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Gericke J, Harvey BH, Pretorius L, Ollewagen T, Benecke RM, Smith C. Sceletium tortuosum-derived mesembrine significantly contributes to the anxiolytic effect of Zembrin®, but its anti-depressant effect may require synergy of multiple plant constituents. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 319:117113. [PMID: 37660956 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE Sceletium tortuosum (L.) N.E.Br. (ST) is an alkaloid-rich succulent plant with various mechanisms of action that infer psychotropic effects. These actions correlate with clinical evidence suggesting efficacy in the treatment of depression and anxiety, in line with its use by indigenous populations. Its low side effect profile suggests potential of ST to improve the overall wellbeing and compliance of millions of patients that experience severe side effects and/or do not respond to current prescription medication. However, to elucidate specific physiological effects of ST extracts, it is necessary to first understand which of its constituents are the major contributors to beneficial effects demonstrated for ST in this context. AIM OF THE STUDY To determine an anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effective concentration of a ST extract by means of a dose response in zebrafish (ZF) larvae, and to assess relative contributions of equivalent concentrations of isolated alkaloids contained in the effective concentration(s). MATERIALS AND METHODS A dose response study employing a light-dark transition test (LDTT) was done in ZF larvae (<5 days post fertilization) to track locomotor activity in terms of anxiety-like (hyperlocomotion) and depression-like (hypolocomotion) behaviour. Larvae were treated for 1 h directly before the LDTT with escalating concentrations of a ST extract commercially known as Zembrin® (Zem) ranging from 0.25 to 500 μg/mL and compared to an untreated control group (n = 12 per treatment concentration). LDTT was repeated after 24 h to evaluate long-term exposure toxicity. The concentration that best attenuated hyperlocomotion during the dark phase following light-dark transition was identified as the anxiolytic-like concentration. This concentration, plus one higher and one lower concentration, were used for subsequent tests. The percentage content of each alkaloid (mesembrine, mesembrenone, mesembrenol, and mesembranol) in these concentrations were calculated and applied to additional larvae to identify the most effective anxiolytic-like alkaloid in the LDTT. To identify antidepressant-like therapeutic concentration and equivalent alkaloid concentration, the same treatment concentrations were tested in larvae (n = 12 per treatment concentration) pre-exposed to reserpine for 24 h. Depending on normality of data distribution, Brown-Forsythe and Welch, or Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA were used, with Dunnett or Dunn's multiple comparisons tests. RESULTS Only the extreme concentration of Zem (500 μg/mL) elicited toxicity after treatment for 24 h. Zem 12.5 μg/mL was the most effective anxiolytic-like concentration as it significantly decreased locomotor activity (P = 0.05) in the LDTT. Low (5 μg/mL), optimal (12.5 μg/mL) and high (25 μg/mL) Zem concentrations, as well as treatment solutions of single alkaloids (mesembrine, mesembrenone, mesembranol and mesembrenol), prepared to contain equivalent concentrations of each major alkaloid contained within these three concentrations of Zem, were tested further. Only mesembrine concentrations equal to that contained within the optimal and high dose of Zem (12.5 and 25 μg/mL) showed significant anxiolytic-like effects (P < 0.05). Only the highest Zem concentration (25 μg/mL) reversed the effects of reserpine - indicating antidepressant-like properties (P < 0.05) - while isolated alkaloids failed to induce such effects when administered in isolation. CONCLUSIONS Current data provide evidence of both anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effect of whole extract of Zem, with relatively higher concentrations required to achieve antidepressant-like effect. Of all alkaloids assessed, only mesembrine contributed significantly to the anxiolytic-like effects of Zem. No alkaloid alone could be pinpointed as a contributor to the antidepressant-like activity observed for higher concentration Zem. This may be due to synergistic effects of the alkaloids or may be due to other components not tested here. Current data warrants further investigation into mechanisms of action, as well as potential synergy, of ST alkaloids in suitable mammalian in vivo models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johané Gericke
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
| | - Brian H Harvey
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
| | - Lesha Pretorius
- Experimental Medicine Research Group, Dept of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
| | - Tracey Ollewagen
- Experimental Medicine Research Group, Dept of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
| | - Rohan M Benecke
- Division Clinical Pharmacology, Dept of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
| | - Carine Smith
- Experimental Medicine Research Group, Dept of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
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Examining behavioural test sensitivity and locomotor proxies of anxiety-like behaviour in zebrafish. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3768. [PMID: 36882472 PMCID: PMC9992706 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29668-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
This study assessed the sensitivity of four anxiety-like behaviour paradigms in zebrafish: the novel tank dive test, shoaling test, light/dark test, and the less common shoal with novel object test. A second goal was to measure the extent to which the main effect measures are related to locomotor behaviours to determine whether swimming velocity and freezing (immobility) are indicative of anxiety-like behaviour. Using the well-established anxiolytic, chlordiazepoxide, we found the novel tank dive to be most sensitive followed by the shoaling test. The light/dark test and shoaling plus novel object test were the least sensitive. A principal component analysis and a correlational analysis also showed the locomotor variables, velocity and immobility, did not predict the anxiety-like behaviours across all behaviour tests.
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da Silva AW, Ferreira MKA, Pereira LR, Rebouças EL, Coutinho MR, Dos J, Lima R, Guedes MIF, Bandeira PN, Magalhães FEA, Menezes JESAD, Marinho MM, Teixeira AMR, Salles Trevisan MT, Dos Santos HS, Marinho ES. Combretum lanceolatum extract reverses anxiety and seizure behavior in adult zebrafish through GABAergic neurotransmission: an in vivo and in silico study. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 40:9801-9814. [PMID: 34121622 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1935322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Combretaceae are reported in the literature for presenting neuroprotective and anxiolytic effects in animal models. Combretum lanceolatum Pohl. has few scientific reports on its pharmacological effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects of the ethanol extract from the leaves of C. lanceolatum Pohl. (EtFoCl) and its possible mechanism of GABAergic action in adult zebrafish. EtFoCl was subjected to determination of the total phenol concentration, identification of phytochemical flavonoids by HPLC and in vitro antioxidant activity test, open field test and 96-hour acute toxicity in zebrafish. Anxiolytic doses were tested for pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in adult zebrafish. To study the mechanisms of action, molecular docking simulations were performed between the main phytochemicals and the GABAA receptor (anxiolytic activity) and carbonic anhydrase II (anticonvulsant). The non-toxic doses that caused motor impairment were assessed in acute and chronic anxiety using the light and dark test. EtFoCl had altered the animals' locomotion, presenting an effect similar to the anxiolytic and anticonvulsant. These effects were prevented with flumazenil (GABAA antagonist). The phytochemicals homoorientin and quercetin-3-O-galactoside coupling in a region close to that of the inhibitor diazepam (GABAA receptor). Regarding the anticonvulsant mechanism, Homoorientina and Isovitexina were identified as the most favorable for the complex form with the carbonic anhydrase enzyme. C. lanceolatum has pharmacological potential for the treatment of acute and chronic anxiety and seizures, which can be partially explained by an interaction with the GABAA receptor.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Wlisses da Silva
- Northeast Biotechnology Network, Graduate Program of Biotechnology, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.,Itaperi Campus, Laboratory of Natural Products Chemistry - LQPN-S, State University of Ceará, Science and Technology Center (CCT), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Maria Kueirislene A Ferreira
- Itaperi Campus, Laboratory of Natural Products Chemistry - LQPN-S, State University of Ceará, Science and Technology Center (CCT), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Lucas Ramos Pereira
- Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Emanuela L Rebouças
- Northeast Biotechnology Network, Graduate Program of Biotechnology, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.,Itaperi Campus, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, State University of Ceará, Health Sciences Center (CCS), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Marnielle Rodrigues Coutinho
- Itaperi Campus, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, State University of Ceará, Health Sciences Center (CCS), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | - Reis Lima
- Itaperi Campus, Laboratory of Natural Products Chemistry - LQPN-S, State University of Ceará, Science and Technology Center (CCT), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Maria Izabel Florindo Guedes
- Itaperi Campus, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, State University of Ceará, Health Sciences Center (CCS), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Paulo N Bandeira
- Postgraduate Program in Biological Chemistry, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, Crato, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Francisco Ernani A Magalhães
- Itaperi Campus, Laboratory of Natural Products Chemistry - LQPN-S, State University of Ceará, Science and Technology Center (CCT), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.,Itaperi Campus, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, State University of Ceará, Health Sciences Center (CCS), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.,Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Natural Products Bioprospecting and Biotechnology, CECITEC Campus, State University of Ceará, Tauá, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Jane Eire S A de Menezes
- Itaperi Campus, Laboratory of Natural Products Chemistry - LQPN-S, State University of Ceará, Science and Technology Center (CCT), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Marcia Machado Marinho
- Faculty of Education, Science and Letters of Iguatu, State University of Ceará, Iguatu, Ceara, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Magno Rodrigues Teixeira
- Northeast Biotechnology Network, Graduate Program of Biotechnology, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Biological Chemistry, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, Crato, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | - Hélcio S Dos Santos
- Northeast Biotechnology Network, Graduate Program of Biotechnology, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.,Itaperi Campus, Laboratory of Natural Products Chemistry - LQPN-S, State University of Ceará, Science and Technology Center (CCT), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.,Postgraduate Program in Biological Chemistry, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, Crato, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Emmanuel Silva Marinho
- Faculty of Philosophy Dom Aureliano Matos, State University of Ceará, Limoeiro do Norte, Ceará, Brasil
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Effects of super-class cannabis terpenes beta-caryophyllene and alpha-pinene on zebrafish behavioural biomarkers. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17250. [PMID: 36241680 PMCID: PMC9568608 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21552-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Terpenes possess a wide range of medicinal properties and are potential therapeutics for a variety of pathological conditions. This study investigated the acute effects of two cannabis terpenes, β-caryophyllene and α-pinene, on zebrafish locomotion, anxiety-like, and boldness behaviour using the open field exploration and novel object approach tests. β-caryophyllene was administered in 0.02%, 0.2%, 2.0%, and 4% doses. α-pinene was administered in 0.01%, 0.02%, and 0.1% doses. As α-pinene is a racemic compound, we also tested its (+) and (-) enantiomers to observe any differential effects. β-caryophyllene had only a sedative effect at the highest dose tested. α-pinene had differing dose-dependent effects on anxiety-like and motor variables. Specifically, (+)-α-pinene and (-)-α-pinene had significant effects on anxiety measures, time spent in the thigmotaxis (outer) or center zone, in the open field test, as well as locomotor variables, swimming velocity and immobility. (+ /-)-α-pinene showed only a small effect on the open field test on immobility at the 0.1% dose. This study demonstrates that α-pinene can have a sedative or anxiolytic effect in zebrafish and may have different medicinal properties when isolated into its (+) or (-) enantiomers.
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Ji J, Huang J, Cao N, Hao X, Wu Y, Ma Y, An D, Pang S, Li X. Multiview behavior and neurotransmitter analysis of zebrafish dyskinesia induced by 6PPD and its metabolites. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156013. [PMID: 35588826 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The typical tire manufacturing additive 6PPD, its metabolites 6PPDQ and 4-Hydroxy should be monitored because of their ubiquitous presence in the environment and the high toxicity of 6PPDQ to coho salmon. The toxic effect of 6PPD and its metabolites have been revealed superficially, especially on behavioral characteristics. However, the behavioral indicators explored so far are relatively simple and the toxic causes are poorly understood. With this in mind, our work investigated the toxic effects of 6PPD, 6PPDQ and 4-Hydroxy on adult zebrafish penetratingly through machine vision, and the meandering, body angle, top time and 3D trajectory are used for the first time to show the abnormal behaviors induced by 6PPD and its metabolites. Moreover, neurotransmitter changes in the zebrafish brain were measured to explore the causes of abnormal behavior. The results showed that high-dose treatment of 6PPD reduced the velocity by 42.4% and decreased the time at the top of the tank by 91.0%, suggesting significant activity inhibition and anxiety. In addition, γ-aminobutyric acid and acetylcholine were significantly impacted by 6PPD, while dopamine exhibited a slight variation, which can explain the bradykinesia, unbalance and anxiety of zebrafish and presented similar symptoms as Huntingdon's disease. Our study explored new abnormal behaviors of zebrafish induced by 6PPD and its metabolites in detail, and the toxic causes were revealed for the first time by studying the changes of neurotransmitters, thus providing an important reference for further studies of the biological toxicity of 6PPD and its metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawen Ji
- College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jinze Huang
- College of Information and Electrical Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Niannian Cao
- College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xianghong Hao
- College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yanhua Wu
- College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yongqiang Ma
- College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Dong An
- College of Information and Electrical Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Sen Pang
- College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xuefeng Li
- College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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Gholami A, Dehghan G, Rashtbari S, Jouyban A. Exploring the interaction of clonazepam and diazepam with tau protein: Multispectral and molecular docking studies. J Mol Struct 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.132669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Escobar-Ramos A, Gómez-Rivera A, Lobato-García CE, Zamilpa A, Ble-González EA, González-Cortazar M, Gallegos-García AJ, Herrera-Ruiz M. Anxiolytic effect of the heartwood of Haematoxylum campechianum L. and sappanchalcone in an in vivo model in mice. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 284:114764. [PMID: 34687835 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Haematoxylum campechianum L., is a well-known plant in the southeast region of Mexico, where it is named as "palo tinto" or "palo de Campeche", in English there are vernacular names such as "redwood", "bloodwood tree" or "campeachy wood". Traditional medicine refers its use for the treatment of different disorders including depression. AIM OF THE STUDY Considering the traditional use of this plant for the alleviation of depression, the aim of this study was the evaluation of the anxiolytic effect of the methanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts from the heartwood of Haematoxylum campechianum L., and the sappanchalchone (Sapp). Additionally, it is presented the characterization of the new compound 4-hydroxyhematoxylol (2) isolated from the hydroalcoholic extract. MATERIAL AND METHODS The anxiolytic effect of the extracts and Sapp was evaluated by using the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) additionally the sedative effect was assessed with the Open Field Test (OFT). The chemical characterization of Sapp and 2 was performing by 1D and 2D NMR experiments. RESULTS The EPM test showed that the administration of the plant extracts increased the percentage of time spent in open arms (76.32 ± 6.35 and 66.68 ± 20.64%, respectively for the methanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts), whereas the administration of Sapp increased the percentage of time spent in open arms by 60.07 ± 14.28%, these results are similar to Diazepam (DZP, positive control) which caused an increment of 74.06 ± 23.42%. For the OFT, all of the doses evaluated for both extracts and Sapp diminished the number of rearing (R) and total corssing (TC) behavior in a similar way to the positive control (DZO) and statistically different with respect to the vehicle. CONCLUSION The results obtained showed that the polar extracts from the heartwood of Haematoxylum campechianum L. possess both anxiolytic and sedative effect and that the chalcone-type compound Sapp, isolated from the methanolic extract, is partially responsible of these activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armando Escobar-Ramos
- División Académica de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Carretera Cunduacán-Jalpa Km. 0.5, Cunduacán Tabasco, 86690, Mexico
| | - Abraham Gómez-Rivera
- División Académica de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Carretera Cunduacán-Jalpa Km. 0.5, Cunduacán Tabasco, 86690, Mexico.
| | - Carlos Ernesto Lobato-García
- División Académica de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Carretera Cunduacán-Jalpa Km. 0.5, Cunduacán Tabasco, 86690, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Zamilpa
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur- Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Argentina No 1, Col. Centro, 62790, Xochitepec Morelos, Mexico
| | - Ever A Ble-González
- División Académica de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Carretera Cunduacán-Jalpa Km. 0.5, Cunduacán Tabasco, 86690, Mexico
| | - Manasés González-Cortazar
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur- Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Argentina No 1, Col. Centro, 62790, Xochitepec Morelos, Mexico
| | - Ammy Joana Gallegos-García
- División Académica de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Carretera Cunduacán-Jalpa Km. 0.5, Cunduacán Tabasco, 86690, Mexico
| | - Maribel Herrera-Ruiz
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur- Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Argentina No 1, Col. Centro, 62790, Xochitepec Morelos, Mexico.
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Behavioral Effects of Buspirone in Juvenile Zebrafish of Two Different Genetic Backgrounds. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10010022. [PMID: 35051064 PMCID: PMC8777658 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10010022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety continues to represent a major unmet medical need. Despite the availability of numerous anxiolytic drugs, a large proportion of patients do not respond well to current pharmacotherapy, or their response diminishes with chronic drug application. To discover novel compounds and to investigate the mode of action of anxiolytic drugs, animal models have been proposed. The zebrafish is a novel animal model in this research. It is particularly appropriate, as it has evolutionarily conserved features, and drug administration can be employed in a non-invasive manner by immersing the fish into the drug solution. The first step in the analysis of anxiolytic drugs with zebrafish is to test reference compounds. Here, we investigate the effects of buspirone hydrochloride, an anxiolytic drug often employed in the human clinic. We utilize two genetically distinct populations of zebrafish, ABSK, derived from the quasi-inbred AB strain, and WT, a genetically heterogeneous wild-type population. We placed juvenile (10–13-day, post-fertilization, old) zebrafish singly in petri dishes containing one of four buspirone concentrations (0 mg/L control, 5 mg/L, 20 mg/L or 80 mg/L) for 1 h, with each fish receiving a single exposure to one concentration, a between subject experimental design. Subsequently, we recorded the behavior of the zebrafish for 30 min using video-tracking. Buspirone decreased distance moved, number of immobility episodes and thigmotaxis, and it increased immobility duration and turn angle in a quasi-linear dose dependent but genotype independent manner. Although it is unclear whether these changes represent anxiolysis in zebrafish, the results demonstrate that behavioral analysis of juvenile zebrafish may be a sensitive and simple way to quantify the effects of human anxiolytic drugs.
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Huang X, Zhao X, Zhang X, Wang P, Zhu K, Shao B. Chlorinated disinfection byproducts of diazepam perturb cell metabolism and induce behavioral toxicity in zebrafish larvae. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 220:112416. [PMID: 34119928 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Numerous byproducts resulting from chlorinated disinfection are constantly being generated during water treatment processes. The potential risks of these new emerging pollutions remain largely unknown. Here, we determined the risks of chlorinated disinfection byproducts of diazepam (DZP) in the cellular and zebrafish exposure experiments. The cytotoxicity of disinfection byproducts (MACB and MBCC) was greater than DZP in macrophage raw 264.7 cells at 10 mg/L. We further found that the effects of MBCC on the metabolism of glycine, serine, threonine and riboflavin were far greater than DZP by the targeted metabolomics methods. Moreover, MBCC significantly decreased the peak amplitude of neuronal action potential in primary embryonic rat (Spragu-Dawley SD) hippocampal neurons. We finally determined behavioral toxicity of DZP and byproducts in zebrafish larvae. MBCC significantly decreased the maximal swim-activity and peak duration of zebrafish after 72 h exposure. Altogether, these findings indicate the MBCC pose serious pressures on public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyong Huang
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing Research Center for Preventive Medicine, Beijing 100013, China; College of Science, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaole Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing Research Center for Preventive Medicine, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Peng Wang
- College of Science, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Kui Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Bing Shao
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing Research Center for Preventive Medicine, Beijing 100013, China.
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Pieróg M, Socała K, Doboszewska U, Wyska E, Guz L, Szopa A, Serefko A, Poleszak E, Wlaź P. Effects of classic antiseizure drugs on seizure activity and anxiety-like behavior in adult zebrafish. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2021; 415:115429. [PMID: 33524447 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The zebrafish is extensively used as a model organism for studying several disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), including epilepsy. Some antiseizure drugs (ASDs) have been shown to produce discrepant results in larvae and adults zebrafish, therefore, their anticonvulsant efficacy in subsequent stages of the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures should be more precisely characterized. The purpose of this study was to investigate behavioral effects of five classic ASDs: valproate (VPA), phenytoin (PHT), carbamazepine (CBZ), diazepam (DZP), and phenobarbital (PB) administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) in the PTZ-induced seizure test in adult zebrafish. We determined the time of maximal effect and the dose-response relationship of the studied ASDs. Furthermore, we assessed changes in the locomotor activity and the anxiety-like behavior in the color preference test. Moreover, drug concentrations in zebrafish homogenates were examined. VPA, DZP, and PB significantly increased the seizure latency at three subsequent stages of seizures (SI-SIII). PHT produced the anticonvulsant-like effect at SI and SII, while CBZ was effective at SII and SIII. Only DZP decreased zebrafish locomotor activity. A strong anxiolytic-like effect was observed after administration of PHT and PB. A weak anxiolytic-like effect occurred after treatment with VPA and DZP. The HPLC analysis showed the average concentrations of the studied ASDs in the fish body during the maximum anticonvulsant activity of each drug. Our results confirm the advantages of using zebrafish with the mature CNS over larval models and its utility to investigate some neuropharmacological properties of the tested drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Pieróg
- Department of Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, PL 20-033 Lublin, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Socała
- Department of Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, PL 20-033 Lublin, Poland
| | - Urszula Doboszewska
- Department of Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, PL 20-033 Lublin, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Wyska
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, PL 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Leszek Guz
- Department of Fish Diseases and Biology, Institute of Biological Bases of Animal Diseases, University of Life Sciences, Akademicka 12, PL 20-033 Lublin, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Szopa
- Laboratory of Preclinical Testing, Chair and Department of Applied and Social Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 1, PL 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna Serefko
- Laboratory of Preclinical Testing, Chair and Department of Applied and Social Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 1, PL 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Ewa Poleszak
- Laboratory of Preclinical Testing, Chair and Department of Applied and Social Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 1, PL 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Piotr Wlaź
- Department of Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, PL 20-033 Lublin, Poland.
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11
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Wu M, Qiu X, Chen C, Chen K, Li M, Xu H, Wu X, Shimasaki Y, Oshima Y. Short-term and persistent impacts of sublethal exposure to diazepam on behavioral traits and brain GABA levels in juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 740:140392. [PMID: 32927558 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollution by the psychoactive drug diazepam (DZP) has been suggested to disrupt various behavioral traits of fishes. Exposure to DZP in natural waters may be of episodic duration, but there are few reports on the persistence of abnormal behaviors of fishes caused by such acute exposure. In the current study, we exposed juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio) to sublethal doses of DZP (1200, 120, and 12 μg/L) for four days and evaluated their behavioral traits and brain γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels at days 0 (i.e., immediately after the 4-day exposure), 7, and 21 of the recovery period. Exposure to DZP induced short-term impairment of swimming ability and two-fish interactions of zebrafish. In contrast, DZP induced persistent and/or delayed effects on locomotor activity of zebrafish, i.e., hypoactivity at 1200 μg/L and hyperactivity at 120 and 12 μg/L, that could be still observed on days 7 and/or 21 during the recovery period. DZP exposure also exhibited concentration-specific effects on brain GABA levels in zebrafish, i.e., decreased at 1200 μg/L and increased at 120 and 12 μg/L. Correlation analysis suggested that the changes in brain GABA levels may contribute to the persistence of abnormalities in the locomotor activity of zebrafish. Our findings suggest that zebrafish need a long time to recover from acute exposure to DZP, thus highlighting that the persistence of behavioral abnormalities induced by such psychoactive drugs should be considered in order to better assess their risks in natural ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Wu
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, PR China
| | - Xuchun Qiu
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, PR China; Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
| | - Chen Chen
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, PR China
| | - Kun Chen
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, PR China
| | - Ming Li
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, PR China
| | - Hai Xu
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, PR China
| | - Xiangyang Wu
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, PR China.
| | - Yohei Shimasaki
- Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Yuji Oshima
- Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
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12
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Knockout of stim2a Increases Calcium Oscillations in Neurons and Induces Hyperactive-Like Phenotype in Zebrafish Larvae. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176198. [PMID: 32867296 PMCID: PMC7503814 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Stromal interaction molecule (STIM) proteins play a crucial role in store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) as endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ sensors. In neurons, STIM2 was shown to have distinct functions from STIM1. However, its role in brain activity and behavior was not fully elucidated. The present study analyzed behavior in zebrafish (Danio rerio) that lacked stim2a. The mutant animals had no morphological abnormalities and were fertile. RNA-sequencing revealed alterations of the expression of transcription factor genes and several members of the calcium toolkit. Neuronal Ca2+ activity was measured in vivo in neurons that expressed the GCaMP5G sensor. Optic tectum neurons in stim2a-/- fish had more frequent Ca2+ signal oscillations compared with neurons in wildtype (WT) fish. We detected an increase in activity during the visual-motor response test, an increase in thigmotaxis in the open field test, and the disruption of phototaxis in the dark/light preference test in stim2a-/- mutants compared with WT. Both groups of animals reacted to glutamate and pentylenetetrazol with an increase in activity during the visual-motor response test, with no major differences between groups. Altogether, our results suggest that the hyperactive-like phenotype of stim2a-/- mutant zebrafish is caused by the dysregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis and signaling.
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13
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Analysis of vertebrate vision in a 384-well imaging system. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13989. [PMID: 31562366 PMCID: PMC6764987 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50372-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual impairment affects 253 million people worldwide and new approaches for prevention and treatment are urgently needed. While small molecules with potential beneficial effects can be examined in various model systems, the in vivo evaluation of visual function remains a challenge. The current study introduces a novel imaging system for measuring visually-guided behaviors in larval zebrafish. The imaging system is the first to image four 96-well plates with a single camera for automated measurements of activity in a 384-well format. In addition, it is the first system to project moving visual stimuli and analyze the optomotor response in the wells of a 96-well plate. We found that activity is affected by tricaine, diazepam and flumazenil. Surprisingly, diazepam treatments induce a loss of visual responses, at concentrations that do not affect activity or induce hyperactivity. Overall, our studies show that the developed imaging system is suitable for automated measurements of vertebrate vision in a high-throughput format.
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14
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Félix L, Coimbra AM, Valentim AM, Antunes L. Review on the use of zebrafish embryos to study the effects of anesthetics during early development. Crit Rev Toxicol 2019; 49:357-370. [PMID: 31314655 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2019.1617236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Over the years, the potential toxicity of anesthetics has raised serious concerns about its safe use during pregnancy. As evidence emerged from research in animal models, showing that some anesthetic drugs are potential teratogenic, the determination of the risk of exposures to anesthetic drugs at early life stages became mandatory. However, due to inaccessibility and ethical constrains related to experimental conditions, the use of early life stages in mammalian models is limited. In this regard, some animal and nonanimal models have been suggested to surpass mammalian use in experimentation. Among them, the zebrafish embryo test has been recognized as a promising alternative in toxicology research, as well as an inexpensive and practical test. Substantial information collected from developmental research following compounds exposure, has contributed to the application of zebrafish assays in research, although only a few studies have focused on the use of early life stages of zebrafish to evaluate the developmental effects of anesthetics. Based on the recent advances of science and technology, there is a clear potential for zebrafish early life stages to provide new insights into anesthetics teratogenicity. This review provides an overview of recent anesthesia research using zebrafish embryos, demonstrating its usefulness to the anesthesia field, discussing the recent findings on various aspects related to the effects of anesthetics during early life development and the strengths and limitations of this model system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Félix
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, Laboratory Animal Science, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.,Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro , Vila Real , Portugal
| | - Ana Maria Coimbra
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro , Vila Real , Portugal
| | - Ana Maria Valentim
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, Laboratory Animal Science, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.,Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro , Vila Real , Portugal
| | - Luís Antunes
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, Laboratory Animal Science, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.,Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro , Vila Real , Portugal
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