1
|
McAtee D, Abdelmoneim A. A zebrafish-based acoustic motor response (AMR) assay to evaluate chemical-induced developmental neurotoxicity. Neurotoxicology 2024; 103:60-70. [PMID: 38851595 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2024.06.003] [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: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Behavioral assays using early-developing zebrafish (Danio rerio) offer a valuable supplement to the in vitro battery adopted as new approach methodologies (NAMs) for assessing risk of chemical-induced developmental neurotoxicity. However, the behavioral assays primarily adopted rely on visual stimulation to elicit behavioral responses, known as visual motor response (VMR) assays. Ocular deficits resulting from chemical exposures can, therefore, confound the behavioral responses, independent of effects on the nervous system. This highlights the need for complementary assays employing alternative forms of sensory stimulation. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of acoustic stimuli as triggers of behavioral responses in larval zebrafish, determined the most appropriate data acquisition mode, and evaluated the suitability of an acoustic motor response (AMR) assay as means to assess alterations in brain activity and risk of chemical-induced developmental neurotoxicity. We quantified the motor responses of 120 h post-fertilization (hpf) larvae to acoustic stimuli with varying patterns and frequencies, and determined the optimal time intervals for data acquisition. Following this, we examined changes in acoustic and visual motor responses resulting from exposures to pharmacological agents known to impact brain activity (pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and tricaine-s (MS-222)). Additionally, we examined the AMR and VMR of larvae following exposure to two environmental contaminants associated with developmental neurotoxicity: arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd). Our findings indicate that exposure to a 100 Hz sound frequency in 100 ms pulses elicits the strongest behavioral response among the acoustic stimuli tested and data acquisition in 2 s time intervals is suitable for response assessment. Exposure to PTZ exaggerated and depressed both AMR and VMR in a concentration-dependent manner, while exposure to MS-222 only depressed them. Similarly, exposure to As and Cd induced respective hyper- and hypo-activation of both motor responses. This study highlights the efficiency of the proposed zebrafish-based AMR assay in demonstrating risk of chemical-induced developmental neurotoxicity and its suitability as a complement to the widely adopted VMR assay.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Demetrius McAtee
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Ahmed Abdelmoneim
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hamed M, Vats A, Lim IE, Sapkota B, Abdelmoneim A. Effects of developmental exposure to individual and combined PFAS on development and behavioral stress responses in larval zebrafish. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 349:123912. [PMID: 38570156 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals known for their widespread use and persistence in the environment. Laboratory and epidemiological studies investigating these compounds have signaled their neurotoxic and endocrine-disrupting propensities, prompting further research into their effects on behavioral stress responses and their potential role as risk factors for stress-related disorders such as anxiety and depression. This study elucidates the ramifications of early developmental exposures to individual and combined PFAS on the development and behavioral stress responses of larval zebrafish (Danio rerio), an established model in toxicological research. Wild-type zebrafish embryos were enzymatically dechorionated and exposed to PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFHxA between 6 and 120 h post-fertilization (hpf). We targeted environmentally relevant concentrations stemming from the USEPA 2016 Hazard Advisory Limit (HAL, 0.07 μg/L) and folds higher (0.35, 0.7, 1.75, and 3.5 μg/L). Evaluations at 120 hpf encompassed mortality, overall development, developmental defects, and larval activity both at baseline stress levels and following exposure to acute stressors (acoustic and visual). Larval exposure to PFOA, PFOS, or PFHxS (0.07 μg/L or higher) elicited significant increases in mortality rates, which capped at 23.1%. Exposure to individual chemicals resulted in limited effects on overall development but increased the prevalence of developmental defects in the body axis, swim bladder, pigmentation, and eyes, as well as the prevalence of yolk sac and pericardial edemas. Larval activity at baseline stress levels and following exposure to acute stimuli was significantly altered. Combined exposure to all four chemicals intensified the breadth of developmental and behavioral alterations, suggesting possible additive or synergistic effects. Our findings shed light on the developmental and neurobehavioral disturbances associated with developmental exposure to PFAS at environmentally relevant concentrations, the added risks of combined exposures to these chemicals, and their possible role as environmental risk factors for stress-related disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Hamed
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Ajn Vats
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Ignitius Ezekiel Lim
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Biplov Sapkota
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Ahmed Abdelmoneim
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rodwell V, Patil M, Kuht HJ, Neuhauss SCF, Norton WHJ, Thomas MG. Zebrafish Optokinetic Reflex: Minimal Reporting Guidelines and Recommendations. BIOLOGY 2023; 13:4. [PMID: 38275725 PMCID: PMC10813647 DOI: 10.3390/biology13010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Optokinetic reflex (OKR) assays in zebrafish models are a valuable tool for studying a diverse range of ophthalmological and neurological conditions. Despite its increasing popularity in recent years, there are no clear reporting guidelines for the assay. Following reporting guidelines in research enhances reproducibility, reduces bias, and mitigates underreporting and poor methodologies in published works. To better understand optimal reporting standards for an OKR assay in zebrafish, we performed a systematic literature review exploring the animal, environmental, and technical factors that should be considered. Using search criteria from three online databases, a total of 109 research papers were selected for review. Multiple crucial factors were identified, including larval characteristics, sample size, fixing method, OKR set-up, distance of stimulus, detailed stimulus parameters, eye recording, and eye movement analysis. The outcome of the literature analysis highlighted the insufficient information provided in past research papers and the lack of a systematic way to present the parameters related to each of the experimental factors. To circumvent any future errors and champion robust transparent research, we have created the zebrafish optokinetic (ZOK) reflex minimal reporting guideline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Rodwell
- Ulverscroft Eye Unit, School of Psychology and Vision Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Manjiri Patil
- Ulverscroft Eye Unit, School of Psychology and Vision Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Helen J. Kuht
- Ulverscroft Eye Unit, School of Psychology and Vision Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | | | - William H. J. Norton
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Mervyn G. Thomas
- Ulverscroft Eye Unit, School of Psychology and Vision Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lee HS, Jang S, Eom Y, Kim KT. Comparing Ocular Toxicity of Legacy and Alternative Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Zebrafish Larvae. TOXICS 2023; 11:1021. [PMID: 38133422 PMCID: PMC10747198 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11121021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Studies comparing the ocular toxicity potential between legacy and alternative PFAS are lacking. To address this research gap, zebrafish larvae were exposed to both legacy PFAS (i.e., perfluorooctanesulfonic acid [PFOS] and perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA]) and their corresponding alternatives (i.e., perfluorobutanesulfonic acid [PFBS] and perfluorobutanoic acid [PFBA]). Alterations in their visual behaviors, such as phototactic and optomotor responses (OMR), were assessed at sublethal concentrations. Gene expression variations in visual function-associated pathways were also measured. Visual behavioral assessment revealed that PFOS exposure resulted in concentration-dependent reductions in phototactic responses at 10-1000 μg/L, with PFOA exerting reduction effects only at 100 mg/L. However, their two alternatives had no effect at all tested concentrations. Following an improved contrast-OMR (C-OMR) assessment, PFOS decreased the OMR to a water flow stimulus at 10, 100, and 1000 μg/L. The gene expression analysis revealed that PFOS exposure markedly downregulated most genes involved in the opsins in the photoreceptor and phototransduction cascade, which explains the observed visual behavior changes well. Our findings indicate that PFOS is the most likely PFAS to cause visual toxicity, with PFOA present but less likely, and their substitutes, PFBS and PFBA, cannot be classified as visually toxic to zebrafish.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Han-seul Lee
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea
| | - Soogyeong Jang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngsub Eom
- Zebrafish Translational Medical Research Center, Korea University, Ansan 15355, Republic of Korea
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan 15355, Republic of Korea
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki-Tae Kim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea
- Department of Environmental Energy Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Loiseau A, Raîche-Marcoux G, Maranda C, Bertrand N, Boisselier E. Animal Models in Eye Research: Focus on Corneal Pathologies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16661. [PMID: 38068983 PMCID: PMC10706114 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The eye is a complex sensory organ that enables visual perception of the world. The dysfunction of any of these tissues can impair vision. Conduction studies on laboratory animals are essential to ensure the safety of therapeutic products directly applied or injected into the eye to treat ocular diseases before eventually proceeding to clinical trials. Among these tissues, the cornea has unique homeostatic and regenerative mechanisms for maintaining transparency and refraction of external light, which are essential for vision. However, being the outermost tissue of the eye and directly exposed to the external environment, the cornea is particularly susceptible to injury and diseases. This review highlights the evidence for selecting appropriate animals to better understand and treat corneal diseases, which rank as the fifth leading cause of blindness worldwide. The development of reliable and human-relevant animal models is, therefore, a valuable research tool for understanding and translating fundamental mechanistic findings, as well as for assessing therapeutic potential in humans. First, this review emphasizes the unique characteristics of animal models used in ocular research. Subsequently, it discusses current animal models associated with human corneal pathologies, their utility in understanding ocular disease mechanisms, and their role as translational models for patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Loiseau
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, CHU de Québec Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada; (G.R.-M.); (C.M.)
| | - Gabrielle Raîche-Marcoux
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, CHU de Québec Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada; (G.R.-M.); (C.M.)
| | - Cloé Maranda
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, CHU de Québec Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada; (G.R.-M.); (C.M.)
| | - Nicolas Bertrand
- Faculty of Pharmacy, CHU de Quebec Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada;
| | - Elodie Boisselier
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, CHU de Québec Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada; (G.R.-M.); (C.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gómez Sánchez A, Colucci P, Moran A, Moya López A, Colligris B, Álvarez Y, Kennedy BN. Systemic treatment with cigarette smoke extract affects zebrafish visual behaviour, intraocular vasculature morphology and outer segment phagocytosis. OPEN RESEARCH EUROPE 2023; 3:48. [PMID: 38283058 PMCID: PMC10822043 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.15491.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Cigarette smoking adversely affects multiple aspects of human health including eye disorders such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and dry eye disease. However, there remains a knowledge gap in how constituents of cigarette smoke affect vision and retinal biology. We used zebrafish to assess effects of short-term acute exposure to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on visual behaviour and retinal biology. Methods Zebrafish larvae with a developed visual system at three days post-fertilization (dpf) were exposed to CSE for 4, 24 or 48 hours. Visual behaviour, hyaloid vasculature morphology, retinal histology, oxidative stress gene expression and outer segment phagocytosis were investigated using visual behavioural optokinetic and visual motor response assays (OKR and VMR), microscopy (light, fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy), and real-time PCR. Results In zebrafish larvae, 48 hours of CSE treatment resulted in significantly reduced visual behaviour. Larvae treated with 10, 15 or 20 μg/mL CSE showed an average of 13.7, 10.7 or 9.4 saccades per minute, respectively, significantly lower compared with 0.05% DMSO controls (p=0.0093, p=0.0004 and p<0.0001, respectively) that exhibited 19.7 saccades per minute. The diameter of intraocular vessels increased from 4.833 μm in 0.05% DMSO controls to 5.885 μm in the 20 μg/mL CSE-treated larvae (p=0.0333). Biometry analysis highlighted a significant axial length elongation in 20 μg/mL CSE-treated larvae (216.9 μm, p<0.0001) compared to 0.05% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) controls (205.1 μm). Larvae exposed to 20 μg/mL CSE had significantly (p=0.0002) higher numbers of RPE phagosomes compared to vehicle controls (0.1425 and 0.093 phagosomes/μm RPE, respectively). Conclusions Zebrafish larvae with a developed visual system display apparent defects in visual behaviour and retinal biology after acute exposure to CSE, establishing a valuable in vivo model to investigate ocular disorders related to cigarette smoke.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Gómez Sánchez
- UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
- Ocupharm Diagnostic Group Research, Faculty of Optic and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Patrizia Colucci
- UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Ailis Moran
- UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - Alexandro Moya López
- UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
- Ocupharm Diagnostic Group Research, Faculty of Optic and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Basilio Colligris
- Ocupharm Diagnostic Group Research, Faculty of Optic and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yolanda Álvarez
- UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - Breandán N. Kennedy
- UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Yi J, Ma Y, Ma J, Yu H, Zhang K, Jin L, Yang Q, Sun D, Wu D. Rapid Assessment of Ocular Toxicity from Environmental Contaminants Based on Visually Mediated Zebrafish Behavior Studies. TOXICS 2023; 11:706. [PMID: 37624211 PMCID: PMC10459940 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11080706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
The presence of contaminants in the environment has increased in recent years, and studies have demonstrated that these contaminants have the ability to penetrate the blood-retinal barrier and directly affect the visual systems of organisms. Zebrafish are recognized as an ideal model for human eye diseases due to their anatomical and functional similarities to the human eye, making them an efficient and versatile organism for studying ocular toxicity caused by environmental contaminants in the field of environmental toxicology. Meanwhile, zebrafish exhibit a diverse repertoire of visually mediated behaviors, and their visual system undergoes complex changes in behavioral responses when exposed to environmental contaminants, enabling rapid assessment of the ocular toxicity induced by such pollutants. Therefore, this review aimed to highlight the effectiveness of zebrafish as a model for examining the effects of environmental contaminants on ocular development. Special attention is given to the visually mediated behavior of zebrafish, which allows for a rapid assessment of ocular toxicity resulting from exposure to environmental contaminants. Additionally, the potential mechanisms by which environmental contaminants may induce ocular toxicity are briefly outlined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jia Yi
- Institute of Life Science & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yilei Ma
- Institute of Life Science & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Jiahui Ma
- Institute of Life Science & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Haiyang Yu
- Institute of Life Science & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Libo Jin
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Ecological Treatment Technology of Urban Water Pollution, College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China;
| | - Qinsi Yang
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, China;
| | - Da Sun
- Institute of Life Science & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Ecological Treatment Technology of Urban Water Pollution, College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China;
| | - Dejun Wu
- Emergency Department, Quzhou People’s Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Huang W, Wu T, Wu R, Peng J, Zhang Q, Shi X, Wu K. Fish to learn: insights into the effects of environmental chemicals on eye development and visual function in zebrafish. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27629-3. [PMID: 37195602 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27629-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Vision is the most essential sense system for the human being. Congenital visual impairment affects millions of people globally. It is increasingly realized that visual system development is an impressionable target of environmental chemicals. However, due to inaccessibility and ethical issues, the use of humans and other placental mammals is constrained, which limits our better understanding of environmental factors on ocular development and visual function in the embryonic stage. Therefore, as complementing laboratory rodents, zebrafish has been the most frequently employed to understand the effects of environmental chemicals on eye development and visual function. One of the major reasons for the increasing use of zebrafish is their polychromatic vision. Zebrafish retinas are morphologically and functionally analogous to those of mammalian, as well as evolutionary conservation among vertebrate eye. This review provides an update on harmful effects from exposure to environmental chemicals, involving metallic elements (ions), metal-derived nanoparticles, microplastics, nanoplastics, persistent organic pollutants, pesticides, and pharmaceutical pollutants on the eye development and visual function in zebrafish embryos. The collected data provide a comprehensive understanding of environmental factors on ocular development and visual function. This report highlights that zebrafish is promising as a model to identify hazardous toxicants toward eye development and is hopeful for developing preventative or postnatal therapies for human congenital visual impairment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenlong Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Xinling Rd., No. 22, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Tianjie Wu
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Shantou Central Hospital, Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Ruotong Wu
- School of Life Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Jiajun Peng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Xinling Rd., No. 22, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiong Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Xinling Rd., No. 22, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoling Shi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Xinling Rd., No. 22, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Kusheng Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Xinling Rd., No. 22, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wei S, Qiu L, Ru S, Yang Y, Wang J, Zhang X. Bisphenol S disrupts opsins gene expression and impairs the light-sensing function via antagonizing TH-TRβ signaling pathway in zebrafish larvae. Food Chem Toxicol 2023; 172:113588. [PMID: 36574878 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2022.113588] [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: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Bisphenol S (BPS) is extensively used in "bisphenol A-free" products such as baby bottles. Although the visual toxicity of BPS has been reported, the underlying mechanism was largely unknown. In the present study, zebrafish were exposed to 0, 4 and 400 nM BPS from 2 h post-fertilization (hpf) to 120 hpf to further explore the thyroid disruption mechanism underlying the BPS induced impairment of visual function. The results showed that BPS decreased T3 levels in larval eyes, induced retinal expression of thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ), and thereby down-regulated the expression of TH-mediated opsin genes (opn1lw1, opn1lw2, opn1mw1, opn1mw2, opn1mw3, and opn1sw2) and impaired subsequent phototransduction pathways, leading to decreased visually mediated phototactic response and body color adaptation but stimulated visual motor response (VMR). Combining exposure of exogenous T3 or 1-850 (antagonist for TRβ) with BPS could partly compensate the inhibited expression of opsin genes (opn1mw2, opn1lw1, and opn1lw2) and alleviate the hyperactivity of larval VMR caused by BPS alone, suggesting that BPS disrupted the opsins expression and also light-sensing function via antagonizing TH-TRβ signaling pathway. This study underlined the importance of TH signaling in regulating the proper vision and proposed a novel mechanism for the visual toxicity of BPS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuhui Wei
- Marine Life Science College, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong province, PR China
| | - Liguo Qiu
- Marine Life Science College, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong province, PR China
| | - Shaoguo Ru
- Marine Life Science College, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong province, PR China
| | - Yang Yang
- Marine Life Science College, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong province, PR China
| | - Jun Wang
- Marine Life Science College, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong province, PR China
| | - Xiaona Zhang
- Marine Life Science College, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong province, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gaaied S, Oliveira M, Barreto A, Zakhama A, Banni M. 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) affects DNA integrity and retina structure in zebrafish larvae. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:85402-85412. [PMID: 35794326 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21793-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring the potential risk of herbicides in non-target organisms is a crucial issue for environmental safety. 2,4-D is an herbicide of high environmental relevance that has been shown to exert toxic effects to soil and aquatic biota. In the present study, we investigated the possible genotoxic and retinal development effects of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) herbicide in early life stages zebrafish (Danio rerio). Genotoxicity was evaluated by measuring DNA damage using the comet assay and also by the mRNA expression of genes implicated in apoptosis and/or DNA repair. Retinal development toxicity was evaluated with histological approach. The results obtained revealed that 2,4-D alters DNA integrity of zebrafish larvae. Moreover, transcriptomic data showed a significant induction of p-53 and casp-3 genes and a significant decrease of lig-4 in larvae exposed to the highest tested concentration of 2,4-D (0.8 mg/L). This suggested that p-53 gene regulates the process of DNA repair and apoptosis with increased levels of 2,4-D. The histopathological analysis revealed that early exposure to 2,4-D damaged the structure of larvae retina. Overall, this study is the first to report the DNA damage, casp-3, lig-4 and p-53 regulation, as well as the ocular developmental toxicity in zebrafish larvae at environmentally relevant concentrations of 2,4-D herbicide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Gaaied
- Laboratory of Agrobiodiversity and Ecotoxicology "LR02AGR21", ISA, Chott-Mariem, 4042, Sousse, Tunisia.
| | - Miguel Oliveira
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Angela Barreto
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Abdelfattah Zakhama
- Department of Pathology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Banni
- Laboratory of Agrobiodiversity and Ecotoxicology "LR02AGR21", ISA, Chott-Mariem, 4042, Sousse, Tunisia
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Evaluation of Locomotion Complexity in Zebrafish after Exposure to Twenty Antibiotics by Fractal Dimension and Entropy Analysis. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11081059. [PMID: 36009928 PMCID: PMC9404773 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11081059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotics are extensively used in aquaculture to prevent bacterial infection and the spread of diseases. Some antibiotics have a relatively longer half-life in water and may induce some adverse effects on the targeted fish species. This study analyzed the potential adverse effects of antibiotics in zebrafish at the behavioral level by a phenomic approach. We conducted three-dimensional (3D) locomotion tracking for adult zebrafish after acute exposure to twenty different antibiotics at a concentration of 100 ppb for 10 days. Their locomotor complexity was analyzed and compared by fractal dimension and permutation entropy analysis. The dimensionality reduction method was performed by combining the data gathered from behavioral endpoints alteration. Principal component and hierarchical analysis conclude that three antibiotics: amoxicillin, trimethoprim, and tylosin, displayed unique characteristics. The effects of these three antibiotics at lower concentrations (1 and 10 ppb) were observed in a follow-up study. Based on the results, these antibiotics can trigger several behavioral alterations in adult zebrafish, even in low doses. Significant changes in locomotor behavioral activity, such as total distance activity, average speed, rapid movement time, angular velocity, time in top/bottom duration, and meandering movement are highly related to neurological motor impairments, anxiety levels, and stress responses were observed. This study provides evidence based on an in vivo experiment to support the idea that the usage of some antibiotics should be carefully addressed since they can induce a significant effect of behavioral alterations in fish.
Collapse
|
12
|
Li D, Sun W, Chen H, Lei H, Li X, Liu H, Huang GY, Shi WJ, Ying GG, Luo Y, Xie L. Cyclophosphamide affects eye development and locomotion in zebrafish (Danio rerio). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 805:150460. [PMID: 34818796 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a broad-spectrum anticancer drug and has been frequently detected in aquatic environments due to its incomplete removal by wastewater treatment facilities and slow degradation in waters. Its toxicity in fish remains largely unknown. In this study, zebrafish eggs <4 h post fertilization (hpf) were exposed to CP at the concentrations from 0.5 to 50.0 μg/L until 168 hpf, and its toxicity was evaluated by biochemical, transcriptomic, and behavioral approaches. The results showed that malformation and mortality rates increased with CP concentrations. The 7-day malformation EC50 and mortality (LC30) by CP were calculated to be 86.8 μg/L and 7.5 mg/L, respectively. Inhibited startle response (light to dark) (a minimal of 19%) and reduced swimming velocity (a minimal of 30%) were observed in the CP-exposed larvae. The thicknesses of retinal ganglion layer, inner plexiform layer, and inner nuclear layer in the retina were increased after exposure to CP. Meanwhile, exposure to CP increased karyorrhexis and karyolysis in the liver tissue. Transcriptomic analysis identified 607 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (159 up-regulated and 448 down-regulated). A significant reduction in the transcripts of sgk1 (the FoxO pathway), jun (the MAPK pathway), and diabloa (apoptosis pathway) were observed in the CP-treated larvae. This study has demonstrated that low concentrations of CP cause malformation, reduced swimming capacity, histopathological alterations in the retina and liver tissues, and interference on transcriptional expressions of key genes associated with different pathways. The ecological risk of CP and other anticancer drugs to aquatic organisms merits future investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Li
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Weijun Sun
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hongxing Chen
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Haojun Lei
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiao Li
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hongsong Liu
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guo-Yong Huang
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Wen-Jun Shi
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guang-Guo Ying
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yongju Luo
- Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning 530021, China.
| | - Lingtian Xie
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Gómez Sánchez A, Álvarez Y, Colligris B, Kennedy BN. Affordable and effective optokinetic response methods to assess visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in larval to juvenile zebrafish. OPEN RESEARCH EUROPE 2022; 1:92. [PMID: 37645173 PMCID: PMC10446059 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.13923.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The optokinetic response (OKR) is an effective behavioural assay to investigate functional vision in zebrafish. The rapid and widespread use of gene editing, drug screening and environmental modulation technologies has resulted in a broader need for visual neuroscience researchers to access affordable and more sensitive OKR, contrast sensitivity (CS) and visual acuity (VA) assays. Here, we demonstrate how 2D- and 3D-printed, striped patterns or drums coupled with a motorised base and microscope provide a simple, cost-effective but efficient means to assay OKR, CS and VA in larval-juvenile zebrafish. In wild-type, five days post-fertilisation (dpf) zebrafish, the 2D or 3D set-ups of 0.02 cycles per degree (cpd) (standard OKR stimulus) and 100% black-white contrast evoked equivalent responses of 24.2±3.9 or 21.8±3.9 saccades per minute, respectively. Furthermore, although the OKR number was significantly reduced compared to the 0.02 cpd drum (p<0.0001), 0.06 and 0.2 cpd drums elicited equivalent responses with both set-ups. Notably, standard OKRs varied with time of day; peak responses of 29.8±7 saccades per minute occurred in the early afternoon with significantly reduced responses occurring in the early morning or late afternoon (18.5±3 and 18.4±4.5 saccades per minute, respectively). A customised series of 2D printed drums enabled analysis of VA and CS in 5-21 dpf zebrafish. The saccadic frequency in VA assays was inversely proportional to age and spatial frequency and in CS assays was inversely proportional to age and directly proportional to contrast of the stimulus. OKR, VA and CS of zebrafish larvae can be efficiently measured using 2D- or 3D-printed striped drums. For data consistency the luminance of the OKR light source, the time of day when the analysis is performed, and the order of presentation of VA and CS drums must be considered. These simple methods allow effective and more sensitive analysis of functional vision in zebrafish.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Gómez Sánchez
- Ocupharm Diagnostic Group Research, Faculty of Optic and Optometry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Yolanda Álvarez
- UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - Basilio Colligris
- Ocupharm Diagnostic Group Research, Faculty of Optic and Optometry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Breandán N. Kennedy
- UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Crouzier L, Richard EM, Sourbron J, Lagae L, Maurice T, Delprat B. Use of Zebrafish Models to Boost Research in Rare Genetic Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13356. [PMID: 34948153 PMCID: PMC8706563 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rare genetic diseases are a group of pathologies with often unmet clinical needs. Even if rare by a single genetic disease (from 1/2000 to 1/more than 1,000,000), the total number of patients concerned account for approximatively 400 million peoples worldwide. Finding treatments remains challenging due to the complexity of these diseases, the small number of patients and the challenge in conducting clinical trials. Therefore, innovative preclinical research strategies are required. The zebrafish has emerged as a powerful animal model for investigating rare diseases. Zebrafish combines conserved vertebrate characteristics with high rate of breeding, limited housing requirements and low costs. More than 84% of human genes responsible for diseases present an orthologue, suggesting that the majority of genetic diseases could be modelized in zebrafish. In this review, we emphasize the unique advantages of zebrafish models over other in vivo models, particularly underlining the high throughput phenotypic capacity for therapeutic screening. We briefly introduce how the generation of zebrafish transgenic lines by gene-modulating technologies can be used to model rare genetic diseases. Then, we describe how zebrafish could be phenotyped using state-of-the-art technologies. Two prototypic examples of rare diseases illustrate how zebrafish models could play a critical role in deciphering the underlying mechanisms of rare genetic diseases and their use to identify innovative therapeutic solutions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Crouzier
- MMDN, University of Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (L.C.); (E.M.R.); (T.M.)
| | - Elodie M. Richard
- MMDN, University of Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (L.C.); (E.M.R.); (T.M.)
| | - Jo Sourbron
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Section Pediatric Neurology, University Hospital KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.S.); (L.L.)
| | - Lieven Lagae
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Section Pediatric Neurology, University Hospital KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.S.); (L.L.)
| | - Tangui Maurice
- MMDN, University of Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (L.C.); (E.M.R.); (T.M.)
| | - Benjamin Delprat
- MMDN, University of Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (L.C.); (E.M.R.); (T.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Hong Y, Luo Y. Zebrafish Model in Ophthalmology to Study Disease Mechanism and Drug Discovery. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14080716. [PMID: 34451814 PMCID: PMC8400593 DOI: 10.3390/ph14080716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual impairment and blindness are common and seriously affect people’s work and quality of life in the world. Therefore, the effective therapies for eye diseases are of high priority. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an alternative vertebrate model as a useful tool for the mechanism elucidation and drug discovery of various eye disorders, such as cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, photoreceptor degeneration, etc. The genetic and embryonic accessibility of zebrafish in combination with a behavioral assessment of visual function has made it a very popular model in ophthalmology. Zebrafish has also been widely used in ocular drug discovery, such as the screening of new anti-angiogenic compounds or neuroprotective drugs, and the oculotoxicity test. In this review, we summarized the applications of zebrafish as the models of eye disorders to study disease mechanism and investigate novel drug treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yan Luo
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-020-87335931
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Jijie R, Mihalache G, Balmus IM, Strungaru SA, Baltag ES, Ciobica A, Nicoara M, Faggio C. Zebrafish as a Screening Model to Study the Single and Joint Effects of Antibiotics. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14060578. [PMID: 34204339 PMCID: PMC8234794 DOI: 10.3390/ph14060578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The overuse of antibiotics combined with the limitation of wastewater facilities has resulted in drug residue accumulation in the natural environment. Thus, in recent years, the presence of antibiotic residues in the environment has raised concerns over the potential harmful effects on ecosystems and human health. The in vivo studies represent an essential step to study the potential impact induced by pharmaceutical exposure. Due to the limitations of traditional vertebrate model systems, zebrafish (Danio rerio) has recently emerged as a promising animal model to study the toxic effects of drugs and their therapeutic efficacy. The present review summarizes the recent advances made on the toxicity of seven representative classes of antibiotics, namely aminoglycosides, β-lactams, macrolides, quinolones, sulfonamides, tetracyclines and polyether antibiotics, in zebrafish, as well as the combined effects of antibiotic mixtures, to date. Despite a significant amount of the literature describing the impact of single antibiotic exposure, little information exists on the effects of antibiotic mixtures using zebrafish as an animal model. Most of the research papers on this topic have focused on antibiotic toxicity in zebrafish across different developmental stages rather than on their efficacy assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roxana Jijie
- Marine Biological Station “Prof. dr. I. Borcea”, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Nicolae Titulescu Street, No. 163, 9007018 Agigea, Romania;
- Department of Exact and Natural Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, 700506 Iasi, Romania; (I.-M.B.); (S.-A.S.)
- Correspondence: (R.J.); (C.F.)
| | - Gabriela Mihalache
- Integrated Center of Environmental Science Studies in the North Eastern Region (CERNESIM), “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, 700506 Iasi, Romania;
- Department of Horticultural Technologies, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 700440 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ioana-Miruna Balmus
- Department of Exact and Natural Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, 700506 Iasi, Romania; (I.-M.B.); (S.-A.S.)
| | - Stefan-Adrian Strungaru
- Department of Exact and Natural Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, 700506 Iasi, Romania; (I.-M.B.); (S.-A.S.)
| | - Emanuel Stefan Baltag
- Marine Biological Station “Prof. dr. I. Borcea”, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Nicolae Titulescu Street, No. 163, 9007018 Agigea, Romania;
| | - Alin Ciobica
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, B-dul Carol I, 700505 Iasi, Romania; (A.C.); (M.N.)
| | - Mircea Nicoara
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, B-dul Carol I, 700505 Iasi, Romania; (A.C.); (M.N.)
- Doctoral School of Geosciences, Faculty of Geography-Geology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, B-dul Carol I, 700505 Iasi, Romania
| | - Caterina Faggio
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno, d’Alcontres, 31 98166 S. Agata-Messina, Italy
- Correspondence: (R.J.); (C.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Ganzen L, Ko MJ, Zhang M, Xie R, Chen Y, Zhang L, James R, Mumm J, van Rijn RM, Zhong W, Pang CP, Zhang M, Tsujikawa M, Leung YF. Drug screening with zebrafish visual behavior identifies carvedilol as a potential treatment for an autosomal dominant form of retinitis pigmentosa. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11432. [PMID: 34075074 PMCID: PMC8169685 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89482-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a mostly incurable inherited retinal degeneration affecting approximately 1 in 4000 individuals globally. The goal of this work was to identify drugs that can help patients suffering from the disease. To accomplish this, we screened drugs on a zebrafish autosomal dominant RP model. This model expresses a truncated human rhodopsin transgene (Q344X) causing significant rod degeneration by 7 days post-fertilization (dpf). Consequently, the larvae displayed a deficit in visual motor response (VMR) under scotopic condition. The diminished VMR was leveraged to screen an ENZO SCREEN-WELL REDOX library since oxidative stress is postulated to play a role in RP progression. Our screening identified a beta-blocker, carvedilol, that ameliorated the deficient VMR of the RP larvae and increased their rod number. Carvedilol may directly on rods as it affected the adrenergic pathway in the photoreceptor-like human Y79 cell line. Since carvedilol is an FDA-approved drug, our findings suggest that carvedilol can potentially be repurposed to treat autosomal dominant RP patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Logan Ganzen
- grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue University Life Sciences Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Mee Jung Ko
- grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue University Life Sciences Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Mengrui Zhang
- grid.213876.90000 0004 1936 738XDepartment of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Rui Xie
- grid.170430.10000 0001 2159 2859Department of Statistics and Data Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816 USA
| | - Yongkai Chen
- grid.213876.90000 0004 1936 738XDepartment of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Liyun Zhang
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Wilmer Eye Institute, John Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Rebecca James
- grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Jeff Mumm
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Wilmer Eye Institute, John Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Richard M. van Rijn
- grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue University Life Sciences Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Wenxuan Zhong
- grid.213876.90000 0004 1936 738XDepartment of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Chi Pui Pang
- grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China ,grid.263451.70000 0000 9927 110XJoint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - Mingzhi Zhang
- grid.263451.70000 0000 9927 110XJoint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - Motokazu Tsujikawa
- grid.136593.b0000 0004 0373 3971Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan ,grid.136593.b0000 0004 0373 3971Department of Clinical Laboratory and Biomedical Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuk Fai Leung
- grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.257413.60000 0001 2287 3919Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine Lafayette, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Venkatraman P, Mills-Henry I, Padmanabhan KR, Pascuzzi P, Hassan M, Zhang J, Zhang X, Ma P, Pang CP, Dowling JE, Zhang M, Leung YF. Rods Contribute to Visual Behavior in Larval Zebrafish. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 61:11. [PMID: 33049059 PMCID: PMC7571310 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.12.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Although zebrafish rods begin to develop as early as 2 days postfertilization (dpf), they are not deemed anatomically mature and functional until 15 to 21 dpf. A recent study detected a small electroretinogram (ERG) from rods in a cone mutant called no optokinetic response f (nof) at 5 dpf, suggesting that young rods are functional. Whether they can mediate behavioral responses in larvae is unknown. Methods We first confirmed rod function by measuring nof ERGs under photopic and scotopic illumination at 6 dpf. We evaluated the role of rods in visual behaviors using two different assays: the visual-motor response (VMR) and optokinetic response (OKR). We measured responses from wild-type (WT) larvae and nof mutants under photopic and scotopic illuminations at 6 dpf. Results Nof mutants lacked a photopic ERG. However, after prolonged dark adaptation, they displayed scotopic ERGs. Compared with WT larvae, the nof mutants displayed reduced VMRs. The VMR difference during light onset gradually diminished with decreased illumination and became nearly identical at lower light intensities. Additionally, light-adapted nof mutants did not display an OKR, whereas dark-adapted nof mutants displayed scotopic OKRs. Conclusions Because the nof mutants lacked a photopic ERG but displayed scotopic ERGs after dark adaptation, the mutants clearly had functional rods. WT larvae and the nof mutants displayed comparable scotopic light-On VMRs and scotopic OKRs after dark adaptation, suggesting that these responses were driven primarily by rods. Together, these observations indicate that rods contribute to zebrafish visual behaviors as early as 6 dpf.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prahatha Venkatraman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
| | - Ishara Mills-Henry
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | | | - Pete Pascuzzi
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States.,Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States.,Purdue University Libraries, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
| | - Menna Hassan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
| | - Jingyi Zhang
- Center for Statistical Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinlian Zhang
- Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States
| | - Ping Ma
- Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States
| | - Chi Pui Pang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Joint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - John E Dowling
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Mingzhi Zhang
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - Yuk Fai Leung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine Lafayette, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States.,Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States.,Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Koun S, Eom Y, Kim MJ, Kim S, Lee IH, Park HC, Song JS, Kim HM. Development of an experimental model for ocular toxicity screening in Zebrafish. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 559:155-160. [PMID: 33940387 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.04.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To investigate the efficacy of a novel experimental model for exploring visual function using a contrast-optomotor response (C-OMR) assay made by applying the contrast sensitivity test to the OMR assay in zebrafish. METHODS Zebrafish larvae were treated with 0 (control), 5, 10, or 15 μM gentamicin and digoxin for 24 h at four days post-fertilization (dpf). Zebrafish larvae were assessed using the C-OMR assay with graded contrast gray-white stripes at 5 dpf, and the results were expressed as the percentage of larvae that finished swimming for 30 s (n = 20 per each group). The same C-OMR assay was repeated four times using different larvae. RESULTS The percentage of larvae that finished swimming within 30 s was significantly reduced in larvae treated with 5, 10, and 15 μM gentamicin and 10 and 15 μM digoxin as compared to the Control groups. The C-OMR assay could distinguish that the decrease in visual function was different depending on the concentration of gentamicin and digoxin (5, 10, and 15 μM), whereas the OMR test with one contrast gray-white stripe could not. CONCLUSIONS The method of analyzing zebrafish OMR using graded contrast gray-white stripes is more sensitive than the OMR assay alone and may be more useful for assessing the drug toxicity and eye-related diseases to improve the understanding of drug-induced ocular side effects in the clinic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soonil Koun
- Biomedical Research Center, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Zebrafish Translational Medical Research Center, Korea University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; Incheon Technopark Bioindustry Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngsub Eom
- Zebrafish Translational Medical Research Center, Korea University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
| | - Mi Jeong Kim
- Biomedical Research Center, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Suhyun Kim
- Biomedical Research Center, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; Zebrafish Translational Medical Research Center, Korea University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Ik Hyun Lee
- Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Korea Polytechnic University, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae-Chul Park
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Zebrafish Translational Medical Research Center, Korea University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Suk Song
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo Myung Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Zebrafish Models to Study New Pathways in Tauopathies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094626. [PMID: 33924882 PMCID: PMC8125481 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies represent a vast family of neurodegenerative diseases, the most well-known of which is Alzheimer’s disease. The symptoms observed in patients include cognitive deficits and locomotor problems and can lead ultimately to dementia. The common point found in all these pathologies is the accumulation in neural and/or glial cells of abnormal forms of Tau protein, leading to its aggregation and neurofibrillary tangles. Zebrafish transgenic models have been generated with different overexpression strategies of human Tau protein. These transgenic lines have made it possible to highlight Tau interacting factors or factors which may limit the neurotoxicity induced by mutations and hyperphosphorylation of the Tau protein in neurons. Several studies have tested neuroprotective pharmacological approaches. On few-days-old larvae, modulation of various signaling or degradation pathways reversed the deleterious effects of Tau mutations, mainly hTauP301L and hTauA152T. Live imaging and live tracking techniques as well as behavioral follow-up enable the analysis of the wide range of Tau-related phenotypes from synaptic loss to cognitive functional consequences.
Collapse
|
21
|
Fitzgerald JA, Könemann S, Krümpelmann L, Županič A, Vom Berg C. Approaches to Test the Neurotoxicity of Environmental Contaminants in the Zebrafish Model: From Behavior to Molecular Mechanisms. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:989-1006. [PMID: 33270929 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence of neuroactive chemicals in the aquatic environment is on the rise and poses a potential threat to aquatic biota of currently unpredictable outcome. In particular, subtle changes caused by these chemicals to an organism's sensation or behavior are difficult to tackle with current test systems that focus on rodents or with in vitro test systems that omit whole-animal responses. In recent years, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become a popular model organism for toxicological studies and testing strategies, such as the standardized use of zebrafish early life stages in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's guideline 236. In terms of neurotoxicity, the zebrafish provides a powerful model to investigate changes to the nervous system from several different angles, offering the ability to tackle the mechanisms of action of chemicals in detail. The mechanistic understanding gained through the analysis of this model species provides a good basic knowledge of how neuroactive chemicals might interact with a teleost nervous system. Such information can help infer potential effects occurring to other species exposed to neuroactive chemicals in their aquatic environment and predicting potential risks of a chemical for the aquatic ecosystem. In the present article, we highlight approaches ranging from behavioral to structural, functional, and molecular analysis of the larval zebrafish nervous system, providing a holistic view of potential neurotoxic outcomes. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:989-1006. © 2020 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Fitzgerald
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Könemann
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- EPF Lausanne, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laura Krümpelmann
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anže Županič
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Colette Vom Berg
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Neurodegeneration, Neuroprotection and Regeneration in the Zebrafish Retina. Cells 2021; 10:cells10030633. [PMID: 33809186 PMCID: PMC8000332 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative retinal diseases, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, involve a gradual loss of neurons in the retina as the disease progresses. Central nervous system neurons are not able to regenerate in mammals, therefore, an often sought after course of treatment for neuronal loss follows a neuroprotective or regenerative strategy. Neuroprotection is the process of preserving the structure and function of the neurons that have survived a harmful insult; while regenerative approaches aim to replace or rewire the neurons and synaptic connections that were lost, or induce regrowth of damaged axons or dendrites. In order to test the neuroprotective effectiveness or the regenerative capacity of a particular agent, a robust experimental model of retinal neuronal damage is essential. Zebrafish are being used more often in this type of study because their eye structure and development is well-conserved between zebrafish and mammals. Zebrafish are robust genetic tools and are relatively inexpensive to maintain. The large array of functional and behavioral tests available in zebrafish makes them an attractive model for neuroprotection studies. Some common insults used to model retinal disease and study neuroprotection in zebrafish include intense light, chemical toxicity and mechanical damage. This review covers the existing retinal neuroprotection and regeneration literature in the zebrafish and highlights their potential for future studies.
Collapse
|
23
|
Noel NCL, MacDonald IM, Allison WT. Zebrafish Models of Photoreceptor Dysfunction and Degeneration. Biomolecules 2021; 11:78. [PMID: 33435268 PMCID: PMC7828047 DOI: 10.3390/biom11010078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish are an instrumental system for the generation of photoreceptor degeneration models, which can be utilized to determine underlying causes of photoreceptor dysfunction and death, and for the analysis of potential therapeutic compounds, as well as the characterization of regenerative responses. We review the wealth of information from existing zebrafish models of photoreceptor disease, specifically as they relate to currently accepted taxonomic classes of human rod and cone disease. We also highlight that rich, detailed information can be derived from studying photoreceptor development, structure, and function, including behavioural assessments and in vivo imaging of zebrafish. Zebrafish models are available for a diversity of photoreceptor diseases, including cone dystrophies, which are challenging to recapitulate in nocturnal mammalian systems. Newly discovered models of photoreceptor disease and drusenoid deposit formation may not only provide important insights into pathogenesis of disease, but also potential therapeutic approaches. Zebrafish have already shown their use in providing pre-clinical data prior to testing genetic therapies in clinical trials, such as antisense oligonucleotide therapy for Usher syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole C. L. Noel
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada; (I.M.M.); (W.T.A.)
| | - Ian M. MacDonald
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada; (I.M.M.); (W.T.A.)
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R7, Canada
| | - W. Ted Allison
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada; (I.M.M.); (W.T.A.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Shen C, Zuo Z. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an excellent vertebrate model for the development, reproductive, cardiovascular, and neural and ocular development toxicity study of hazardous chemicals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:43599-43614. [PMID: 32970263 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10800-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In the past decades, the type of chemicals has gradually increased all over the world, and many of these chemicals may have a potentially toxic effect on human health. The zebrafish, as an excellent vertebrate model, is increasingly used for assessing chemical toxicity and safety. This review summarizes the efficacy of zebrafish as a model for the study of developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, cardiovascular toxicity, neurodevelopmental toxicity, and ocular developmental toxicity of hazardous chemicals, and the transgenic zebrafish as biosensors are used to detect the environmental pollutants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chao Shen
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Subtropical Wetland Ecosystem Research, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiangan South Road, Xiamen, 361002, Fujian, China
| | - Zhenghong Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Subtropical Wetland Ecosystem Research, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiangan South Road, Xiamen, 361002, Fujian, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361002, Fujian, China.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Cassar S, Dunn C, Ramos MF. Zebrafish as an Animal Model for Ocular Toxicity Testing: A Review of Ocular Anatomy and Functional Assays. Toxicol Pathol 2020; 49:438-454. [PMID: 33063651 DOI: 10.1177/0192623320964748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Xenobiotics make their way into organisms from diverse sources including diet, medication, and pollution. Our understanding of ocular toxicities from xenobiotics in humans, livestock, and wildlife is growing thanks to laboratory animal models. Anatomy and physiology are conserved among vertebrate eyes, and studies with common mammalian preclinical species (rodent, dog) can predict human ocular toxicity. However, since the eye is susceptible to toxicities that may not involve a histological correlate, and these species rely heavily on smell and hearing to navigate their world, discovering visual deficits can be challenging with traditional animal models. Alternative models capable of identifying functional impacts on vision and requiring minimal amounts of chemical are valuable assets to toxicology. Human and zebrafish eyes are anatomically and functionally similar, and it has been reported that several common human ocular toxicants cause comparable toxicity in zebrafish. Vision develops rapidly in zebrafish; the tiny larvae rely on visual cues as early as 4 days, and behavioral responses to those cues can be monitored in high-throughput fashion. This article describes the comparative anatomy of the zebrafish eye, the notable differences from the mammalian eye, and presents practical applications of this underutilized model for assessment of ocular toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven Cassar
- Preclinical Safety, 419726AbbVie, Inc, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Christina Dunn
- Preclinical Safety, 419726AbbVie, Inc, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Abstract
The industry is increasingly relying on fish for toxicity assessment. However, current guidelines for toxicity assessment focus on teratogenicity and mortality. From an ecotoxicological point of view, however, these endpoints may not reflect the “full picture” of possible deleterious effects that can nonetheless result in decreased fitness and/or inability to adapt to a changing environment, affecting whole populations. Therefore, assessing sublethal effects add relevant data covering different aspects of toxicity at different levels of analysis. The impacts of toxicants on neurobehavioral function have the potential to affect many different life-history traits, and are easier to assess in the laboratory than in the wild. We propose that carefully-controlled laboratory experiments on different behavioral domains—including anxiety, aggression, and exploration—can increase our understanding of the ecotoxicological impacts of contaminants, since these domains are related to traits such as defense, sociality, and reproduction, directly impacting life-history traits. The effects of selected contaminants on these tests are reviewed, focusing on larval and adult zebrafish, showing that these behavioral domains are highly sensitive to small concentrations of these substances. These strategies suggest a way forward on ecotoxicological research using fish.
Collapse
|
27
|
Carter SP, Moran AL, Matallanas D, McManus GJ, Blacque OE, Kennedy BN. Genetic Deletion of Zebrafish Rab28 Causes Defective Outer Segment Shedding, but Not Retinal Degeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:136. [PMID: 32258030 PMCID: PMC7092623 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The photoreceptor outer segment is the canonical example of a modified and highly specialized cilium, with an expanded membrane surface area in the form of disks or lamellae for efficient light detection. Many ciliary proteins are essential for normal photoreceptor function and cilium dysfunction often results in retinal degeneration leading to impaired vision. Herein, we investigate the function and localization of the ciliary G-protein RAB28 in zebrafish cone photoreceptors. CRISPR-Cas9 generated rab28 mutant zebrafish display significantly reduced shed outer segment material/phagosomes in the RPE at 1 month post fertilization (mpf), but otherwise normal visual function up to 21 dpf and retinal structure up to 12 mpf. Cone photoreceptor-specific transgenic reporter lines show Rab28 localizes almost exclusively to outer segments, independently of GTP/GDP nucleotide binding. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrates tagged Rab28 interacts with components of the phototransduction cascade, including opsins, phosphodiesterase 6C and guanylate cyclase 2D. Our data shed light on RAB28 function in cones and provide a model for RAB28-associated cone-rod dystrophy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P Carter
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ailís L Moran
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David Matallanas
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gavin J McManus
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Microscopy Facility, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Oliver E Blacque
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Breandán N Kennedy
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Cassar S, Adatto I, Freeman JL, Gamse JT, Iturria I, Lawrence C, Muriana A, Peterson RT, Van Cruchten S, Zon LI. Use of Zebrafish in Drug Discovery Toxicology. Chem Res Toxicol 2019; 33:95-118. [PMID: 31625720 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.9b00335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 268] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Unpredicted human safety events in clinical trials for new drugs are costly in terms of human health and money. The drug discovery industry attempts to minimize those events with diligent preclinical safety testing. Current standard practices are good at preventing toxic compounds from being tested in the clinic; however, false negative preclinical toxicity results are still a reality. Continual improvement must be pursued in the preclinical realm. Higher-quality therapies can be brought forward with more information about potential toxicities and associated mechanisms. The zebrafish model is a bridge between in vitro assays and mammalian in vivo studies. This model is powerful in its breadth of application and tractability for research. In the past two decades, our understanding of disease biology and drug toxicity has grown significantly owing to thousands of studies on this tiny vertebrate. This Review summarizes challenges and strengths of the model, discusses the 3Rs value that it can deliver, highlights translatable and untranslatable biology, and brings together reports from recent studies with zebrafish focusing on new drug discovery toxicology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven Cassar
- Preclinical Safety , AbbVie , North Chicago , Illinois 60064 , United States
| | - Isaac Adatto
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology , Harvard University , Cambridge , Massachusetts 02138 , United States
| | - Jennifer L Freeman
- School of Health Sciences , Purdue University , West Lafayette , Indiana 47907 , United States
| | - Joshua T Gamse
- Drug Safety Evaluation , Bristol-Myers Squibb , New Brunswick , New Jersey 08901 , United States
| | | | - Christian Lawrence
- Aquatic Resources Program , Boston Children's Hospital , Boston , Massachusetts 02115 , United States
| | | | - Randall T Peterson
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , Utah 84112 , United States
| | | | - Leonard I Zon
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department , Harvard University , Boston , Massachusetts 02138 , United States
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Ward R, Ali Z, Slater K, Reynolds AL, Jensen LD, Kennedy BN. Pharmacological restoration of visual function in a zebrafish model of von-Hippel Lindau disease. Dev Biol 2019; 457:226-234. [PMID: 30825427 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome is a rare, autosomal dominant disorder, characterised by hypervascularised tumour formation in multiple organ systems. Vision loss associated with retinal capillary hemangioblastomas remains one of the earliest complications of VHL disease. The mortality of Vhl-/- mice in utero restricted modelling of VHL disease in this mammalian model. Zebrafish harbouring a recessive germline mutation in the vhl gene represent a viable, alternative vertebrate model to investigate associated ocular loss-of-function phenotypes. Previous studies reported neovascularisation of the brain, eye and trunk together with oedema in the vhl-/- zebrafish eye. In this study, we demonstrate vhl-/- zebrafish almost entirely lack visual function. Furthermore, hyaloid vasculature networks in the vhl-/- eye are improperly formed and this phenotype is concomitant with development of an ectopic intraretinal vasculature. Sunitinib malate, a multi tyrosine kinase inhibitor, market authorised for cancer, reversed the ocular behavioural and morphological phenotypes observed in vhl-/- zebrafish. We conclude that the zebrafish vhl gene contributes to an endogenous molecular barrier that prevents development of intraretinal vasculature, and that pharmacological intervention with sunitinib can improve visual function and hyaloid vessel patterning while reducing abnormally formed ectopic intraretinal vessels in vhl-/- zebrafish.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Ward
- UCD School of Biomolecular & Biomedical Science, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - Zaheer Ali
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Kayleigh Slater
- UCD School of Biomolecular & Biomedical Science, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - Alison L Reynolds
- UCD School of Biomolecular & Biomedical Science, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland; UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - Lasse D Jensen
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Breandán N Kennedy
- UCD School of Biomolecular & Biomedical Science, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Kim J, Kim CY, Oh H, Ryu B, Kim U, Lee JM, Jung CR, Park JH. Trimethyltin chloride induces reactive oxygen species-mediated apoptosis in retinal cells during zebrafish eye development. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 653:36-44. [PMID: 30399559 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Trimethyltin chloride (TMT), one of the most widely used organotin compounds in industrial and agricultural fields, is widespread in soil, aquatic systems, foodstuffs and household items. TMT reportedly has toxic effects on the nervous system; however, there is limited information about its effects on eye development and no clear associated mechanisms have been identified. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated eye morphology, vison-related behavior, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis, histopathology, and gene expression to evaluate the toxicity of TMT during ocular development in zebrafish embryos. Exposure to TMT decreased the axial length and surface area of the eye and impaired the ability of zebrafish to recognize light. 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate and acridine orange assays revealed dose-dependent increases in ROS formation and apoptosis in the eye. Furthermore, pyknosis of retinal cells was confirmed through histopathological analysis. Antioxidative enzyme-related genes were downregulated and apoptosis-inducing genes were upregulated in TMT-treated zebrafish compared to expression in controls. Retinal cell-specific gene expression was suppressed mainly in retinal ganglion cells, bipolar cells, and photoreceptor cells, whereas amacrine cell-, horizontal cell-, and Müller cell-specific gene expression was enhanced. Our results demonstrate for the first time the toxicity of TMT during eye development, which occurs through the induction of ROS-mediated apoptosis in retinal cells during ocular formation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jin Kim
- Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - C-Yoon Kim
- Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hanseul Oh
- Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bokyeong Ryu
- Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ukjin Kim
- Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Min Lee
- Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Cho-Rok Jung
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Hak Park
- Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Cassar S, Dunn C, Olson A, Buck W, Fossey S, Ramos MF, Sancheti P, Stolarik D, Britton H, Cole T, Bratcher N, Huang X, Peterson R, Longenecker K, LeRoy B. From the Cover: Inhibitors of Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase Cause Retinal Damage in Larval Zebrafish. Toxicol Sci 2019; 161:300-309. [PMID: 29378070 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfx212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) has been investigated as a target for oncology because it catalyzes a rate-limiting step in cellular energy metabolism to produce nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. Small molecule inhibitors of NAMPT have been promising drug candidates but preclinical development has been hindered due to associated retinal toxicity. Here we demonstrate that larval zebrafish can predict retinal toxicity associated with this mechanism revealing an attractive alternative method for identifying such toxicities. Zebrafish permit higher throughput testing while using far lower quantities of test article compared with mammalian systems. NAMPT inhibitor-associated toxicity manifested in zebrafish as a loss of response to visual cues compared with auditory cues. Zebrafish retinal damage associated with NAMPT inhibitor treatment was confirmed through histopathology. Ranking 6 NAMPT inhibitors according to their impact on zebrafish vision revealed a positive correlation with their in vitro potencies on human tumor cells. This correlation indicates translatable pharmacodynamics between zebrafish and human NAMPT and is consistent with on-target activity as the cause of retinal toxicity associated with NAMPT inhibition. Together, these data illustrate the utility of zebrafish for identifying compounds that may cause ocular toxicity in mammals, and, likewise, for accelerating development of compounds with improved safety margins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kenton Longenecker
- Discovery Chemistry and Technology, AbbVie, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
| | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Li F, Lin J, Liu X, Li W, Ding Y, Zhang Y, Zhou S, Guo N, Li Q. Characterization of the locomotor activities of zebrafish larvae under the influence of various neuroactive drugs. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2018; 6:173. [PMID: 29951495 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2018.04.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background Behavioral changes in animals reflect functional changes in their central nervous system. Neuroactive drugs that act on different neural pathways can induce specific behavioral responses; therefore, it is possible to infer the activities of neuroactive drugs by studying the behavioral changes induced by drugs of interest in animals. Methods In this study, AB strain zebrafish larvae at 7 days post fertilization (dpf) were treated with different concentrations of drugs that act on different neural pathways. Changes in the swimming distances of zebrafish larvae under different illumination conditions and the differences in locomotor activities between light and dark conditions (lighting motor index) were analyzed. Results Among the drugs studied, different concentrations of sulpiride had no effect on larval locomotor activity either under light or dark conditions. Progressively decreased spontaneous movements were observed in zebrafish larvae treated with increasing doses of MK-801 and valproic acid. With increasing concentrations of pentylenetetrazole and yohimbine, the spontaneous movement of larval zebrafish presented a bell-shaped response. When the illumination changed from light to dark, zebrafish larvae not treated with drugs demonstrated increased locomotor activities. However, high levels of yohimbine, pentylenetetrazole decreased the degree of change in the lighting motor index. Conclusions In conclusion, drugs that affect different neural pathways exert different influences on the locomotor activities of zebrafish larvae. This study presents an initial effort to establish a framework that correlates the drug activities and the behavioral responses of zebrafish larvae under drug treatments, which may provide a potential identification of the pathways of novel drugs with neurological activities through their behavioral influences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fei Li
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Institute of Pediatrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Jia Lin
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Institute of Pediatrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Xiuyun Liu
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Institute of Pediatrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Wenhui Li
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Yifeng Ding
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Yunjian Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Shuizhen Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Ning Guo
- Center for Chinese Medical Therapy and Systems Biology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Institute of Pediatrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Sadamoto K, Yamagiwa Y, Sakaki H, Kurata M. Absence of histopathological changes in the retina of zebrafish treated with sodium iodate. J Vet Med Sci 2018; 80:901-908. [PMID: 29643281 PMCID: PMC6021877 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.17-0613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In ophthalmological research, the use of zebrafish to investigate visual behaviors has
been increasing, but can produce misleading, false-positive results if compounds adversely
affect their motor functions or central nervous system. Therefore, histological analysis
to identify a target organ is important in zebrafish toxicity assay. We investigated the
retinal degeneration in zebrafish, using typical retinal toxicants, mainly sodium iodate
and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). No histopathological changes were found after sodium
iodate exposure at 1.0 mM for 5 or 7 days in the retina of larval, juvenile, and adult
zebrafish. There were also no obvious histopathological changes in the retina of adult
zebrafish at 0.1 mM, even after 30 days treatment with sodium iodate. In addition, many
proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells were found not only in the ciliary
marginal zone, but also in the outer nuclear layer, especially in larval and juvenile
zebrafish with or without sodium iodate exposure. However, the concentrations of iodine in
the blood and the eyeballs of adult zebrafish increased remarkably after the treatment.
General retinal damage emerged after MNU exposure at 150 mg/l for 60 min
in adult zebrafish, but first pyknotic cells appeared in the inner nuclear layer and the
ganglion cell layer. Our findings indicate that zebrafish retina have a different
reactivity pattern from mammalian animals against some retinal toxicants, and in them it
is difficult to detect histopathological changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kazuyo Sadamoto
- Research & Development Division, Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 1-5-4 Murotani, Nishiku, Kobe, Hyogo 651-2241, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Yamagiwa
- Research & Development Division, Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 1-5-4 Murotani, Nishiku, Kobe, Hyogo 651-2241, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Sakaki
- Research & Development Division, Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 1-5-4 Murotani, Nishiku, Kobe, Hyogo 651-2241, Japan
| | - Masaaki Kurata
- Research & Development Division, Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 1-5-4 Murotani, Nishiku, Kobe, Hyogo 651-2241, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Repeatability and Reproducibility of In Vivo Cone Density Measurements in the Adult Zebrafish Retina. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1074:151-156. [PMID: 29721939 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-75402-4_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are widely used as an experimental model for a wide range of retinal diseases. Previously, optical coherence tomography (OCT) was introduced for quantitative analysis of the zebrafish cone photoreceptor cell mosaic; however no data exists on the intersession reproducibility or intrasession repeatability of such measurements. We imaged 14 wild-type (WT) fish three times each, with 48 h between each time point. En face images of the UV cone mosaic were generated from the OCT volume scans at each time point. These images were then aligned and the overlapping area cropped for analysis. Using a semiautomated cone-counting algorithm, a single observer identified each cone to calculate the cone density for every image, counting each image twice (84 total counts). The OCT cone density measurements were found to have an intersession reproducibility of 0.9988 (95% CI = 0.9978-0.9999) and an intrasession repeatability of 136.0 ± 10.5 cones/mm2 (about 0.7%). Factors affecting image quality include gill movement during acquisition of the OCT volume and variable inclusion of non-UV cone mosaics in the contours used to generate the en face images.
Collapse
|
35
|
A Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Mimetic Is Sufficient to Restore Cone Photoreceptor Visual Function in an Inherited Blindness Model. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11320. [PMID: 28900183 PMCID: PMC5595969 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11513-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Controversially, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are in clinical trial for the treatment of inherited retinal degeneration. Utilizing the zebrafish dyeucd6 model, we determined if treatment with HDACi can rescue cone photoreceptor-mediated visual function. dye exhibit defective visual behaviour and retinal morphology including ciliary marginal zone (CMZ) cell death and decreased photoreceptor outer segment (OS) length, as well as gross morphological defects including hypopigmentation and pericardial oedema. HDACi treatment of dye results in significantly improved optokinetic (OKR) (~43 fold, p < 0.001) and visualmotor (VMR) (~3 fold, p < 0.05) responses. HDACi treatment rescued gross morphological defects and reduced CMZ cell death by 80%. Proteomic analysis of dye eye extracts suggested BDNF-TrkB and Akt signaling as mediators of HDACi rescue in our dataset. Co-treatment with the TrkB antagonist ANA-12 blocked HDACi rescue of visual function and associated Akt phosphorylation. Notably, sole treatment with a BDNF mimetic, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone hydrate, significantly rescued dye visual function (~58 fold increase in OKR, p < 0.001, ~3 fold increase in VMR, p < 0.05). In summary, HDACi and a BDNF mimetic are sufficient to rescue retinal cell death and visual function in a vertebrate model of inherited blindness.
Collapse
|
36
|
HDAC6 inhibition by tubastatin A is protective against oxidative stress in a photoreceptor cell line and restores visual function in a zebrafish model of inherited blindness. Cell Death Dis 2017; 8:e3028. [PMID: 29048427 PMCID: PMC5596594 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2017.415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Revised: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Retinal diseases, such as hereditary retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration, are characterized by the progressive loss of photoreceptors. Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is considered as a stress surveillance factor and a potential target for neuroprotection and regeneration. Overexpression of HDAC6 has been connected to neurodegenerative disorders, and its suppression may provide protection. Here we show that HDAC6 is constitutively present in the mouse retina, and in the cone-like mouse cell line 661W. In 661W cells HDAC6 inhibition by the specific inhibitor tubastatin A (TST) led to the acetylation of α-tubulin, which is a major substrate for HDAC6. After oxidative stress, exerted by hydrogen peroxide, TST promoted cell survival and the upregulation of heat-shock proteins HSP70 and HSP25 by activation of heat-shock transcription factor 1. Furthermore, in response to oxidative stress the redox regulatory protein peroxiredoxin 1 (Prx1) was modulated in 661W cells by HDAC6 inhibition. The peroxide reducing activity of Prx1 is dependent on its acetylation, which is mediated by HDAC6. Pre-incubation with TST prevented the inactivation of Prx1 and its preserved activity may exert protective effects in photoreceptor cells. To determine whether TST treatment has a therapeutic effect on visual function, the dyeucd6 zebrafish model of inherited sight loss was utilized. Zebrafish have developed as a suitable model system for pharmacological testing. In vivo application of TST caused the hyperacetylation of α-tubulin, indicating that HDAC6 is active in this model. Furthermore, TST was sufficient to rescue visual function and retinal morphology. Hence, HDAC6 inhibition and the regulation of peroxiredoxin activity may play a significant role in protecting retinal cells and in particular photoreceptors, which are exposed to high levels of reactive oxygen species derived from oxidative stress-induced injuries.
Collapse
|
37
|
Liu Y, Ma P, Cassidy PA, Carmer R, Zhang G, Venkatraman P, Brown SA, Pang CP, Zhong W, Zhang M, Leung YF. Statistical Analysis of Zebrafish Locomotor Behaviour by Generalized Linear Mixed Models. Sci Rep 2017; 7:2937. [PMID: 28592855 PMCID: PMC5462837 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-02822-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Upon a drastic change in environmental illumination, zebrafish larvae display a rapid locomotor response. This response can be simultaneously tracked from larvae arranged in multi-well plates. The resulting data have provided new insights into neuro-behaviour. The features of these data, however, present a challenge to traditional statistical tests. For example, many larvae display little or no movement. Thus, the larval responses have many zero values and are imbalanced. These responses are also measured repeatedly from the same well, which results in correlated observations. These analytical issues were addressed in this study by the generalized linear mixed model (GLMM). This approach deals with binary responses and characterizes the correlation of observations in the same group. It was used to analyze a previously reported dataset. Before applying the GLMM, the activity values were transformed to binary responses (movement vs. no movement) to reduce data imbalance. Moreover, the GLMM estimated the variations among the effects of different well locations, which would eliminate the location effects when two biological groups or conditions were compared. By addressing the data-imbalance and location-correlation issues, the GLMM effectively quantified true biological effects on zebrafish locomotor response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiwen Liu
- Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, 101 Cedar St, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Ping Ma
- Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, 101 Cedar St, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Paige A Cassidy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Robert Carmer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.,Department of Statistics, 250 N University Street, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Gaonan Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Prahatha Venkatraman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Skye A Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Chi Pui Pang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Wenxuan Zhong
- Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, 101 Cedar St, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
| | - Mingzhi Zhang
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University & the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China.
| | - Yuk Fai Leung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine Lafayette, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA. .,Purdue Institute for Integrative neuroscience, 610 Purdue Mall, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA. .,Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, 610 Purdue Mall, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Utilizing Zebrafish Visual Behaviors in Drug Screening for Retinal Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18061185. [PMID: 28574477 PMCID: PMC5486008 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18061185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish are a popular vertebrate model in drug discovery. They produce a large number of small and rapidly-developing embryos. These embryos display rich visual-behaviors that can be used to screen drugs for treating retinal degeneration (RD). RD comprises blinding diseases such as Retinitis Pigmentosa, which affects 1 in 4000 people. This disease has no definitive cure, emphasizing an urgency to identify new drugs. In this review, we will discuss advantages, challenges, and research developments in using zebrafish behaviors to screen drugs in vivo. We will specifically discuss a visual-motor response that can potentially expedite discovery of new RD drugs.
Collapse
|
39
|
Tzima E, Serifi I, Tsikari I, Alzualde A, Leonardos I, Papamarcaki T. Transcriptional and Behavioral Responses of Zebrafish Larvae to Microcystin-LR Exposure. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18020365. [PMID: 28208772 PMCID: PMC5343900 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18020365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Revised: 01/29/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Microcystins are cyclic heptapeptides that constitute a diverse group of toxins produced by cyanobacteria. One of the most toxic variants of this family is microcystin-LR (MCLR) which is a potent inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and induces cytoskeleton alterations. In this study, zebrafish larvae exposed to 500 μg/L of MCLR for four days exhibited a 40% reduction of PP2A activity compared to the controls, indicating early effects of the toxin. Gene expression profiling of the MCLR-exposed larvae using microarray analysis revealed that keratin 96 (krt96) was the most downregulated gene, consistent with the well-documented effects of MCLR on cytoskeleton structure. In addition, our analysis revealed upregulation in all genes encoding for the enzymes of the retinal visual cycle, including rpe65a (retinal pigment epithelium-specific protein 65a), which is critical for the larval vision. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis confirmed the microarray data, showing that rpe65a was significantly upregulated at 50 μg/L and 500 μg/L MCLR in a dose-dependent manner. Consistent with the microarray data, MCLR-treated larvae displayed behavioral alterations such as weakening response to the sudden darkness and hypoactivity in the dark. Our work reveals new molecular targets for MCLR and provides further insights into the molecular mechanisms of MCLR toxicity during early development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Tzima
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
- Division of Biomedical Research, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 45110 Ιοannina, Greece.
| | - Iliana Serifi
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
- Division of Biomedical Research, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 45110 Ιοannina, Greece.
| | - Ioanna Tsikari
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
| | | | - Ioannis Leonardos
- Laboratory of Zoology, Department of Biological Applications and Technologies, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
| | - Thomais Papamarcaki
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
- Division of Biomedical Research, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 45110 Ιοannina, Greece.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Horstick EJ, Bayleyen Y, Sinclair JL, Burgess HA. Search strategy is regulated by somatostatin signaling and deep brain photoreceptors in zebrafish. BMC Biol 2017; 15:4. [PMID: 28122559 PMCID: PMC5267475 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-016-0346-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animals use sensory cues to efficiently locate resources, but when sensory information is insufficient, they may rely on internally coded search strategies. Despite the importance of search behavior, there is limited understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms in vertebrates. RESULTS Here, we report that loss of illumination initiates sophisticated light-search behavior in larval zebrafish. Using three-dimensional tracking, we show that at the onset of darkness larvae swim in a helical trajectory that is spatially restricted in the horizontal plane, before gradually transitioning to an outward movement profile. Local and outward swim patterns display characteristic features of area-restricted and roaming search strategies, differentially enhancing phototaxis to nearby and remote sources of light. Retinal signaling is only required to initiate area-restricted search, implying that photoreceptors within the brain drive the transition to the roaming search state. Supporting this, orthopediaA mutant larvae manifest impaired transition to roaming search, a phenotype which is recapitulated by loss of the non-visual opsin opn4a and somatostatin signaling. CONCLUSION These findings define distinct neuronal pathways for area-restricted and roaming search behaviors and clarify how internal drives promote goal-directed activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Horstick
- Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Yared Bayleyen
- Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jennifer L Sinclair
- Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Harold A Burgess
- Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
McNeil PL, Nebot C, Cepeda A, Sloman KA. Environmental concentrations of prednisolone alter visually mediated responses during early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2016; 218:981-987. [PMID: 27614910 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.08.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The development of the eye in vertebrates is dependent upon glucocorticoid signalling, however, specific components of the eye are sensitive to synthetic glucocorticoids. The presence of synthetic glucocorticoids within the aquatic environment may therefore have important consequences for fish, which are heavily reliant upon vision for mediating several key behaviours. The potential ethological impact of synthetic glucocorticoid oculotoxicity however has yet to be studied. Physiological and behavioural responses which are dependent upon vision were selected to investigate the possible toxicity of prednisolone, a commonly occurring synthetic glucocorticoid within the environment, during early life stages of zebrafish. Although exposure to prednisolone did not alter the morphology of the external eye, aggregation of melanin within the skin in response to increasing light levels was impeded and embryos exposed to prednisolone (10 μg/l) maintained a darkened phenotype. Exposure to prednisolone also increased the preference of embryos for a dark environment within a light dark box test in a concentration dependent manner. However the ability of embryos to detect motion appeared unaffected by prednisolone. Therefore, while significant effects were detected in several processes mediated by vision, changes occurred in a manner which suggest that vision was in itself unaffected by prednisolone. Neurological and endocrinological changes during early ontogeny are considered as likely candidates for future investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul L McNeil
- Institute of Biomedical and Environmental Health Research, School of Science and Sport, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, UK.
| | - Carolina Nebot
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Alberto Cepeda
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Katherine A Sloman
- Institute of Biomedical and Environmental Health Research, School of Science and Sport, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, UK
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
A Naturally-Derived Compound Schisandrin B Enhanced Light Sensation in the pde6c Zebrafish Model of Retinal Degeneration. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0149663. [PMID: 26930483 PMCID: PMC4773124 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal degeneration is often progressive. This feature has provided a therapeutic window for intervention that may extend functional vision in patients. Even though this approach is feasible, few promising drug candidates are available. The scarcity of new drugs has motivated research to discover novel compounds through different sources. One such example is Schisandrin B (SchB), an active component isolated from the five-flavor fruit (Fructus Schisandrae) that is postulated in traditional Chinese medicines to exert prophylactic visual benefit. This SchB benefit was investigated in this study in pde6cw59, a zebrafish retinal-degeneration model. In this model, the pde6c gene (phosphodiesterase 6C, cGMP-specific, cone, alpha prime) carried a mutation which caused cone degeneration. This altered the local environment and caused the bystander rods to degenerate too. To test SchB on the pde6cw59 mutants, a treatment concentration was first determined that would not cause morphological defects, and would initiate known physiological response. Then, the mutants were treated with the optimized SchB concentration before the appearance of retinal degeneration at 3 days postfertilization (dpf). The light sensation of animals was evaluated at 6 dpf by the visual motor response (VMR), a visual startle that could be initiated by drastic light onset and offset. The results show that the VMR of pde6cw59 mutants towards light onset was enhanced by the SchB treatment, and that the initial phase of the enhancement was primarily mediated through the mutants’ eyes. Further immunostaining analysis indicates that the treatment specifically reduced the size of the abnormally large rods. These observations implicate an interesting hypothesis: that the morphologically-improved rods drive the observed VMR enhancement. Together, these investigations have identified a possible visual benefit of SchB on retinal degeneration, a benefit that can potentially be further developed to extend functional vision in patients.
Collapse
|
43
|
Abstract
Attrition due to nonclinical safety represents a major issue for the productivity of pharmaceutical research and development (R&D) organizations, especially during the compound optimization stages of drug discovery and the early stages of clinical development. Focusing on decreasing nonclinical safety-related attrition is not a new concept, and various approaches have been experimented with over the last two decades. Front-loading testing funnels in Discovery with in vitro toxicity assays designed to rapidly identify unfavorable molecules was the approach adopted by most pharmaceutical R&D organizations a few years ago. However, this approach has also a non-negligible opportunity cost. Hence, significant refinements to the "fail early, fail often" paradigm have been proposed recently to reflect the complexity of accurately categorizing compounds with early data points without taking into account other important contextual aspects, in particular efficacious systemic and tissue exposures. This review provides an overview of toxicology approaches and models that can be used in pharmaceutical Discovery at the series/lead identification and lead optimization stages to guide and inform chemistry efforts, as well as a personal view on how to best use them to meet nonclinical safety-related attrition objectives consistent with a sustainable pharmaceutical R&D model. The scope of this review is limited to small molecules, as large molecules are associated with challenges that are quite different. Finally, a perspective on how several emerging technologies may impact toxicity evaluation is also provided.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric A G Blomme
- Global Preclinical Safety, AbbVie Inc. , 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Yvonne Will
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer , Eastern Point Road, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Gao Y, Zhang G, Jelfs B, Carmer R, Venkatraman P, Ghadami M, Brown SA, Pang CP, Leung YF, Chan RHM, Zhang M. Computational classification of different wild-type zebrafish strains based on their variation in light-induced locomotor response. Comput Biol Med 2015; 69:1-9. [PMID: 26688204 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2015.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Revised: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish larvae display a rapid and characteristic swimming behaviour after abrupt light onset or offset. This light-induced locomotor response (LLR) has been widely used for behavioural research and drug screening. However, the locomotor responses have long been shown to be different between different wild-type (WT) strains. Thus, it is critical to define the differences in the WT LLR to facilitate accurate interpretation of behavioural data. In this investigation, we used support vector machine (SVM) models to classify LLR data collected from three WT strains: AB, TL and TLAB (a hybrid of AB and TL), during early embryogenesis, from 3 to 9 days post-fertilisation (dpf). We analysed both the complete dataset and a subset of the data during the first 30after light change. This initial period of activity is substantially driven by vision, and is also known as the visual motor response (VMR). The analyses have resulted in three major conclusions: First, the LLR is different between the three WT strains, and at different developmental stages. Second, the distinguishable information in the VMR is comparable to, if not better than, the full dataset for classification purposes. Third, the distinguishable information of WT strains in the light-onset response differs from that in the light-offset response. While the classification accuracies were higher for the light-offset than light-onset response when using the complete LLR dataset, a reverse trend was observed when using a shorter VMR dataset. Together, our results indicate that one should use caution when extrapolating interpretations of LLR/VMR obtained from one WT strain to another.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Gao
- Department of Electronic Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Gaonan Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Beth Jelfs
- Department of Electronic Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Robert Carmer
- Department of Electronic Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong; Department of Statistics, Purdue University, 250N. University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Prahatha Venkatraman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Mohammad Ghadami
- Department of Electronic Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Skye A Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Chi Pui Pang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yuk Fai Leung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Lafayette, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
| | - Rosa H M Chan
- Department of Electronic Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
| | - Mingzhi Zhang
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University & the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Liu Y, Carmer R, Zhang G, Venkatraman P, Brown SA, Pang CP, Zhang M, Ma P, Leung YF. Statistical Analysis of Zebrafish Locomotor Response. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0139521. [PMID: 26437184 PMCID: PMC4593604 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish larvae display rich locomotor behaviour upon external stimulation. The movement can be simultaneously tracked from many larvae arranged in multi-well plates. The resulting time-series locomotor data have been used to reveal new insights into neurobiology and pharmacology. However, the data are of large scale, and the corresponding locomotor behavior is affected by multiple factors. These issues pose a statistical challenge for comparing larval activities. To address this gap, this study has analyzed a visually-driven locomotor behaviour named the visual motor response (VMR) by the Hotelling's T-squared test. This test is congruent with comparing locomotor profiles from a time period. Different wild-type (WT) strains were compared using the test, which shows that they responded differently to light change at different developmental stages. The performance of this test was evaluated by a power analysis, which shows that the test was sensitive for detecting differences between experimental groups with sample numbers that were commonly used in various studies. In addition, this study investigated the effects of various factors that might affect the VMR by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). The results indicate that the larval activity was generally affected by stage, light stimulus, their interaction, and location in the plate. Nonetheless, different factors affected larval activity differently over time, as indicated by a dynamical analysis of the activity at each second. Intriguingly, this analysis also shows that biological and technical repeats had negligible effect on larval activity. This finding is consistent with that from the Hotelling's T-squared test, and suggests that experimental repeats can be combined to enhance statistical power. Together, these investigations have established a statistical framework for analyzing VMR data, a framework that should be generally applicable to other locomotor data with similar structure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiwen Liu
- Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Robert Carmer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America; Department of Statistics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Gaonan Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Prahatha Venkatraman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Skye Ashton Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Chi-Pui Pang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mingzhi Zhang
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University & the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - Ping Ma
- Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Yuk Fai Leung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine Lafayette, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Göring S, Bensinger D, Naumann EC, Schmidt B. Computer-Guided Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Quinoxalinebisarylureas as FLT3 Inhibitors. ChemMedChem 2015; 10:511-22. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201402477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Revised: 12/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
|
47
|
Indolinone based LRRK2 kinase inhibitors with a key hydrogen bond. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2014; 24:4630-4637. [PMID: 25219901 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.08.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Revised: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The most prevalent leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) mutation G2019S is associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). It enhances kinase activity and has been identified in both familial and sporadic cases. Kinase activity was reported to be required for LRRK2 mutants to exert their toxic effects. Hence LRRK2 kinase inhibition may be a promising therapeutic target for PD. Here we report on the discovery and characterization of indolinone based LRRK2 inhibitors. Indolinone 15b, the most potent and selective inhibitor of the present series, is characterized by an IC50 of 15nM against wild-type LRRK2 and 10nM against the LRRK2 G2019S mutant, respectively. Compound 15b was further evaluated in a kinase panel including 46 human protein kinases and in a zebrafish embryo phenotype assay, which enabled toxicity determination in whole organisms.
Collapse
|
48
|
Chhetri J, Jacobson G, Gueven N. Zebrafish--on the move towards ophthalmological research. Eye (Lond) 2014; 28:367-80. [PMID: 24503724 PMCID: PMC3983641 DOI: 10.1038/eye.2014.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2013] [Accepted: 01/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Millions of people are affected by visual impairment and blindness globally, and the prevalence of vision loss is likely to increase as we are living longer. However, many ocular diseases remain poorly controlled due to lack of proper understanding of the pathogenesis and the corresponding lack of effective therapies. Consequently, there is a major need for animal models that closely mirror the human eye pathology and at the same time allow higher-throughput drug screening approaches. In this context, zebrafish as an animal model organism not only address these needs but can in many respects reflect the human situation better than the current rodent models. Over the past decade, zebrafish have become an established model to study a variety of human diseases and are more recently becoming a valuable tool for the study of human ophthalmological disorders. Many human ocular diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration have already been modelled in zebrafish. In addition, zebrafish have become an attractive model for pre-clinical drug toxicity testing and are now increasingly used by scientists worldwide for the discovery of novel treatment approaches. This review presents the advantages and uses of zebrafish for ophthalmological research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Chhetri
- School of Pharmacy, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - G Jacobson
- School of Pharmacy, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - N Gueven
- School of Pharmacy, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| |
Collapse
|