1
|
Chen X, Li Y, Qin Z. Developing a novel quantitative parameter for characterizing spatial distribution of fish following exposure to chemicals and wastewater: Behavioral Gini coefficient. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 141:129-138. [PMID: 38408814 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
While the spatial distribution pattern of fish is increasingly used for toxicological test of chemicals or wastewater, no ideal parameter is available for quantitative assessment of spatial distribution, especially uneven distribution with multiple hotspots. Here, to develop a quantitative assessment parameter for spatial distribution, the zebrafish were exposed to ethanol, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), paraquat dichloride (paraquat) and wastewater, followed by a behavioral test in a narrow tank. Behavioral data was acquired and analyzed by idTracker and MATLAB. By comparing the effects of all treatments on behavior parameters, we confirmed that the spatial distribution was more easily altered rather than general locomotor parameters, e.g. 0.7-70 mg/L PTZ and 5-20 mg/L paraquat being effective for altering spatial distribution but having little effects on general locomotor parameters. Based on the heatmap, i.e., the cumulative proportion of grids and that of frequency in grids, we calculated the behavioral Gini coefficient (Gb) for quantitative assessment of fish spatial distribution. The Gini coefficient ranged from zero to 1, with larger values meaning poorer evenness of spatial distribution. Of note, Gb showed smaller coefficient of variations (CV) with 3%-19% between replicate tanks in all treatments than the highest frequency (4%-79%), displaying well robustness. Especially, Gb addressed the challenge of the complicated heatmap with multiple hotspots. Overall, the behavioral Gini coefficient we established is an ideal parameter to quantitatively assess spatial distribution of fish shoal, which is expected to be applied in toxicity testing for chemicals and wastewater and automatic quality monitoring for surface water and aquaculture water.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuanyue Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhanfen Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nagpal J, Eachus H, Lityagina O, Ryu S. Optogenetic induction of chronic glucocorticoid exposure in early-life leads to blunted stress-response in larval zebrafish. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:3134-3146. [PMID: 38602078 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS) exposure alters stress susceptibility in later life and affects vulnerability to stress-related disorders, but how ELS changes the long-lasting responsiveness of the stress system is not well understood. Zebrafish provides an opportunity to study conserved mechanisms underlying the development and function of the stress response that is regulated largely by the neuroendocrine hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal/interrenal (HPA/I) axis, with glucocorticoids (GC) as the final effector. In this study, we established a method to chronically elevate endogenous GC levels during early life in larval zebrafish. To this end, we employed an optogenetic actuator, beggiatoa photoactivated adenylyl cyclase, specifically expressed in the interrenal cells of zebrafish and demonstrate that its chronic activation leads to hypercortisolaemia and dampens the acute-stress evoked cortisol levels, across a variety of stressor modalities during early life. This blunting of stress-response was conserved in ontogeny at a later developmental stage. Furthermore, we observe a strong reduction of proopiomelanocortin (pomc)-expression in the pituitary as well as upregulation of fkbp5 gene expression. Going forward, we propose that this model can be leveraged to tease apart the mechanisms underlying developmental programming of the HPA/I axis by early-life GC exposure and its implications for vulnerability and resilience to stress in adulthood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jatin Nagpal
- University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- APC Microbiome Ireland and School of Pharmacy and Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Helen Eachus
- Living Systems Institute & Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Olga Lityagina
- University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Soojin Ryu
- University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Living Systems Institute & Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yeramilli V, Rizek CS, Graham J, Taylor C, Cheddadi R, Patterson S, Watts S, Martin C. Parental preconception stress in zebrafish induces long-lasting anxiety in offspring. Physiol Behav 2024; 277:114477. [PMID: 38301945 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
The growth and function of the vertebrate brain are impacted by environmental stimuli and early life stress. Adults who experience chronic stress during early life are more likely to suffer various neurodevelopmental and health issues. However, our understanding of how these specific environmental signals at different developmental stages affect brain development is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated if stress in parents prior to conception modulates neurodevelopment in offspring. We used a chronic unpredictable stress model adapted to zebrafish, which is an increasingly popular vertebrate model in neuroscience research to investigate the effects of both maternal and paternal preconception stress on offspring behavior. We evaluated the responsiveness of three anxiety-related behavioral paradigms in zebrafish: the novel tank test, thigmotaxis, and shoaling behavior. We found larvae from stressed females exhibited anxiety-like behavior in a thigmotaxis assay. As these larvae matured into adults, they continued to exhibit anxiety-like behavior in a novel tank and shoaling behavioral assay. These studies indicate preconception stress exposure in parents can induce life-long alterations in offspring neurodevelopment. Further, these results expand the hypothesis that chronically elevated glucocorticoid signaling not only in stressed mothers, but also stressed dads can affect neurodevelopment in offspring. We propose that zebrafish may be a useful model to study the transgenerational effects of chronic stress mediated via the maternal and paternal line.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Venkata Yeramilli
- Dept of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, US
| | | | - Jessica Graham
- Dept of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, US
| | - Christopher Taylor
- Dept of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, US
| | - Riadh Cheddadi
- Dept of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, US
| | - Sophie Patterson
- Dept of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, US
| | - Stephen Watts
- Dept of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, US
| | - Colin Martin
- Dept of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, US.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Chang WC, Chen MJ, Hsiao CD, Hu RZ, Huang YS, Chen YF, Yang TH, Tsai GY, Chou CW, Chen RS, Chuang YJ, Liu YW. The anti-platelet drug cilostazol enhances heart rate and interrenal steroidogenesis and exerts a scant effect on innate immune responses in zebrafish. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292858. [PMID: 37903128 PMCID: PMC10615288 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Cilostazol, an anti-platelet phosphodiesterase-3 inhibitor used for the treatment of intermittent claudication, is known for its pleiotropic effects on platelets, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. However, how cilostazol impacts the endocrine system and the injury-induced inflammatory processes remains unclear. METHODS We used the zebrafish, a simple transparent model that demonstrates rapid development and a strong regenerative ability, to test whether cilostazol influences heart rate, steroidogenesis, and the temporal and dosage effects of cilostazol on innate immune cells during tissue damage and repair. RESULTS While dosages of cilostazol from 10 to 100 μM did not induce any noticeable morphological abnormality in the embryonic and larval zebrafish, the heart rate was increased as measured by ImageJ TSA method. Moreover, adrenal/interrenal steroidogenesis in larval zebrafish, analyzed by whole-mount 3β-Hsd enzymatic activity and cortisol ELISA assays, was significantly enhanced. During embryonic fin amputation and regeneration, cilostazol treatments led to a subtle yet significant effect on reducing the aggregation of Mpx-expressing neutrophil at the lesion site, but did not affect the immediate injury-induced recruitment and retention of Mpeg1-expressing macrophages. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that cilostazol has a significant effect on the heart rate and the growth as well as endocrine function of steroidogenic tissue; with a limited effect on the migration of innate immune cells during tissue damage and repair.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Chun Chang
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Feng Yuan Hospital of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Jen Chen
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Der Hsiao
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taiwan
| | - Rong-Ze Hu
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Shan Huang
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Fu Chen
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Tsai-Hua Yang
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Guan-Yi Tsai
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Wei Chou
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ren-Shiang Chen
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Jen Chuang
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Wen Liu
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Graves CL, Norloff E, Thompson D, Kosyk O, Sang Y, Chen A, Zannas AS, Wallet SM. Chronic early life stress alters the neuroimmune profile and functioning of the developing zebrafish gut. Brain Behav Immun Health 2023; 31:100655. [PMID: 37449287 PMCID: PMC10336164 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2023.100655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic early life stress (ELS) potently impacts the developing central nervous and immune systems and is associated with the onset of gastrointestinal disease in humans. Though the gut-brain axis is appreciated to be a major target of the stress response, the underlying mechanisms linking ELS to gut dysfunction later in life is incompletely understood. Zebrafish are a powerful model validated for stress research and have emerged as an important tool in delineating neuroimmune mechanisms in the developing gut. Here, we developed a novel model of ELS and utilized a comparative transcriptomics approach to assess how chronic ELS modulated expression of neuroimmune genes in the developing gut and brain. Zebrafish exposed to ELS throughout larval development exhibited anxiety-like behavior and altered expression of neuroimmune genes in a time- and tissue-dependent manner. Further, the altered gut neuroimmune profile, which included increased expression of genes associated with neuronal modulation, correlated with a reduction in enteric neuronal density and delayed gut transit. Together, these findings provide insights into the mechanisms linking ELS with gastrointestinal dysfunction and highlight the zebrafish model organism as a valuable tool in uncovering how "the body keeps the score."
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina L. Graves
- Division of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Carolina Stress Initiative, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
| | - Erik Norloff
- Division of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Darius Thompson
- Division of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Oksana Kosyk
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yingning Sang
- Division of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Angela Chen
- Division of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Anthony S. Zannas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
- Carolina Stress Initiative, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
| | - Shannon M. Wallet
- Division of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Natsaridis E, Perdikaris P, Fokos S, Dermon CR. Neuronal and Astroglial Localization of Glucocorticoid Receptor GRα in Adult Zebrafish Brain ( Danio rerio). Brain Sci 2023; 13:861. [PMID: 37371341 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13060861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoid receptor α (GRα), a ligand-regulated transcription factor, mainly activated by cortisol in humans and fish, mediates neural allostatic and homeostatic functions induced by different types of acute and chronic stress, and systemic inflammation. Zebrafish GRα is suggested to have multiple transcriptional effects essential for normal development and survival, similarly to mammals. While sequence alignments of human, monkey, rat, and mouse GRs have shown many GRα isoforms, we questioned the protein expression profile of GRα in the adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) brain using an alternative model for stress-related neuropsychiatric research, by means of Western blot, immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence. Our results identified four main GRα-like immunoreactive bands (95 kDa, 60 kDa, 45 kDa and 35 kDa), with the 95 kDa protein showing highest expression in forebrain compared to midbrain and hindbrain. GRα showed a wide distribution throughout the antero-posterior zebrafish brain axis, with the most prominent labeling within the telencephalon, preoptic, hypothalamus, midbrain, brain stem, central grey, locus coeruleus and cerebellum. Double immunofluorescence revealed that GRα is coexpressed in TH+, β2-AR+ and vGLUT+ neurons, suggesting the potential of GRα influences on adrenergic and glutamatergic transmission. Moreover, GRα was co-localized in midline astroglial cells (GFAP+) within the telencephalon, hypothalamus and hindbrain. Interestingly, GRα expression was evident in the brain regions involved in adaptive stress responses, social behavior, and sensory and motor integration, supporting the evolutionarily conserved features of glucocorticoid receptors in the zebrafish brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evangelos Natsaridis
- Laboratory of Human and Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Perdikaris
- Laboratory of Human and Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Stefanos Fokos
- Laboratory of Human and Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Catherine R Dermon
- Laboratory of Human and Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece
| |
Collapse
|