strategies. Functional studies of novel genes associated with co-morbidities can provide clues to understand the pathogenic mechanisms and interventions. NOMO1 is one of the candidate genes located at 16p13.11, a hotspot of neuropsychiatric diseases. Here, we generate nomo1-/- zebrafish to get further insight into the function of NOMO1. Nomo1 mutants show abnormal brain and neuronal development and activation of apoptosis and inflammation-related pathways in the brain. Adult Nomo1-deficient zebrafish exhibit multiple neuropsychiatric behaviors such as hyperactive locomotor activity, social deficits, and repetitive stereotypic behaviors. The Habenular nucleus and the pineal gland in the telencephalon are affected, and the melatonin level of nomo1-/- is reduced. Melatonin treatment restores locomotor activity, reduces repetitive stereotypic behaviors, and rescues the noninfectious brain inflammatory responses caused by nomo1 deficiency. These results suggest melatonin supplementation as a potential therapeutic regimen for neuropsychiatric disorders caused by NOMO1 deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, NHC Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, 210013, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Li
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, NHC Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, 210013, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, NHC Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, 210013, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Lin
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, NHC Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, 210013, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Jian
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, NHC Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, 210013, Shanghai, China
| | - Yinglan Zhang
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, NHC Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, 210013, Shanghai, China
| | - Xudong Chen
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, NHC Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, 210013, Shanghai, China
| | - Ting Liu
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, NHC Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, 210013, Shanghai, China
| | - Shenglan Gou
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, NHC Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, 210013, Shanghai, China
| | - Yawen Zhang
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, NHC Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, 210013, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiuyun Liu
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, NHC Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, 210013, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongxia Ji
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, NHC Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, 210013, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Cancer Institute, Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, NHC Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, 210013, Shanghai, China.
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4
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Westmark PR, Gholston AK, Swietlik TJ, Maganti RK, Westmark CJ. Ketogenic Diet Affects Sleep Architecture in C57BL/6J Wild Type and Fragile X Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14460. [PMID: 37833907 PMCID: PMC10572443 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Nearly half of children with fragile X syndrome experience sleep problems including trouble falling asleep and frequent nighttime awakenings. The goals here were to assess sleep-wake cycles in mice in response to Fmr1 genotype and a dietary intervention that reduces hyperactivity. Electroencephalography (EEG) results were compared with published rest-activity patterns to determine if actigraphy is a viable surrogate for sleep EEG. Specifically, sleep-wake patterns in adult wild type and Fmr1KO littermate mice were recorded after EEG electrode implantation and the recordings manually scored for vigilance states. The data indicated that Fmr1KO mice exhibited sleep-wake patterns similar to wild type littermates when maintained on a control purified ingredient diet. Treatment with a high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet increased the percentage of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep in both wild type and Fmr1KO mice during the dark cycle, which corresponded to decreased activity levels. Treatment with a ketogenic diet flattened diurnal sleep periodicity in both wild type and Fmr1KO mice. Differences in several sleep microstructure outcomes (number and length of sleep and wake bouts) supported the altered sleep states in response to a ketogenic diet and were correlated with altered rest-activity cycles. While actigraphy may be a less expensive, reduced labor surrogate for sleep EEG during the dark cycle, daytime resting in mice did not correlate with EEG sleep states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela R. Westmark
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (P.R.W.); (A.K.G.); (T.J.S.); (R.K.M.)
| | - Aaron K. Gholston
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (P.R.W.); (A.K.G.); (T.J.S.); (R.K.M.)
- Molecular Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Timothy J. Swietlik
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (P.R.W.); (A.K.G.); (T.J.S.); (R.K.M.)
| | - Rama K. Maganti
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (P.R.W.); (A.K.G.); (T.J.S.); (R.K.M.)
| | - Cara J. Westmark
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (P.R.W.); (A.K.G.); (T.J.S.); (R.K.M.)
- Molecular Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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5
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Vaz R, Edwards S, Dueñas-Rey A, Hofmeister W, Lindstrand A. Loss of ctnnd2b affects neuronal differentiation and behavior in zebrafish. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1205653. [PMID: 37465584 PMCID: PMC10351287 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1205653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Delta-catenin (CTNND2) is an adhesive junction associated protein belonging to the family of p120 catenins. The human gene is located on the short arm of chromosome 5, the region deleted in Cri-du-chat syndrome (OMIM #123450). Heterozygous loss of CTNND2 has been linked to a wide spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, and intellectual disability. Here we studied how heterozygous loss of ctnnd2b affects zebrafish embryonic development, and larvae and adult behavior. First, we observed a disorganization of neuronal subtypes in the developing forebrain, namely the presence of ectopic isl1-expressing cells and a local reduction of GABA-positive neurons in the optic recess region. Next, using time-lapse analysis, we found that the disorganized distribution of is1l-expressing forebrain neurons resulted from an increased specification of Isl1:GFP neurons. Finally, we studied the swimming patterns of both larval and adult heterozygous zebrafish and observed an increased activity compared to wildtype animals. Overall, this data suggests a role for ctnnd2b in the differentiation cascade of neuronal subtypes in specific regions of the vertebrate brain, with repercussions in the animal's behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Vaz
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Centre of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Steven Edwards
- Department of Applied Physics and Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alfredo Dueñas-Rey
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Centre of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Wolfgang Hofmeister
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Centre of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Lindstrand
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Centre of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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6
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Turrini L, Roschi L, de Vito G, Pavone FS, Vanzi F. Imaging Approaches to Investigate Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Brain Disease in Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9833. [PMID: 37372981 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24129833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish has become an essential model organism in modern biomedical research. Owing to its distinctive features and high grade of genomic homology with humans, it is increasingly employed to model diverse neurological disorders, both through genetic and pharmacological intervention. The use of this vertebrate model has recently enhanced research efforts, both in the optical technology and in the bioengineering fields, aiming at developing novel tools for high spatiotemporal resolution imaging. Indeed, the ever-increasing use of imaging methods, often combined with fluorescent reporters or tags, enable a unique chance for translational neuroscience research at different levels, ranging from behavior (whole-organism) to functional aspects (whole-brain) and down to structural features (cellular and subcellular). In this work, we present a review of the imaging approaches employed to investigate pathophysiological mechanisms underlying functional, structural, and behavioral alterations of human neurological diseases modeled in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lapo Turrini
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Roschi
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe de Vito
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
- Interdepartmental Centre for the Study of Complex Dynamics, University of Florence, Via Giovanni Sansone 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Francesco Saverio Pavone
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence, Via Giovanni Sansone 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- National Institute of Optics, National Research Council, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Francesco Vanzi
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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7
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Zhu SI, McCullough MH, Pujic Z, Sibberas J, Sun B, Darveniza T, Bucknall B, Avitan L, Goodhill GJ. fmr1 Mutation Alters the Early Development of Sensory Coding and Hunting and Social Behaviors in Larval Zebrafish. J Neurosci 2023; 43:1211-1224. [PMID: 36596699 PMCID: PMC9962781 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1721-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are developmental in origin; however, little is known about how they affect the early development of behavior and sensory coding. The most common inherited form of autism is Fragile X syndrome (FXS), caused by a mutation in FMR1 Mutation of fmr1 in zebrafish causes anxiety-like behavior, hyperactivity, and hypersensitivity in auditory and visual processing. Here, we show that zebrafish fmr1-/- mutant larvae of either sex also display changes in hunting behavior, tectal coding, and social interaction. During hunting, they were less successful at catching prey and displayed altered behavioral sequences. In the tectum, representations of prey-like stimuli were more diffuse and had higher dimensionality. In a social behavioral assay, they spent more time observing a conspecific but responded more slowly to social cues. However, when given a choice of rearing environment fmr1-/- larvae preferred one with reduced visual stimulation, and rearing them in this environment reduced genotype-specific effects on tectal excitability. Together, these results shed new light on how fmr1-/- changes the early development of neural systems and behavior in a vertebrate.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are caused by changes in early neural development. Animal models of ASDs offer the opportunity to study these developmental processes in greater detail than in humans. Here, we found that a zebrafish mutant for a gene which in humans causes one type of ASD showed early alterations in hunting behavior, social behavior, and how visual stimuli are represented in the brain. However, we also found that mutant fish preferred reduced visual stimulation, and rearing them in this environment reduced alterations in neural activity patterns. These results suggest interesting new directions for using zebrafish as a model to study the development of brain and behavior in ASDs, and how the impact of ASDs could potentially be reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyu I Zhu
- Queensland Brain Institute
- Departments of Developmental Biology and Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | | | | | | | | | - Thomas Darveniza
- Departments of Developmental Biology and Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | | | | | - Geoffrey J Goodhill
- Queensland Brain Institute
- School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Departments of Developmental Biology and Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
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Kalyanasundar B, Blonde GD, Spector AC, Travers SP. A Novel Mechanism for T1R-Independent Taste Responses to Concentrated Sugars. J Neurosci 2023; 43:965-978. [PMID: 36623875 PMCID: PMC9908317 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1760-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent findings from our laboratory demonstrated that the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (rNST) retains some responsiveness to sugars in double-knock-out mice lacking either the T1R1+T1R3 (KO1+3) or T1R2+T1R3 (KO2+3) taste receptor heterodimers. Here, we extended these findings in the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) of male and female KO1+3 mice using warm stimuli to optimize sugar responses and employing additional concentrations and pharmacological agents to probe mechanisms. PBN T1R-independent sugar responses, including those to concentrated glucose, were more evident than in rNST. Similar to the NST, there were no "sugar-best" neurons in KO1+3 mice. Nevertheless, 1000 mm glucose activated nearly 55% of PBN neurons, with responses usually occurring in neurons that also displayed acid and amiloride-insensitive NaCl responses. In wild-type (WT) mice, concentrated sugars activated the same electrolyte-sensitive neurons but also "sugar-best" cells. Regardless of genotype, phlorizin, an inhibitor of the sodium-glucose co-transporter (SGLT), a component of a hypothesized alternate glucose-sensing mechanism, did not diminish responses to 1000 mm glucose. The efficacy of concentrated sugars for driving neurons broadly responsive to electrolytes implied an origin from Type III taste bud cells. To test this, we used the carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitor dorzolamide (DRZ), previously shown to inhibit amiloride-insensitive sodium responses arising from Type III taste bud cells. Dorzolamide had no effect on sugar-elicited responses in WT sugar-best PBN neurons but strongly suppressed them in WT and KO1+3 electrolyte-generalist neurons. These findings suggest a novel T1R-independent mechanism for hyperosmotic sugars, involving a CA-dependent mechanism in Type III taste bud cells.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Since the discovery of Tas1r receptors for sugars and artificial sweeteners, evidence has accrued that mice lacking these receptors maintain some behavioral, physiological, and neural responsiveness to sugars. But the substrate(s) has remained elusive. Here, we recorded from parabrachial nucleus (PBN) taste neurons and identified T1R-independent responses to hyperosmotic sugars dependent on carbonic anhydrase (CA) and occurring primarily in neurons broadly responsive to NaCl and acid, implying an origin from Type III taste bud cells. The effectiveness of different sugars in driving these T1R-independent responses did not correlate with their efficacy in driving licking, suggesting they evoke a nonsweet sensation. Nevertheless, these salient responses are likely to comprise an adequate cue for learned preferences that occur in the absence of T1R receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Kalyanasundar
- Division of Biosciences, College of Dentistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210-1267
| | - Ginger D Blonde
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306-4301
| | - Alan C Spector
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306-4301
| | - Susan P Travers
- Division of Biosciences, College of Dentistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210-1267
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Hu X, Yang J, Song Z, Wang Q, Chu Z, Zhang L, Lin D, Xu Y, Liang L, Yang WC. The perceived effects of augmented trail sensing and mood recognition abilities in a human-fish biohybrid system. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2022; 18:015008. [PMID: 36379063 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/aca308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The use of technologies to enhance human and animal perception has been explored in pioneering research about artificial life and biohybrid systems. These attempts have revealed that augmented sensing abilities can emerge from new interactions between individuals within or across species. Nevertheless, the diverse effects of different augmented capabilities have been less examined and compared. In this work, we built a human-fish biohybrid system that enhanced the vision of the ornamental fish by projecting human participants onto the arena background. In contrast, human participants were equipped with a mixed-reality device, which visualized individual fish trails (representing situation-oriented perceptions) and emotions (representing communication-oriented perceptions). We investigated the impacts of the two enhanced perceptions on the human side and documented the perceived effects from three aspects. First, both augmented perceptions considerably increase participants' attention toward ornamental fish, and the impact of emotion recognition is more potent than trail sense. Secondly, the frequency of human-fish interactions increases with the equipped perceptions. The mood recognition ability on the human side can indirectly promote the recorded positive mood of fish. Thirdly, most participants mentioned that they felt closer to those fish which had mood recognition ability, even if we added some mistakes in the accuracy of mood recognition. In contrast, the addition of trail sensing ability does not lead to a similar effect on the mental bond. These findings reveal several aspects of different perceived effects between the enhancements of communication-oriented and situation-oriented perceptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Hu
- Intelligent Systems Lab, NeuHelium Co., Ltd. Shanghai 200090 People's Republic of China
| | - Jinxin Yang
- Intelligent Systems Lab, NeuHelium Co., Ltd. Shanghai 200090 People's Republic of China
| | - Zhihua Song
- Intelligent Systems Lab, NeuHelium Co., Ltd. Shanghai 200090 People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Wang
- Intelligent Systems Lab, NeuHelium Co., Ltd. Shanghai 200090 People's Republic of China
| | - Ziyue Chu
- Intelligent Systems Lab, NeuHelium Co., Ltd. Shanghai 200090 People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Intelligent Systems Lab, NeuHelium Co., Ltd. Shanghai 200090 People's Republic of China
| | - Daoyuan Lin
- Intelligent Systems Lab, NeuHelium Co., Ltd. Shanghai 200090 People's Republic of China
| | - Yangyang Xu
- Intelligent Systems Lab, NeuHelium Co., Ltd. Shanghai 200090 People's Republic of China
| | - Longfei Liang
- Intelligent Systems Lab, NeuHelium Co., Ltd. Shanghai 200090 People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Chi Yang
- Intelligent Systems Lab, NeuHelium Co., Ltd. Shanghai 200090 People's Republic of China
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10
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Kolesnikova TO, Demin KA, Costa FV, Zabegalov KN, de Abreu MS, Gerasimova EV, Kalueff AV. Towards Zebrafish Models of CNS Channelopathies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213979. [PMID: 36430455 PMCID: PMC9693542 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Channelopathies are a large group of systemic disorders whose pathogenesis is associated with dysfunctional ion channels. Aberrant transmembrane transport of K+, Na+, Ca2+ and Cl- by these channels in the brain induces central nervous system (CNS) channelopathies, most commonly including epilepsy, but also migraine, as well as various movement and psychiatric disorders. Animal models are a useful tool for studying pathogenesis of a wide range of brain disorders, including channelopathies. Complementing multiple well-established rodent models, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become a popular translational model organism for neurobiology, psychopharmacology and toxicology research, and for probing mechanisms underlying CNS pathogenesis. Here, we discuss current prospects and challenges of developing genetic, pharmacological and other experimental models of major CNS channelopathies based on zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Konstantin A. Demin
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 197341 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Fabiano V. Costa
- Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, 354349 Sochi, Russia
| | | | - Murilo S. de Abreu
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141701 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: (M.S.d.A.); (A.V.K.); Tel.: +55-54-99605-9807 (M.S.d.A.); +1-240-899-9571 (A.V.K.); Fax: +1-240-899-9571 (A.V.K.)
| | - Elena V. Gerasimova
- Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, 354349 Sochi, Russia
| | - Allan V. Kalueff
- Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, 354349 Sochi, Russia
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 197341 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141701 Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Preclinical Bioscreening, Granov Russian Research Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 197758 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Ural Federal University, 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
- Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, 630117 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Correspondence: (M.S.d.A.); (A.V.K.); Tel.: +55-54-99605-9807 (M.S.d.A.); +1-240-899-9571 (A.V.K.); Fax: +1-240-899-9571 (A.V.K.)
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11
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Barker CM, Miles KD, Doll CA. Fmrp regulates neuronal balance in embryonic motor circuit formation. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:962901. [PMID: 36408418 PMCID: PMC9669763 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.962901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor behavior requires the balanced production and integration of a variety of neural cell types. Motor neurons are positioned in discrete locations in the spinal cord, targeting specific muscles to drive locomotive contractions. Specialized spinal interneurons modulate and synchronize motor neuron activity to achieve coordinated motor output. Changes in the ratios and connectivity of spinal interneurons could drastically alter motor output by tipping the balance of inhibition and excitation onto target motor neurons. Importantly, individuals with Fragile X syndrome (FXS) and associated autism spectrum disorders often have significant motor challenges, including repetitive behaviors and epilepsy. FXS stems from the transcriptional silencing of the gene Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMR1), which encodes an RNA binding protein that is implicated in a multitude of crucial neurodevelopmental processes, including cell specification. Our work shows that Fmrp regulates the formation of specific interneurons and motor neurons that comprise early embryonic motor circuits. We find that zebrafish fmr1 mutants generate surplus ventral lateral descending (VeLD) interneurons, an early-born cell derived from the motor neuron progenitor domain (pMN). As VeLD interneurons are hypothesized to act as central pattern generators driving the earliest spontaneous movements, this imbalance could influence the formation and long-term function of motor circuits driving locomotion. fmr1 embryos also show reduced expression of proteins associated with inhibitory synapses, including the presynaptic transporter vGAT and the postsynaptic scaffold Gephyrin. Taken together, we show changes in embryonic motor circuit formation in fmr1 mutants that could underlie persistent hyperexcitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chase M. Barker
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Kaleb D. Miles
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology Program, Graduate School, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Caleb A. Doll
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
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12
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Miles KD, Doll CA. Chloride imbalance in Fragile X syndrome. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1008393. [PMID: 36312023 PMCID: PMC9596984 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1008393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental changes in ionic balance are associated with crucial hallmarks in neural circuit formation, including changes in excitation and inhibition, neurogenesis, and synaptogenesis. Neuronal excitability is largely mediated by ionic concentrations inside and outside of the cell, and chloride (Cl-) ions are highly influential in early neurodevelopmental events. For example, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the mature central nervous system (CNS). However, during early development GABA can depolarize target neurons, and GABAergic depolarization is implicated in crucial neurodevelopmental processes. This developmental shift of GABAergic neurotransmission from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing output is induced by changes in Cl- gradients, which are generated by the relative expression of Cl- transporters Nkcc1 and Kcc2. Interestingly, the GABA polarity shift is delayed in Fragile X syndrome (FXS) models; FXS is one of the most common heritable neurodevelopmental disorders. The RNA binding protein FMRP, encoded by the gene Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein-1 (Fmr1) and absent in FXS, appears to regulate chloride transporter expression. This could dramatically influence FXS phenotypes, as the syndrome is hypothesized to be rooted in defects in neural circuit development and imbalanced excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) neurotransmission. In this perspective, we summarize canonical Cl- transporter expression and investigate altered gene and protein expression of Nkcc1 and Kcc2 in FXS models. We then discuss interactions between Cl- transporters and neurotransmission complexes, and how these links could cause imbalances in inhibitory neurotransmission that may alter mature circuits. Finally, we highlight current therapeutic strategies and promising new directions in targeting Cl- transporter expression in FXS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caleb Andrew Doll
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
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13
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Zoodsma JD, Keegan EJ, Moody GR, Bhandiwad AA, Napoli AJ, Burgess HA, Wollmuth LP, Sirotkin HI. Disruption of grin2B, an ASD-associated gene, produces social deficits in zebrafish. Mol Autism 2022; 13:38. [PMID: 36138431 PMCID: PMC9502958 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-022-00516-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), like many neurodevelopmental disorders, has complex and varied etiologies. Advances in genome sequencing have identified multiple candidate genes associated with ASD, including dozens of missense and nonsense mutations in the NMDAR subunit GluN2B, encoded by GRIN2B. NMDARs are glutamate-gated ion channels with key synaptic functions in excitatory neurotransmission. How alterations in these proteins impact neurodevelopment is poorly understood, in part because knockouts of GluN2B in rodents are lethal. METHODS Here, we use CRISPR-Cas9 to generate zebrafish lacking GluN2B (grin2B-/-). Using these fish, we run an array of behavioral tests and perform whole-brain larval imaging to assay developmental roles and functions of GluN2B. RESULTS We demonstrate that zebrafish GluN2B displays similar structural and functional properties to human GluN2B. Zebrafish lacking GluN2B (grin2B-/-) surprisingly survive into adulthood. Given the prevalence of social deficits in ASD, we assayed social preference in the grin2B-/- fish. Wild-type fish develop a strong social preference by 3 weeks post fertilization. In contrast, grin2B-/- fish at this age exhibit significantly reduced social preference. Notably, the lack of GluN2B does not result in a broad disruption of neurodevelopment, as grin2B-/- larvae do not show alterations in spontaneous or photic-evoked movements, are capable of prey capture, and exhibit learning. Whole-brain imaging of grin2B-/- larvae revealed reduction of an inhibitory neuron marker in the subpallium, a region linked to ASD in humans, but showed that overall brain size and E/I balance in grin2B-/- is comparable to wild type. LIMITATIONS Zebrafish lacking GluN2B, while useful in studying developmental roles of GluN2B, are unlikely to model nuanced functional alterations of human missense mutations that are not complete loss of function. Additionally, detailed mammalian homologies for larval zebrafish brain subdivisions at the age of whole-brain imaging are not fully resolved. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that zebrafish completely lacking the GluN2B subunit of the NMDAR, unlike rodent models, are viable into adulthood. Notably, they exhibit a highly specific deficit in social behavior. As such, this zebrafish model affords a unique opportunity to study the roles of GluN2B in ASD etiologies and establish a disease-relevant in vivo model for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiah D. Zoodsma
- grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA ,grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA
| | - Emma J. Keegan
- grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA
| | - Gabrielle R. Moody
- grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA
| | - Ashwin A. Bhandiwad
- grid.420089.70000 0000 9635 8082Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Amalia J. Napoli
- grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA ,grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA
| | - Harold A. Burgess
- grid.420089.70000 0000 9635 8082Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Lonnie P. Wollmuth
- grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA ,grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA ,grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Center for Nervous System Disorders, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA
| | - Howard I. Sirotkin
- grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230 USA
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14
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Tan JXM, Ang RJW, Wee CL. Larval Zebrafish as a Model for Mechanistic Discovery in Mental Health. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:900213. [PMID: 35813062 PMCID: PMC9263853 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.900213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models are essential for the discovery of mechanisms and treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders. However, complex mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety are difficult to fully recapitulate in these models. Borrowing from the field of psychiatric genetics, we reiterate the framework of 'endophenotypes' - biological or behavioral markers with cellular, molecular or genetic underpinnings - to reduce complex disorders into measurable behaviors that can be compared across organisms. Zebrafish are popular disease models due to the conserved genetic, physiological and anatomical pathways between zebrafish and humans. Adult zebrafish, which display more sophisticated behaviors and cognition, have long been used to model psychiatric disorders. However, larvae (up to 1 month old) are more numerous and also optically transparent, and hence are particularly suited for high-throughput screening and brain-wide neural circuit imaging. A number of behavioral assays have been developed to quantify neuropsychiatric phenomena in larval zebrafish. Here, we will review these assays and the current knowledge regarding the underlying mechanisms of their behavioral readouts. We will also discuss the existing evidence linking larval zebrafish behavior to specific human behavioral traits and how the endophenotype framework can be applied. Importantly, many of the endophenotypes we review do not solely define a diseased state but could manifest as a spectrum across the general population. As such, we make the case for larval zebrafish as a promising model for extending our understanding of population mental health, and for identifying novel therapeutics and interventions with broad impact.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Caroline Lei Wee
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
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15
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Calapai F, Cardia L, Calapai G, Di Mauro D, Trimarchi F, Ammendolia I, Mannucci C. Effects of Cannabidiol on Locomotor Activity. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12050652. [PMID: 35629320 PMCID: PMC9144881 DOI: 10.3390/life12050652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) is the second cannabinoid, in order of importance after Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), from Cannabis sativa. Unlike THC, CBD does not cause psychotomimetic effects, and although these compounds have the same chemical formula, their pharmacological characteristics are not equivalent. Preclinical studies suggest that CBD has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anxiolytic, antiemetic, anticonvulsant, and antipsychotic properties and influences the sleep–wake cycle. The evaluation of effects on spontaneous motor activity is crucial in experimental pharmacology, and the careful measurement of laboratory animal movement is an established method to recognize the effects of stimulant and depressant drugs. The potential influence of CBD on locomotor activity has been investigated through numerous in vivo experiments. However, there is no clear picture of the impact of CBD on these issues, even though it is administered alone for medical uses and sold with THC as a drug for pain caused by muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis, and it was recently licensed as a drug for severe forms of infantile epilepsy. On this basis, with the aim of developing deeper knowledge of this issue, scientific data on CBD’s influence on locomotor activity are discussed here. We conducted research using PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and a search engine for literature between January 2009 and December 2021 on life sciences and biomedical topics using the keywords “motor activity”, “locomotor activity”, and “locomotion” in combination with “cannabidiol”. In this article, we discuss findings describing the effects on locomotor activity of the CBD precursor cannabidiolic acid and of CBD alone or in combination with THC, together with the effects of CBD on locomotor modifications induced by diseases and on locomotor changes induced by other substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Calapai
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy;
| | - Luigi Cardia
- Department of Human Pathology of Adult and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Gioacchino Calapai
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (D.D.M.); (F.T.); (I.A.); (C.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Debora Di Mauro
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (D.D.M.); (F.T.); (I.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Fabio Trimarchi
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (D.D.M.); (F.T.); (I.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Ilaria Ammendolia
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (D.D.M.); (F.T.); (I.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Carmen Mannucci
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (D.D.M.); (F.T.); (I.A.); (C.M.)
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16
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Perdikaris P, Dermon CR. Behavioral and neurochemical profile of MK-801 adult zebrafish model: Forebrain β 2-adrenoceptors contribute to social withdrawal and anxiety-like behavior. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 115:110494. [PMID: 34896197 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2021.110494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Deficits in social communication and interaction are core clinical symptoms characterizing multiple neuropsychiatric conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia. Interestingly, elevated anxiety levels are a common comorbid psychopathology characterizing individuals with aberrant social behavior. Despite recent progress, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms that link anxiety with social withdrawal remain poorly understood. The present study developed a zebrafish pharmacological model displaying social withdrawal behavior, following a 3-h exposure to 4 μΜ (+)-MK-801, a non-competitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, for 7 days. Interestingly, MK-801-treated zebrafish displayed elevated anxiety levels along with higher frequency of stereotypical behaviors, rendering this zebrafish model appropriate to unravel a possible link of catecholaminergic and ASD-like phenotypes. MK-801-treated zebrafish showed increased telencephalic protein expression of metabotropic glutamate 5 receptor (mGluR5), dopamine transporter (DAT) and β2-adrenergic receptors (β2-ARs), supporting the presence of excitation/inhibition imbalance along with altered dopaminergic and noradrenergic activity. Interestingly, β2-ARs expression, was differentially regulated across the Social Decision-Making (SDM) network nodes, exhibiting increased levels in ventral telencephalic area (Vv), a key-area integrating reward and social circuits but decreased expression in dorso-medial telencephalic area (Dm) and anterior tuberal nucleus (ATN). Moreover, the co-localization of β2-ARs with elements of GABAergic and glutamatergic systems, as well as with GAP-43, a protein indicating increased brain plasticity potential, support the key-role of β2-ARs in the MK-801 zebrafish social dysfunctions. Our results highlight the importance of the catecholaminergic neurotransmission in the manifestation of ASD-like behavior, representing a site of potential interventions for amelioration of ASD-like symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Perdikaris
- Human and Animal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Rio, 26500 Patras, Greece
| | - Catherine R Dermon
- Human and Animal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Rio, 26500 Patras, Greece.
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17
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Marquez-Legorreta E, Constantin L, Piber M, Favre-Bulle IA, Taylor MA, Blevins AS, Giacomotto J, Bassett DS, Vanwalleghem GC, Scott EK. Brain-wide visual habituation networks in wild type and fmr1 zebrafish. Nat Commun 2022; 13:895. [PMID: 35173170 PMCID: PMC8850451 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28299-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Habituation is a form of learning during which animals stop responding to repetitive stimuli, and deficits in habituation are characteristic of several psychiatric disorders. Due to technical challenges, the brain-wide networks mediating habituation are poorly understood. Here we report brain-wide calcium imaging during larval zebrafish habituation to repeated visual looming stimuli. We show that different functional categories of loom-sensitive neurons are located in characteristic locations throughout the brain, and that both the functional properties of their networks and the resulting behavior can be modulated by stimulus saliency and timing. Using graph theory, we identify a visual circuit that habituates minimally, a moderately habituating midbrain population proposed to mediate the sensorimotor transformation, and downstream circuit elements responsible for higher order representations and the delivery of behavior. Zebrafish larvae carrying a mutation in the fmr1 gene have a systematic shift toward sustained premotor activity in this network, and show slower behavioral habituation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Marquez-Legorreta
- The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Lena Constantin
- The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Marielle Piber
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences, and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Itia A Favre-Bulle
- The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Michael A Taylor
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Ann S Blevins
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jean Giacomotto
- The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, West Moreton Hospital and Health Service, Wacol, QLD, 4076, Australia.,Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia.,Discovery Biology, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Dani S Bassett
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Departments of Electrical & Systems Engineering, Physics & Astronomy, Neurology, Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, USA
| | - Gilles C Vanwalleghem
- The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia. .,Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE, Nordic-EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Ethan K Scott
- The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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18
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Protic DD, Aishworiya R, Salcedo-Arellano MJ, Tang SJ, Milisavljevic J, Mitrovic F, Hagerman RJ, Budimirovic DB. Fragile X Syndrome: From Molecular Aspect to Clinical Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23041935. [PMID: 35216055 PMCID: PMC8875233 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23041935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by the full mutation as well as highly localized methylation of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene on the long arm of the X chromosome. Children with FXS are commonly co-diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, attention and learning problems, anxiety, aggressive behavior and sleep disorder, and early interventions have improved many behavior symptoms associated with FXS. In this review, we performed a literature search of original and review articles data of clinical trials and book chapters using MEDLINE (1990-2021) and ClinicalTrials.gov. While we have reviewed the biological importance of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), the FXS phenotype, and current diagnosis techniques, the emphasis of this review is on clinical interventions. Early non-pharmacological interventions in combination with pharmacotherapy and targeted treatments aiming to reverse dysregulated brain pathways are the mainstream of treatment in FXS. Overall, early diagnosis and interventions are fundamental to achieve optimal clinical outcomes in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragana D. Protic
- Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11129 Belgrade, Serbia
- Correspondence: (D.D.P.); (D.B.B.); Tel.: +381-11-36-43-389 (D.D.P.); +1-443-923-2634 (D.B.B.)
| | - Ramkumar Aishworiya
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute UCDH, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (R.A.); (M.J.S.-A.); (S.J.T.); (R.J.H.)
- Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Health System, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074, Singapore
| | - Maria Jimena Salcedo-Arellano
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute UCDH, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (R.A.); (M.J.S.-A.); (S.J.T.); (R.J.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Si Jie Tang
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute UCDH, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (R.A.); (M.J.S.-A.); (S.J.T.); (R.J.H.)
| | - Jelena Milisavljevic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11129 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.M.); (F.M.)
| | - Filip Mitrovic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11129 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.M.); (F.M.)
| | - Randi J. Hagerman
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute UCDH, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (R.A.); (M.J.S.-A.); (S.J.T.); (R.J.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Dejan B. Budimirovic
- Department of Psychiatry, Fragile X Clinic, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences-Child Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Correspondence: (D.D.P.); (D.B.B.); Tel.: +381-11-36-43-389 (D.D.P.); +1-443-923-2634 (D.B.B.)
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19
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Tayanloo-Beik A, Hamidpour SK, Abedi M, Shojaei H, Tavirani MR, Namazi N, Larijani B, Arjmand B. Zebrafish Modeling of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Current Status and Future Prospective. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:911770. [PMID: 35911241 PMCID: PMC9329562 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.911770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a complicated range of childhood neurodevelopmental disorders which can occur via genetic or non-genetic factors. Clinically, ASD is associated with problems in relationships, social interactions, and behaviors that pose many challenges for children with ASD and their families. Due to the complexity, heterogeneity, and association of symptoms with some neuropsychiatric disorders such as ADHD, anxiety, and sleep disorders, clinical trials have not yielded reliable results and there still remain challenges in drug discovery and development pipeline for ASD patients. One of the main steps in promoting lead compounds to the suitable drug for commercialization is preclinical animal testing, in which the efficacy and toxicity of candidate drugs are examined in vivo. In recent years, zebrafish have been able to attract the attention of many researchers in the field of neurological disorders such as ASD due to their outstanding features. The presence of orthologous genes for ASD modeling, the anatomical similarities of parts of the brain, and similar neurotransmitter systems between zebrafish and humans are some of the main reasons why scientists draw attention to zebrafish as a prominent animal model in preclinical studies to discover highly effective treatment approaches for the ASD through genetic and non-genetic modeling methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akram Tayanloo-Beik
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shayesteh Kokabi Hamidpour
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Abedi
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamide Shojaei
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Nazli Namazi
- Diabetes Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bagher Larijani
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Babak Arjmand
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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20
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Quelle-Regaldie A, Sobrido-Cameán D, Barreiro-Iglesias A, Sobrido MJ, Sánchez L. Zebrafish Models of Autosomal Dominant Ataxias. Cells 2021; 10:421. [PMID: 33671313 PMCID: PMC7922657 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary dominant ataxias are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative conditions causing cerebellar dysfunction and characterized by progressive motor incoordination. Despite many efforts put into the study of these diseases, there are no effective treatments yet. Zebrafish models are widely used to characterize neuronal disorders due to its conserved vertebrate genetics that easily support genetic edition and their optic transparency that allows observing the intact CNS and its connections. In addition, its small size and external fertilization help to develop high throughput assays of candidate drugs. Here, we discuss the contributions of zebrafish models to the study of dominant ataxias defining phenotypes, genetic function, behavior and possible treatments. In addition, we review the zebrafish models created for X-linked repeat expansion diseases X-fragile/fragile-X tremor ataxia. Most of the models reviewed here presented neuronal damage and locomotor deficits. However, there is a generalized lack of zebrafish adult heterozygous models and there are no knock-in zebrafish models available for these diseases. The models created for dominant ataxias helped to elucidate gene function and mechanisms that cause neuronal damage. In the future, the application of new genetic edition techniques would help to develop more accurate zebrafish models of dominant ataxias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Quelle-Regaldie
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidade of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.Q.-R.); (L.S.)
| | - Daniel Sobrido-Cameán
- Department of Functional Biology, CIBUS, Faculty of Biology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - Antón Barreiro-Iglesias
- Department of Functional Biology, CIBUS, Faculty of Biology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - María Jesús Sobrido
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), Servicio Galego de Saúde, 15006 Coruña, Spain;
| | - Laura Sánchez
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidade of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.Q.-R.); (L.S.)
- Preclinical Animal Models Group, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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21
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Pensado-López A, Veiga-Rúa S, Carracedo Á, Allegue C, Sánchez L. Experimental Models to Study Autism Spectrum Disorders: hiPSCs, Rodents and Zebrafish. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E1376. [PMID: 33233737 PMCID: PMC7699923 DOI: 10.3390/genes11111376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) affect around 1.5% of the global population, which manifest alterations in communication and socialization, as well as repetitive behaviors or restricted interests. ASD is a complex disorder with known environmental and genetic contributors; however, ASD etiology is far from being clear. In the past decades, many efforts have been put into developing new models to study ASD, both in vitro and in vivo. These models have a lot of potential to help to validate some of the previously associated risk factors to the development of the disorder, and to test new potential therapies that help to alleviate ASD symptoms. The present review is focused on the recent advances towards the generation of models for the study of ASD, which would be a useful tool to decipher the bases of the disorder, as well as to conduct drug screenings that hopefully lead to the identification of useful compounds to help patients deal with the symptoms of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Pensado-López
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus de Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (S.V.-R.)
- Genomic Medicine Group, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - Sara Veiga-Rúa
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus de Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (S.V.-R.)
- Genomic Medicine Group, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - Ángel Carracedo
- Genomic Medicine Group, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), CIMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Catarina Allegue
- Genomic Medicine Group, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - Laura Sánchez
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus de Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (S.V.-R.)
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22
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Which Zebrafish Strains Are More Suitable to Perform Behavioral Studies? A Comprehensive Comparison by Phenomic Approach. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:biology9080200. [PMID: 32752218 PMCID: PMC7465594 DOI: 10.3390/biology9080200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Wild-type (WT) zebrafish are commonly used in behavioral tests, however, the term WT corresponds to many different strains, such as AB, Tübingen long fin (TL), and Wild Indian Karyotype (WIK). Since these strains are widely used, there has to be at least one study to demonstrate the behavioral differences between them. In our study, six zebrafish strains were used, which are AB, absolute, TL, golden, pet store-purchased (PET), and WIK zebrafishes. The behavior of these fishes was tested in a set of behavioral tests, including novel tank, mirror-biting, predator avoidance, social interaction, and shoaling tests. From the results, the differences were observed for all behavioral tests, and each strain displayed particular behavior depending on the tests. In addition, from the heatmap and PCA (principal component analysis) results, two major clusters were displayed, separating the AB and TL zebrafishes with other strains in another cluster. Furthermore, after the coefficient of variation of each strain in every behavioral test was calculated, the AB and TL zebrafishes were found to possess a low percentage of the coefficient of variation, highlighting the strong reproducibility and the robustness of the behaviors tested in both fishes. Each zebrafish strain tested in this experiment showed specifically different behaviors from each other, thus, strain-specific zebrafish behavior should be considered when designing experiments using zebrafish behavior.
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23
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Hu J, Chen L, Yin J, Yin H, Huang Y, Tian J. Hyperactivity, Memory Defects, and Craniofacial Abnormalities in Zebrafish fmr1 Mutant Larvae. Behav Genet 2020; 50:152-160. [PMID: 32048109 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-020-09995-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a heritable mental retardation disease caused by unstable trinucleotide repeat sequences in FMR1. FXS is characterized by delayed development, hyperactivity, and autism behavior. Zebrafish is an excellent model to study FXS and the underlying function of fmr1. However, at present, fmr1 function is mainly studied via morpholinos or generated mutants using targeting induced local lesions in genomes. However, both of these methods generate off-target effects, making them suboptimal techniques for studying FXS. In this study, CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to generate two zebrafish fmr1 mutant lines. High-throughput behavior analysis, qRT-PCR, and alcian blue staining experiments were employed to investigate fmr1 function. The fmr1 mutant line showed abnormal behavior, learning memory defects, and impaired craniofacial cartilage development. These features are similar to the human FXS phenotype, indicating that the fmr1 mutant generated in this study can be used as a new model for studying the molecular pathology of FXS. It also provides a suitable model for high-throughput screening of small molecule drugs for FXS therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Hu
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Sciences, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Yin
- CAS Key Lab of Bio-medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215163, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Huancai Yin
- CAS Key Lab of Bio-medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215163, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinong Huang
- Shaanxi Institute of Pediatric Diseases, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Xi'an, 710003, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jingjing Tian
- CAS Key Lab of Bio-medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215163, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
- Academy for Engineering & Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
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24
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Zebrafish embryogenesis – A framework to study regulatory RNA elements in development and disease. Dev Biol 2020; 457:172-180. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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25
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Fontana BD, Cleal M, Parker MO. Female adult zebrafish (
Danio rerio
) show higher levels of anxiety‐like behavior than males, but do not differ in learning and memory capacity. Eur J Neurosci 2019; 52:2604-2613. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara D. Fontana
- Brain and Behaviour Laboratory School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences University of Portsmouth Portsmouth UK
| | - Madeleine Cleal
- Brain and Behaviour Laboratory School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences University of Portsmouth Portsmouth UK
| | - Matthew O. Parker
- Brain and Behaviour Laboratory School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences University of Portsmouth Portsmouth UK
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC) Slidell LA USA
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26
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Haghani S, Karia M, Cheng RK, Mathuru AS. An Automated Assay System to Study Novel Tank Induced Anxiety. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:180. [PMID: 31481885 PMCID: PMC6709859 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
New environments are known to be anxiogenic initially for many animals including the zebrafish. In the zebrafish, a novel tank diving (NTD) assay for solitary fish has been used extensively to model anxiety and the effect of anxiolytics. However, studies can differ in the conditions used to perform this assay. Here, we report the development of an efficient, automated toolset and optimal conditions for effective use of this assay. Applying these tools, we found that two important variables in previous studies, the direction of illumination of the novel tank and the age of the subject fish, both influence endpoints commonly measured to assess anxiety. When tanks are illuminated from underneath, several parameters such as the time spent at the bottom of the tank, or the transitions to the top half of the tank become poor measures of acclimation to the novel environment. Older fish acclimate faster to the same settings. The size of the novel tank and the intensity of the illuminating light can also influence acclimation. Among the parameters measured, reduction in the frequency of erratic swimming (darting) is the most reliable indicator of anxiolysis. Open source pipeline for automated data acquisition and systematic analysis generated here and available to other researchers will improve accessibility and uniformity in measurements. They can also be directly applied to study other fish. As this assay is commonly used to model anxiety phenotype of neuropsychiatric ailments in zebrafish, we expect our tools will further aid comparative and meta-analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Haghani
- Yale-NUS College, Science Division, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Ruey-Kuang Cheng
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ajay S Mathuru
- Yale-NUS College, Science Division, Singapore, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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27
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Abnormal repetitive behaviors in zebrafish and their relevance to human brain disorders. Behav Brain Res 2019; 367:101-110. [PMID: 30926483 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.03.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Abnormal repetitive behaviors (ARBs) are a prominent symptom of numerous human brain disorders and are commonly seen in rodent models as well. While rodent studies of ARBs continue to dominate the field, mounting evidence suggests that zebrafish (Danio rerio) also display ARB-like phenotypes and may therefore be a novel model organism for ARB research. In addition to clear practical research advantages as a model species, zebrafish share high genetic and physiological homology to humans and rodents, including multiple ARB-related genes and robust behaviors relevant to ARB. Here, we discuss a wide spectrum of stereotypic repetitive behaviors in zebrafish, data on their genetic and pharmacological modulation, and the overall translational relevance of fish ARBs to modeling human brain disorders. Overall, the zebrafish is rapidly emerging as a new promising model to study ARBs and their underlying mechanisms.
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28
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Vaz R, Hofmeister W, Lindstrand A. Zebrafish Models of Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Limitations and Benefits of Current Tools and Techniques. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20061296. [PMID: 30875831 PMCID: PMC6471844 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
For the past few years there has been an exponential increase in the use of animal models to confirm the pathogenicity of candidate disease-causing genetic variants found in patients. One such animal model is the zebrafish. Despite being a non-mammalian animal, the zebrafish model has proven its potential in recapitulating the phenotypes of many different human genetic disorders. This review will focus on recent advances in the modeling of neurodevelopmental disorders in zebrafish, covering aspects from early brain development to techniques used for modulating gene expression, as well as how to best characterize the resulting phenotypes. We also review other existing models of neurodevelopmental disorders, and the current efforts in developing and testing compounds with potential therapeutic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Vaz
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Wolfgang Hofmeister
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, 5000 Odense, Denmark and the Novo Nordisk Foundation for Stem cell Biology (Danstem), University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Anna Lindstrand
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Center for Molecular Medicine and Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Laboratory, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
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29
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González EA, Carty DR, Tran FD, Cole AM, Lein PJ. Developmental exposure to silver nanoparticles at environmentally relevant concentrations alters swimming behavior in zebrafish (Danio rerio). ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2018; 37:3018-3024. [PMID: 30242895 PMCID: PMC6457247 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 09/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) are ubiquitous in household and medical products because of their antimicrobial activity. A consequence of the high volume of Ag-NP production and usage is increased amounts of Ag-NPs released into the environment. Their small size (1-100 nm) results in unique physiochemical properties that may increase toxicity relative to their bulk counterpart. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to assess the potential toxicity of environmentally relevant concentrations of Ag-NPs in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Wild-type tropical 5D zebrafish embryos were exposed to Ag-NPs from 4 to 120 h postfertilization at 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1, and 3 ppm (mg/L). Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry confirmed concentration-dependent uptake of Ag into zebrafish as well as bioaccumulation over time. A morphological assessment revealed no significant hatching impairment, morphological abnormalities, or mortality at any concentration or time point examined. However, assessment of photomotor behavior at 3 d postfertilization (dpf) revealed significant hyperactivity in the 0.3, 1, and 3 ppm Ag-NP treatment groups. At 4 dpf, significant hyperactivity was observed only in the 3 ppm treatment group, whereas 5 dpf larvae exposed to Ag-NPs displayed no significant abnormalities in photomotor behavior. These findings suggest that nonteratogenic concentrations of Ag-NPs are capable of causing transient behavioral changes during development. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:3018-3024. © 2018 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo A. González
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Dennis R. Carty
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Franklin D. Tran
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Austin M. Cole
- Office of Research, University of California-Davis Interdisciplinary Center for Plasma Mass Spectrometry, Davis, CA 95616 USA ()
| | - Pamela J. Lein
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Address correspondence to: Dr. Pamela J. Lein, Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, 2009 VM3B, Davis, CA 95616, Telephone: (530) 752-1970 Fax: (530) 752-7690,
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30
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Melancia F, Trezza V. Modelling fragile X syndrome in the laboratory setting: A behavioral perspective. Behav Brain Res 2018; 350:149-163. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.04.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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31
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Cantú syndrome, the changing phenotype: a report of the two oldest Dutch patients. Clin Dysmorphol 2018; 27:78-83. [DOI: 10.1097/mcd.0000000000000219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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32
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Drozd M, Bardoni B, Capovilla M. Modeling Fragile X Syndrome in Drosophila. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:124. [PMID: 29713264 PMCID: PMC5911982 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Intellectual disability (ID) and autism are hallmarks of Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), a hereditary neurodevelopmental disorder. The gene responsible for FXS is Fragile X Mental Retardation gene 1 (FMR1) encoding the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP), an RNA-binding protein involved in RNA metabolism and modulating the expression level of many targets. Most cases of FXS are caused by silencing of FMR1 due to CGG expansions in the 5'-UTR of the gene. Humans also carry the FXR1 and FXR2 paralogs of FMR1 while flies have only one FMR1 gene, here called dFMR1, sharing the same level of sequence homology with all three human genes, but functionally most similar to FMR1. This enables a much easier approach for FMR1 genetic studies. Drosophila has been widely used to investigate FMR1 functions at genetic, cellular, and molecular levels since dFMR1 mutants have many phenotypes in common with the wide spectrum of FMR1 functions that underlay the disease. In this review, we present very recent Drosophila studies investigating FMRP functions at genetic, cellular, molecular, and electrophysiological levels in addition to research on pharmacological treatments in the fly model. These studies have the potential to aid the discovery of pharmacological therapies for FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Drozd
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, IPMC, Valbonne, France.,CNRS LIA (Neogenex), Valbonne, France
| | - Barbara Bardoni
- CNRS LIA (Neogenex), Valbonne, France.,Université Côte d'Azur, INSERM, CNRS, IPMC, Valbonne, France
| | - Maria Capovilla
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, IPMC, Valbonne, France.,CNRS LIA (Neogenex), Valbonne, France
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33
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Wang Y, Shen C, Wang C, Zhou Y, Gao D, Zuo Z. Maternal and embryonic exposure to the water soluble fraction of crude oil or lead induces behavioral abnormalities in zebrafish (Danio rerio), and the mechanisms involved. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 191:7-16. [PMID: 29024898 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.09.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The water-soluble fraction (WSF) of crude oil plays an important role in the toxicity of crude oil in aquatic environments. Heavy metals, such as lead (Pb) are also important environmental contaminants, which can reach aquatic systems via the effluents of industrial, urban and mining sources. In the present study, we investigated whether maternal and embryonic exposure to the WSF (5, 50 μg/L) or Pb (10, 100 μg/L) could induce behavioral abnormalities in zebrafish. Our results showed that maternal and embryonic exposure to the WSF (5, 50 μg/L) and Pb (10, 100 μg/L) induced swimming activity alterations in larval and juvenile zebrafish. In 15 days post-fertilization (dpf) larval zebrafish, the distance moved was significantly increased in the groups treated with the WSF (5, 50 μg/L), but the angular velocity and turn angle were decreased after treatment with the WSF (5, 50 μg/L) or Pb (10, 100 μg/L). In 30 dpf juvenile zebrafish, the distance moved was markedly decreased in both groups treated with the WSF (5, 50 μg/L) and the Pb (10 μg/L) group, but the percentage of zebrafish moving up and the inter-fish distance of two juvenile fish were increased after treatment with the WSF (5, 50 μg/L) or Pb (10, 100 μg/L). Maternal and embryonic exposure to the WSF (5, 50 μg/L) or Pb (10, 100 μg/L) likely impaired the brain neurons growth and induced behavioral abnormalities in the larval and juvenile zebrafish. Furthermore, the expressions of some key genes, which were associated with calcium channels, behavioral development or the metabolism of environmental contaminants, were changed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanchuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Chao Shen
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Chonggang Wang
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Yixi Zhou
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Dongxu Gao
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Zhenghong Zuo
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
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34
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Zebrafish models of autism spectrum disorder. Exp Neurol 2018; 299:207-216. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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35
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Tran S, Fulcher N, Nowicki M, Desai P, Tsang B, Facciol A, Chow H, Gerlai R. Time-dependent interacting effects of caffeine, diazepam, and ethanol on zebrafish behaviour. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2017; 75:16-27. [PMID: 28025019 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2016.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Revised: 12/04/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Zebrafish have become a popular animal model for behavioural pharmacology due to their small size, rapid development, and amenability to high throughput behavioural drug screens. Furthermore, water-soluble compounds can be administered via immersion of the fish in the drug solution, which provides a non-invasive drug delivery method. Numerous studies have demonstrated stimulant effects of alcohol. Diazepam and caffeine, on the other hand have been found to have inhibitory effect on locomotor activity in zebrafish. However, the time-dependent changes induced by these psychoactive drugs are rarely reported, and potential drug interactions have not been examined in zebrafish, despite the translational relevance of this question. In the current study, we examine time- and dose-dependent changes in zebrafish following exposure to caffeine, diazepam, and ethanol quantifying four different behavioural parameters over a 30min recording session. We subsequently analyze potential drug-drug interactions by co-administering the three drugs in different combinations. Our time-course and dose-response analyses for each of the three drugs represent so far the most detailed studies available serving as a foundation for future psychopharmacology experiments with zebrafish. Furthermore, we report significant interactions between the three drugs corroborating findings obtained with rodent models as well as in humans, providing translational relevance for the zebrafish model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Tran
- University of Toronto, Department of Cell and Systems Biology, Canada.
| | - Niveen Fulcher
- University of Toronto Mississauga, Department of Psychology, Canada
| | - Magda Nowicki
- University of Toronto Mississauga, Department of Psychology, Canada
| | - Priyanka Desai
- University of Toronto Mississauga, Department of Psychology, Canada
| | - Benjamin Tsang
- University of Toronto Mississauga, Department of Psychology, Canada
| | - Amanda Facciol
- University of Toronto Mississauga, Department of Psychology, Canada
| | - Hayden Chow
- University of Western Ontario, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Canada
| | - Robert Gerlai
- University of Toronto, Department of Cell and Systems Biology, Canada; University of Toronto Mississauga, Department of Psychology, Canada.
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Shamay-Ramot A, Khermesh K, Porath HT, Barak M, Pinto Y, Wachtel C, Zilberberg A, Lerer-Goldshtein T, Efroni S, Levanon EY, Appelbaum L. Fmrp Interacts with Adar and Regulates RNA Editing, Synaptic Density and Locomotor Activity in Zebrafish. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005702. [PMID: 26637167 PMCID: PMC4670233 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most frequent inherited form of mental retardation. The cause for this X-linked disorder is the silencing of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (fmr1) gene and the absence of the fragile X mental retardation protein (Fmrp). The RNA-binding protein Fmrp represses protein translation, particularly in synapses. In Drosophila, Fmrp interacts with the adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (Adar) enzymes. Adar enzymes convert adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) and modify the sequence of RNA transcripts. Utilizing the fmr1 zebrafish mutant (fmr1-/-), we studied Fmrp-dependent neuronal circuit formation, behavior, and Adar-mediated RNA editing. By combining behavior analyses and live imaging of single axons and synapses, we showed hyperlocomotor activity, as well as increased axonal branching and synaptic density, in fmr1-/- larvae. We identified thousands of clustered RNA editing sites in the zebrafish transcriptome and showed that Fmrp biochemically interacts with the Adar2a protein. The expression levels of the adar genes and Adar2 protein increased in fmr1-/- zebrafish. Microfluidic-based multiplex PCR coupled with deep sequencing showed a mild increase in A-to-I RNA editing levels in evolutionarily conserved neuronal and synaptic Adar-targets in fmr1-/- larvae. These findings suggest that loss of Fmrp results in increased Adar-mediated RNA editing activity on target-specific RNAs, which, in turn, might alter neuronal circuit formation and behavior in FXS. The most frequent inherited mental retardation disorder is fragile X syndrome, which is characterized by learning disabilities, cognitive impairment, anxiety, and hyperactive behavior. The genetic cause of this disorder is the silencing of the fmr1 gene, which encodes the RNA-binding protein Fmrp. This protein inhibits the production of various proteins in the brain and interacts with the Adar enzyme, which converts the nucleotide A into I in RNAs. However, it is unclear by which mechanism the loss of Fmrp affects the sequence of neuronal genes and, ultimately, brain function. Here, we used the fmr1 mutant zebrafish (fmr1-/-), which enables high-throughput genetics and live imaging experiments in a transparent and evolutionarily conserved brain. We found that loss of Fmrp altered neuronal circuit formation. Furthermore, similar to human patients, the fmr1-/- larvae were hyperactive. Biochemical assays showed that Fmrp interacts with the Adar2a protein, which is increased in fmr1-/- larvae. Thus, we characterized global RNA editing in the zebrafish transcriptome and used a microfluidic-based high-throughput technique to accurately quantify RNA editing levels. Loss of Fmrp resulted in a mild increase in RNA editing in the coding sequences of conserved synaptic genes. These findings propose that altered RNA editing levels may affect neuronal and behavioral deficiencies in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adi Shamay-Ramot
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
- The Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Khen Khermesh
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Hagit T. Porath
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Michal Barak
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Yishay Pinto
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Chaim Wachtel
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Alona Zilberberg
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Tali Lerer-Goldshtein
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
- The Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Sol Efroni
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Erez Y. Levanon
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Lior Appelbaum
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
- The Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
- * E-mail:
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Molecular underpinnings of prefrontal cortex development in rodents provide insights into the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:795-809. [PMID: 25450230 PMCID: PMC4486649 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2014] [Revised: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC), seat of the highest-order cognitive functions, constitutes a conglomerate of highly specialized brain areas and has been implicated to have a role in the onset and installation of various neurodevelopmental disorders. The development of a properly functioning PFC is directed by transcription factors, guidance cues and other regulatory molecules and requires the intricate and temporal orchestration of a number of developmental processes. Disturbance or failure of any of these processes causing neurodevelopmental abnormalities within the PFC may contribute to several of the cognitive deficits seen in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders. In this review, we elaborate on the specific processes underlying prefrontal development, such as induction and patterning of the prefrontal area, proliferation, migration and axonal guidance of medial prefrontal progenitors, and their eventual efferent and afferent connections. We furthermore integrate for the first time the available knowledge from genome-wide studies that have revealed genes linked to neurodevelopmental disorders with experimental molecular evidence in rodents. The integrated data suggest that the pathogenic variants in the neurodevelopmental disorder-associated genes induce prefrontal cytoarchitectonical impairments. This enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of prefrontal (mis)development underlying the four major neurodevelopmental disorders in humans, that is, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia, and may thus provide clues for the development of novel therapies.
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Gross C, Hoffmann A, Bassell GJ, Berry-Kravis EM. Therapeutic Strategies in Fragile X Syndrome: From Bench to Bedside and Back. Neurotherapeutics 2015; 12:584-608. [PMID: 25986746 PMCID: PMC4489963 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-015-0355-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS), an inherited intellectual disability often associated with autism, is caused by the loss of expression of the fragile X mental retardation protein. Tremendous progress in basic, preclinical, and translational clinical research has elucidated a variety of molecular-, cellular-, and system-level defects in FXS. This has led to the development of several promising therapeutic strategies, some of which have been tested in larger-scale controlled clinical trials. Here, we will summarize recent advances in understanding molecular functions of fragile X mental retardation protein beyond the well-known role as an mRNA-binding protein, and will describe current developments and emerging limitations in the use of the FXS mouse model as a preclinical tool to identify therapeutic targets. We will review the results of recent clinical trials conducted in FXS that were based on some of the preclinical findings, and discuss how the observed outcomes and obstacles will inform future therapy development in FXS and other autism spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Gross
- />Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229 USA
| | - Anne Hoffmann
- />Department of Pediatrics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Gary J. Bassell
- />Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Elizabeth M. Berry-Kravis
- />Departments of Pediatrics, Neurological Sciences, Biochemistry, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
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Maaswinkel H, Zhu L, Weng W. A small-fish model for behavioral-toxicological screening of new antimalarial drugs: a comparison between erythro- and threo-mefloquine. BMC Res Notes 2015; 8:122. [PMID: 25886204 PMCID: PMC4386100 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-015-1088-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background New antimalarial drugs need to be developed because over time resistance against the existing drugs develops. Furthermore, some of the drugs have severe side effects. Here we describe a behavioral small-fish model for early detection of neurotoxic effects of new drugs. As case example we compare the effects of two mefloquine diastereomers on the behavior of goldfish using an automated 3D tracking system. Findings In a preliminary experiment, the overall toxic effects in terms of motor and respiratory impairments were determined during a 3-hour exposure to the drugs at relatively high doses (21.5 and 43 mgL). In the second experiment, behavioral testing was performed 24 h after a 3.5-h drug exposure to a low dose (14.25 mgL) of either drug. For the two high doses, erythro-mefloquine resulted in severe motor problems and respiratory problems occurred. In goldfish treated with threo-mefloquine, at 43 mgL the motor/respiratory impairments were less severe and at 21.5 mgL no such problems were observed. For the lower dose (14.25 mgL), erythro-mefloquine reduced locomotion. There was also a tendency for increased freezing, and the preference for quadrant two of the observation container was increased. No behavioral effects of threo-mefloquine were found. Conclusions The results demonstrate that in goldfish exposed to the drugs dissolved in the water, threo-mefloquine has less severe toxic effects as compared to erythro-mefloquine. These findings are consistent with other studies and support the usefulness of the small-fish model for predicting adverse effects of new antimalarial drugs during the initial phases of drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Maaswinkel
- Research and Development, xyZfish, 2200 Smithtown Ave, Ronkonkoma, NY, 11779-7329, USA.
| | - Liqun Zhu
- Research and Development, xyZfish, 2200 Smithtown Ave, Ronkonkoma, NY, 11779-7329, USA.
| | - Wei Weng
- Research and Development, xyZfish, 2200 Smithtown Ave, Ronkonkoma, NY, 11779-7329, USA.
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