1
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Cintra L, Yanicostas C, Soussi-Yanicostas N, Vianna Maurer-Morelli C. Effects of baicalin pre-treatment on pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures: Insights from zebrafish larvae locomotor behavior and neuronal calcium imaging. Epilepsy Behav 2024; 157:109866. [PMID: 38820680 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2024.109866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Natural compounds are increasingly being studied for their potential neuroprotective effects against inflammatory neurological diseases. Epilepsy is a common neurological disease associated with inflammatory processes, and around 30% of people with epilepsy do not respond to traditional treatments. Some flavonoids, when taken along with antiseizure medications can help reduce the likelihood of drug-resistant epilepsy. Baicalin, a plant-based compound, has been shown to possess pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anticonvulsant, and antioxidant activities. In this study, we tested the effect of baicalin on an established model of pharmacologically induced seizure in zebrafish using measures of both locomotor behavior and calcium imaging of neuronal activity. The results of our study showed that, at the tested concentration, and contrary to other studies in rodents, baicalin did not have an anti-seizure effect in zebrafish larvae. However, given its known properties, other concentrations and approaches should be explored to determine if it could potentially have other beneficial effects, either alone or when administered in combination with classic antiseizure medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laís Cintra
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Unicamp, School of Medical Science, Department of Translational Medicine, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Campinas
| | - Constantin Yanicostas
- NeuroDiderot, Inserm U1141, Université Paris Cité, Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris, France; Department of Biochemistry, University of Paris, INSERM, T3S, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Nadia Soussi-Yanicostas
- NeuroDiderot, Inserm U1141, Université Paris Cité, Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris, France; Department of Biochemistry, University of Paris, INSERM, T3S, 75006 Paris, France.
| | - Claudia Vianna Maurer-Morelli
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Unicamp, School of Medical Science, Department of Translational Medicine, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Campinas.
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2
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Lee HB, Shams S, Dang Thi VH, Boyum GE, Modhurima R, Hall EM, Green IK, Cervantes EM, Miguez FE, Clark KJ. Key HPI axis receptors facilitate light adaptive behavior in larval zebrafish. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7759. [PMID: 38565594 PMCID: PMC10987622 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57707-6] [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: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate stress response (SR) is mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and contributes to generating context appropriate physiological and behavioral changes. Although the HPA axis plays vital roles both in stressful and basal conditions, research has focused on the response under stress. To understand broader roles of the HPA axis in a changing environment, we characterized an adaptive behavior of larval zebrafish during ambient illumination changes. Genetic abrogation of glucocorticoid receptor (nr3c1) decreased basal locomotor activity in light and darkness. Some key HPI axis receptors (mc2r [ACTH receptor], nr3c1), but not nr3c2 (mineralocorticoid receptor), were required to adapt to light more efficiently but became dispensable when longer illumination was provided. Such light adaptation was more efficient in dimmer light. Our findings show that the HPI axis contributes to the SR, facilitating the phasic response and maintaining an adapted basal state, and that certain adaptations occur without HPI axis activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han B Lee
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Soaleha Shams
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Viet Ha Dang Thi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Grace E Boyum
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Rodsy Modhurima
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Emma M Hall
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Izzabella K Green
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | | | - Karl J Clark
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
- Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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3
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Myrov VO, Polovian AI, Kolchanova S, Galumov GK, Schiöth HB, Bozhko DV. Artificial Neural Network (ANN)-Based Pattern Recognition Approach Illustrates a Biphasic Behavioral Effect of Ethanol in Zebrafish: A High-Throughput Method for Animal Locomotor Analysis. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3215. [PMID: 38137436 PMCID: PMC10740670 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123215] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Variations in stress responses between individuals are linked to factors ranging from stress coping styles to the sensitivity of neurotransmitter systems. Many anxiolytic compounds can increase stressor engagement through the modulation of neurotransmitter systems and are used to investigate stress response mechanisms. The effect of such modulation may vary in time depending on concentration or environment, but those effects are hard to dissect because of the slow transition. We investigated the temporal effect of ethanol and found that ethanol-treated individual zebrafish larvae showed altered behavior that is different between drug concentrations and decreases with time. We used an artificial neural network approach with a time-dependent method for analyzing long (90 min) experiments on zebrafish larvae and found that individuals from the 0.5% group begin to show locomotor activity corresponding to the control group starting from the 60th minute. The locomotor activity of individuals from the 2% group after the 80th minute is classified as the activity of individuals from the 1.5% group. Our method shows three clusters of different concentrations in comparison with two clusters, which were obtained with the usage of a statistical approach for analyzing just the speed of fish movements. In addition, we show that such changes are not explained by basic behavior statistics such as speed and are caused by shifts in locomotion patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aleksandr I. Polovian
- ZebraML, Inc., Houston, TX 77043, USA
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | | | | | - Helgi B. Schiöth
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Dmitrii V. Bozhko
- ZebraML, Inc., Houston, TX 77043, USA
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden;
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4
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Lee H, Shams S, Dang Thi VH, Boyum G, Modhurima R, Hall E, Green I, Cervantes E, Miguez F, Clark K. The canonical HPA axis facilitates and maintains light adaptive behavior. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3240080. [PMID: 37720015 PMCID: PMC10503838 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3240080/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
The vertebrate stress response (SR) is mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and contributes to generating context appropriate physiological and behavioral changes. Although the HPA axis plays vital roles both in stressful and basal conditions, research has focused on the response under stress. To understand broader roles of the HPA axis in a changing environment, we characterized an adaptive behavior of larval zebrafish during ambient illumination changes. The glucocorticoid receptor (nr3c1) was necessary to maintain basal locomotor activity in light and darkness. The HPA axis was required to adapt to light more efficiently but became dispensable when longer illumination was provided. Light adaptation was more efficient in dimmer light and did not require the mineralocorticoid receptor (nr3c2). Our findings show that the HPA axis contributes to the SR at various stages, facilitating the phasic response and maintaining an adapted basal state, and that certain adaptations occur without HPA axis activity.
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5
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Wasilewska I, Majewski Ł, Adamek-Urbańska D, Mondal SS, Baranykova S, Gupta RK, Bielecki D, Winata CL, Kuznicki J. Lack of Stim2 Affects Vision-Dependent Behavior and Sensitivity to Hypoxia. Zebrafish 2023; 20:146-159. [PMID: 37590563 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2022.0068] [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] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Stromal interaction molecules (STIMs) are endoplasmic reticulum-resident proteins that regulate Ca2+ homeostasis and signaling by store-operated calcium entry (SOCE). The different properties and functions of STIM1 and STIM2 have been described mostly based on work in vitro. STIM2 knockout mice do not survive until adulthood. Therefore, we generated and characterized stim2a and stim2b double-knockout zebrafish. The (stim2a;stim2b)-/- zebrafish did not have any apparent morphological phenotype. However, RNA sequencing revealed 1424 differentially expressed genes. One of the most upregulated genes was annexin A3a, which is a marker of activated microglia. This corresponded well to an increase in Neutral Red staining in the in vivo imaging of the (stim2a;stim2b)-/- zebrafish brain. The lack of Stim2 decreased zebrafish survival under low oxygen conditions. Behavioral tests, such as the visual-motor response test and dark-light preference test, indicated that (stim2a;stim2b)-/- larvae might have problems with vision. This was consistent with the downregulation of many genes that are related to light perception. The periodic acid-Schiff staining of retina sections from adult zebrafish revealed alterations of the stratum pigmentosum, suggesting the involvement of a Stim2-dependent process in visual perception. Altogether, these data reveal new functions for Stim2 in the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iga Wasilewska
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Łukasz Majewski
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dobrochna Adamek-Urbańska
- Department of Ichthyology and Biotechnology in Aquaculture, Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Shamba S Mondal
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sofiia Baranykova
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rishikesh K Gupta
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dominik Bielecki
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Cecilia L Winata
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jacek Kuznicki
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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6
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Miot HA. Analysis of data with dependent measures in clinical and experimental studies. J Vasc Bras 2023; 22:e20220150. [PMID: 37333755 PMCID: PMC10275643 DOI: 10.1590/1677-5449.202201502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hélio Amante Miot
- Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” - UNESP, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - FMB, Departamento de Infectologia, Dermatologia, Diagnóstico por Imagem e Radioterapia, Botucatu, SP, Brasil.
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7
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Sato K, Liu Y, Yamashita T, Ohuchi H. The medaka mutant deficient in eyes shut homolog exhibits opsin transport defects and enhanced autophagy in retinal photoreceptors. Cell Tissue Res 2023; 391:249-267. [PMID: 36418571 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-022-03702-0] [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: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Eyes shut homolog (EYS) encodes a proteoglycan and the human mutation causes retinitis pigmentosa type 25 (RP25) with progressive retinal degeneration. RP25 most frequently affects autosomal recessive RP patients with many ethnic backgrounds. Although studies using RP models have facilitated the development of therapeutic medications, Eys has been lost in rodent model animals. Here we examined the roles for Eys in the maintenance of photoreceptor structure and function by generating eys-null medaka fish using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Medaka EYS protein was present near the connecting cilium of wild-type photoreceptors, while it was absent from the eys-/- retina. The mutant larvae exhibited a reduced visual motor response compared with wild-type. In contrast to reported eys-deficient zebrafish at the similar stage, no retinal cell death was detected in the 8-month post-hatching (8-mph) medaka eys mutant. Immunohistochemistry showed a significant reduction in the length of cone outer segments (OSs), retention of OS proteins in the inner segments of photoreceptors, and abnormal filamentous actin network at the base of cone OSs in the mutant retina by 8 mph. Electron microscopy revealed aberrant structure of calyceal processes, numerous vesiculation and lamellar interruptions, and autophagosomes in the eys-mutant cone photoreceptors. In situ hybridization showed an autophagy component gene, gabarap, was ectopically expressed in the eys-null retina. These results suggest eys is required for regeneration of OS, especially of cone photoreceptors, and transport of OS proteins by regulating actin filaments. Enhanced autophagy may delay the progression of retinal degeneration when lacking EYS in the medaka retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Sato
- Department of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan.
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Cytology and Histology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Takahiro Yamashita
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Hideyo Ohuchi
- Department of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan.
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8
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Brown-Panton CA, Sabour S, Zoidl GSO, Zoidl C, Tabatabaei N, Zoidl GR. Gap junction Delta-2b ( gjd2b/Cx35.1) depletion causes hyperopia and visual-motor deficiencies in the zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1150273. [PMID: 36936688 PMCID: PMC10017553 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1150273] [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: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish is a powerful model to investigate the developmental roles of electrical synapses because many signaling pathways that regulate the development of the nervous system are highly conserved from fish to humans. Here, we provide evidence linking the mammalian connexin-36 (Cx36) ortholog gjd2b/Cx35.1, a major component of electrical synapses in the zebrafish, with a refractive error in the context of morphological, molecular, and behavioral changes of zebrafish larvae. Two abnormalities were identified. The optical coherence tomography analysis of the adult retina confirmed changes to the refractive properties caused by eye axial length reduction, leading to hyperopic shifts. The gjd2b/Cx35.1 depletion was also correlated with morphological changes to the head and body ratios in larvae. The differential expression of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling genes, connexins, and dopamine receptors suggested a contribution to the observed phenotypic differences. The alteration of visual-motor behavioral responses to abrupt light transitions was aggravated in larvae, providing evidence that cone photoreceptor cell activity was enhanced when gjd2b/Cx35.1 was depleted. The visual disturbances were reversed under low light conditions in gjd2b -/- /Cx35.1-/- larvae. Since qRT-PCR data demonstrated that two rhodopsin genes were downregulated, we speculated that rod photoreceptor cells in gjd2b/Cx35.1-/- larvae were less sensitive to bright light transitions, thus providing additional evidence that a cone-mediated process caused the VMR light-ON hyperactivity after losing Cx35.1 expression. Together, this study provides evidence for the role of gjd2b/Cx35.1 in the development of the visual system and visually guided behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherie A. Brown-Panton
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Center for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Cherie A. Brown-Panton, ; Georg R. Zoidl,
| | - Shiva Sabour
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Georg S. O. Zoidl
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Center for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Christiane Zoidl
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Center for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nima Tabatabaei
- Center for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Georg R. Zoidl
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Center for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Cherie A. Brown-Panton, ; Georg R. Zoidl,
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9
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Licitra R, Marchese M, Naef V, Ogi A, Martinelli M, Kiferle C, Fronte B, Santorelli FM. A Review on the Bioactivity of Cannabinoids on Zebrafish Models: Emphasis on Neurodevelopment. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081820. [PMID: 36009367 PMCID: PMC9404760 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081820] [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: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
For centuries, the cannabis plant has been used as a source of food, fiber, and medicine. Recently, scientific interest in cannabis has increased considerably, as its bioactive compounds have shown promising potential in the treatment of numerous musculoskeletal and neurological diseases in humans. However, the mechanisms that underlie its possible effects on neurodevelopment and nervous-system functioning remain poorly understood and need to be further investigated. Although the bulk of research on cannabis and cannabinoids is based on in vitro or rodent models, the zebrafish has now emerged as a powerful in vivo model for drug-screening studies and translational research. We here review the available literature on the use of cannabis/cannabinoids in zebrafish, and particularly in zebrafish models of neurological disorders. A critical analysis suggests that zebrafish could serve as an experimental tool for testing the bioactivity of cannabinoids, and they could thus provide important insights into the safety and efficacy of different cannabis-extract-based products. The review showed that zebrafish exhibit similar behaviors to rodents following cannabinoid exposure. The authors stress the importance of analyzing the full spectrum of naturally occurring cannabinoids, rather than just the main ones, THC and CBD, and they offer some pointers on performing behavioral analysis in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Licitra
- Molecular Medicine and Neurobiology—ZebraLab, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (R.L.); (V.N.); (A.O.)
| | - Maria Marchese
- Molecular Medicine and Neurobiology—ZebraLab, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (R.L.); (V.N.); (A.O.)
- Correspondence: (M.M.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Valentina Naef
- Molecular Medicine and Neurobiology—ZebraLab, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (R.L.); (V.N.); (A.O.)
| | - Asahi Ogi
- Molecular Medicine and Neurobiology—ZebraLab, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (R.L.); (V.N.); (A.O.)
| | - Marco Martinelli
- PlantLab, Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (M.M.); (C.K.)
| | - Claudia Kiferle
- PlantLab, Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (M.M.); (C.K.)
| | - Baldassare Fronte
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Filippo Maria Santorelli
- Molecular Medicine and Neurobiology—ZebraLab, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (R.L.); (V.N.); (A.O.)
- Correspondence: (M.M.); (F.M.S.)
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10
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Zebrafish Larvae Behavior Models as a Tool for Drug Screenings and Pre-Clinical Trials: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126647. [PMID: 35743088 PMCID: PMC9223633 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
To discover new molecules or review the biological activity and toxicity of therapeutic substances, drug development, and research relies on robust biological systems to obtain reliable results. Phenotype-based screenings can transpose the organism’s compensatory pathways by adopting multi-target strategies for treating complex diseases, and zebrafish emerged as an important model for biomedical research and drug screenings. Zebrafish’s clear correlation between neuro-anatomical and physiological features and behavior is very similar to that verified in mammals, enabling the construction of reliable and relevant experimental models for neurological disorders research. Zebrafish presents highly conserved physiological pathways that are found in higher vertebrates, including mammals, along with a robust behavioral repertoire. Moreover, it is very sensitive to pharmacological/environmental manipulations, and these behavioral phenotypes are detected in both larvae and adults. These advantages align with the 3Rs concept and qualify the zebrafish as a powerful tool for drug screenings and pre-clinical trials. This review highlights important behavioral domains studied in zebrafish larvae and their neurotransmitter systems and summarizes currently used techniques to evaluate and quantify zebrafish larvae behavior in laboratory studies.
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11
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Bauer B, Mally A, Liedtke D. Zebrafish Embryos and Larvae as Alternative Animal Models for Toxicity Testing. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13417. [PMID: 34948215 PMCID: PMC8707050 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Prerequisite to any biological laboratory assay employing living animals is consideration about its necessity, feasibility, ethics and the potential harm caused during an experiment. The imperative of these thoughts has led to the formulation of the 3R-principle, which today is a pivotal scientific standard of animal experimentation worldwide. The rising amount of laboratory investigations utilizing living animals throughout the last decades, either for regulatory concerns or for basic science, demands the development of alternative methods in accordance with 3R to help reduce experiments in mammals. This demand has resulted in investigation of additional vertebrate species displaying favourable biological properties. One prominent species among these is the zebrafish (Danio rerio), as these small laboratory ray-finned fish are well established in science today and feature outstanding biological characteristics. In this review, we highlight the advantages and general prerequisites of zebrafish embryos and larvae before free-feeding stages for toxicological testing, with a particular focus on cardio-, neuro, hepato- and nephrotoxicity. Furthermore, we discuss toxicokinetics, current advances in utilizing zebrafish for organ toxicity testing and highlight how advanced laboratory methods (such as automation, advanced imaging and genetic techniques) can refine future toxicological studies in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Bauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Julius-Maximilians-University, 97078 Würzburg, Germany; (B.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Angela Mally
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Julius-Maximilians-University, 97078 Würzburg, Germany; (B.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Daniel Liedtke
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius-Maximilians-University, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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12
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Schellens R, de Vrieze E, Graave P, Broekman S, Nagel-Wolfrum K, Peters T, Kremer H, Collin RWJ, van Wijk E. Zebrafish as a Model to Evaluate a CRISPR/Cas9-Based Exon Excision Approach as a Future Treatment Option for EYS-Associated Retinitis Pigmentosa. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179154. [PMID: 34502064 PMCID: PMC8431288 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited retinal disease (IRD) with an overall prevalence of 1 in 4000 individuals. Mutations in EYS (Eyes shut homolog) are among the most frequent causes of non-syndromic autosomal recessively inherited RP and act via a loss-of-function mechanism. In light of the recent successes for other IRDs, we investigated the therapeutic potential of exon skipping for EYS-associated RP. CRISPR/Cas9 was employed to generate zebrafish from which the region encompassing the orthologous exons 37-41 of human EYS (eys exons 40-44) was excised from the genome. The excision of these exons was predicted to maintain the open reading frame and to result in the removal of exactly one Laminin G and two EGF domains. Although the eysΔexon40-44 transcript was found at levels comparable to wild-type eys, and no unwanted off-target modifications were identified within the eys coding sequence after single-molecule sequencing, EysΔexon40-44 protein expression could not be detected. Visual motor response experiments revealed that eysΔexon40-44 larvae were visually impaired and histological analysis revealed a progressive degeneration of the retinal outer nuclear layer in these zebrafish. Altogether, the data obtained in our zebrafish model currently provide no indications for the skipping of EYS exons 37-41 as an effective future treatment strategy for EYS-associated RP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renske Schellens
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.S.); (E.d.V.); (S.B.); (T.P.); (H.K.)
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Erik de Vrieze
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.S.); (E.d.V.); (S.B.); (T.P.); (H.K.)
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Pam Graave
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Sanne Broekman
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.S.); (E.d.V.); (S.B.); (T.P.); (H.K.)
| | - Kerstin Nagel-Wolfrum
- Institute for Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany;
- Institute for Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany
| | - Theo Peters
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.S.); (E.d.V.); (S.B.); (T.P.); (H.K.)
| | - Hannie Kremer
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.S.); (E.d.V.); (S.B.); (T.P.); (H.K.)
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Rob W. J. Collin
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Erwin van Wijk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.S.); (E.d.V.); (S.B.); (T.P.); (H.K.)
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
- Correspondence:
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13
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Sousa AP, Nunes B. Dangerous connections: biochemical and behavioral traits in Daphnia magna and Daphnia longispina exposed to ecologically relevant amounts of paracetamol. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:38792-38808. [PMID: 33740191 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13200-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Exposure of nontarget organisms to therapeutic agents can cause distinct toxic effects, even at low concentrations. Paracetamol is a painkiller drug, widely used in human and veterinary therapies, being frequently found in the aquatic compartment in considerable amounts. Its toxicity has already been established for some species, but its full ecotoxicological potential is still not sufficiently described. To characterize the ecotoxicity of paracetamol, the present study evaluated several parameters, such as acute immobilization (EC50 calculation), biochemical alterations, and behavioral effects, in two species of freshwater microcrustaceans of the genus Daphnia (D. magna and D. longispina). To increase the relevance of the data obtained, animals were exposed to levels of paracetamol similar to those already reported to occur in the wild. Data showed antioxidant responses in both species, namely an increase of catalase and GSTs activities in D. magna. On the contrary, effects of paracetamol on D. longispina included only an impairment of GSTs activity. Despite the absence of anticholinesterasic effects, behavioral modifications were also observed. This set of data indicates that realistic levels of paracetamol may trigger the activation of the antioxidant defense system of freshwater crustaceans, causing changes in behavioral traits (increase in swimming time, but with a reduction in swimming distance) of unknown etiology that are likely to affect normal life traits of wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Sousa
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Campus de Santiago, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Bruno Nunes
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Campus de Santiago, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
- Departamento de Biologia da Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
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14
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Standardized Method for the Assessment of Behavioral Responses of Zebrafish Larvae. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9080884. [PMID: 34440088 PMCID: PMC8389650 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9080884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish are easy to breed in a laboratory setting as they are extremely fertile and produce dozens of eggs per set. Because zebrafish eggs and the skin of the early-stage larvae are transparent, their embryos and the hearts and muscles of their larvae can be easily observed. Multiple rapid analyses of heart rate and behavior can be performed on these larvae simultaneously, enabling investigation of the influence of neuroactive substances on abnormal behavior, death, and associated pathogenetic mechanisms. Zebrafish larvae are becoming increasingly popular among researchers and are used in laboratories worldwide to study various vertebrate life phenomena; more experimental systems using zebrafish will undoubtedly be developed in the future. However, based on the available literature, we believe that the conceptualization of a protocol based on scientific evidence is necessary to achieve standardization. We exposed zebrafish larvae at 6–7 days post-fertilization to 50 repeated light–dark stimuli at either 15-min or 5-min intervals. We measured the traveled distance and habituation time through a video tracking apparatus. The traveled distance stabilized after the 16th repetition when the zebrafish were exposed to light–dark stimuli at 15-min intervals and after the 5th repetition when exposed at 5-min intervals. Additionally, at 15-min intervals, the peak of the traveled distance was reached within the first minute in a dark environment, whereas at 5-min intervals, it did not reach the peak even after 5 min. The traveled distance was more stable at 5-min intervals of light/dark stimuli than at 15-min intervals. Therefore, if one acclimatizes zebrafish larvae for 1 h and collects data from the 5th repetition of light/dark stimuli at intervals of 5 min in the light/dark test, a stable traveled distance result can be obtained. The establishment of this standardized method would be beneficial for investigating substances of unknown lethal concentration.
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15
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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.
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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
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16
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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.
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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
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17
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Sant KE, Annunziato K, Conlin S, Teicher G, Chen P, Venezia O, Downes GB, Park Y, Timme-Laragy AR. Developmental exposures to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) impact embryonic nutrition, pancreatic morphology, and adiposity in the zebrafish, Danio rerio. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 275:116644. [PMID: 33581636 PMCID: PMC8101273 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is a persistent environmental contaminant previously found in consumer surfactants and industrial fire-fighting foams. PFOS has been widely implicated in metabolic dysfunction across the lifespan, including diabetes and obesity. However, the contributions of the embryonic environment to metabolic disease remain uncharacterized. This study seeks to identify perturbations in embryonic metabolism, pancreas development, and adiposity due to developmental and subchronic PFOS exposures and their persistence into later larval and juvenile periods. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 16 or 32 μM PFOS developmentally (1-5 days post fertilization; dpf) or subchronically (1-15 dpf). Embryonic fatty acid and macronutrient concentrations and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) isoforms were quantified in embryos. Pancreatic islet morphometry was assessed at 15 and 30 dpf, and adiposity and fish behavior were assessed at 15 dpf. Concentrations of lauric (C12:0) and myristic (C14:0) saturated fatty acids were increased by PFOS at 4 dpf, and PPAR gene expression was reduced. Incidence of aberrant islet morphologies, principal islet areas, and adiposity were increased in 15 dpf larvae and 30 dpf juvenile fish. Together, these data suggest that the embryonic period is a susceptible window of metabolic programming in response to PFOS exposures, and that these early exposures alone can have persisting effects later in the lifecourse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karilyn E Sant
- Division of Environmental Health, San Diego State University School of Public Health, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
| | - Kate Annunziato
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Sarah Conlin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Gregory Teicher
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Phoebe Chen
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Olivia Venezia
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Gerald B Downes
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Yeonhwa Park
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Alicia R Timme-Laragy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
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18
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LIM Homeobox 4 (lhx4) regulates retinal neural differentiation and visual function in zebrafish. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1977. [PMID: 33479361 PMCID: PMC7820405 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81211-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
LIM homeobox 4 (LHX4) is expressed in the photoreceptors (PRs) of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and bipolar cells (BCs) of the inner nuclear layer (INL) in mouse and chicken retina. It regulates the subtype-specific development of rod BCs and cone BCs in the mouse retina. However, no report has been published on its expression and function in the zebrafish retina. In this study, we assessed the expression of Lhx4 using in situ hybridization (ISH) technique and explored its role in zebrafish (Danio rerio) retinal development via morpholino (MO) technology. We found that the expression of lhx4 in the zebrafish retina begins 48 h post-fertilization (hpf) and is continuously expressed in the ONL and INL. A zebrafish model constructed with lhx4 knockdown in the eyes through vivo-MO revealed that: lhx4 knockdown inhibits the differentiation of Parvalbumin+ amacrine cells (ACs) and Rhodopsin+ rod photoreceptors (RPs), enhances the expression of visual system homeobox 2 (vsx2); and damages the responses of zebrafish to light stimulus, without affecting the differentiation of OFF-BCs and rod BCs, and apoptosis in the retina. These findings reveal that lhx4 regulates neural differentiation in the retina and visual function during zebrafish embryonic development.
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19
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Knockout of stim2a Increases Calcium Oscillations in Neurons and Induces Hyperactive-Like Phenotype in Zebrafish Larvae. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176198. [PMID: 32867296 PMCID: PMC7503814 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Stromal interaction molecule (STIM) proteins play a crucial role in store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) as endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ sensors. In neurons, STIM2 was shown to have distinct functions from STIM1. However, its role in brain activity and behavior was not fully elucidated. The present study analyzed behavior in zebrafish (Danio rerio) that lacked stim2a. The mutant animals had no morphological abnormalities and were fertile. RNA-sequencing revealed alterations of the expression of transcription factor genes and several members of the calcium toolkit. Neuronal Ca2+ activity was measured in vivo in neurons that expressed the GCaMP5G sensor. Optic tectum neurons in stim2a-/- fish had more frequent Ca2+ signal oscillations compared with neurons in wildtype (WT) fish. We detected an increase in activity during the visual-motor response test, an increase in thigmotaxis in the open field test, and the disruption of phototaxis in the dark/light preference test in stim2a-/- mutants compared with WT. Both groups of animals reacted to glutamate and pentylenetetrazol with an increase in activity during the visual-motor response test, with no major differences between groups. Altogether, our results suggest that the hyperactive-like phenotype of stim2a-/- mutant zebrafish is caused by the dysregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis and signaling.
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20
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Castro VL, Reyes JF, Reyes-Nava NG, Paz D, Quintana AM. Hcfc1a regulates neural precursor proliferation and asxl1 expression in the developing brain. BMC Neurosci 2020; 21:27. [PMID: 32522152 PMCID: PMC7288482 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-020-00577-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Precise regulation of neural precursor cell (NPC) proliferation and differentiation is essential to ensure proper brain development and function. The HCFC1 gene encodes a transcriptional co-factor that regulates cell proliferation, and previous studies suggest that HCFC1 regulates NPC number and differentiation. However, the molecular mechanism underlying these cellular deficits has not been completely characterized. Methods Here we created a zebrafish harboring mutations in the hcfc1a gene (the hcfc1aco60/+ allele), one ortholog of HCFC1, and utilized immunohistochemistry and RNA-sequencing technology to understand the function of hcfc1a during neural development. Results The hcfc1aco60/+ allele results in an increased number of NPCs and increased expression of neuronal and glial markers. These neural developmental deficits are associated with larval hypomotility and the abnormal expression of asxl1, a polycomb transcription factor, which we identified as a downstream effector of hcfc1a. Inhibition of asxl1 activity and/or expression in larvae harboring the hcfc1aco60/+ allele completely restored the number of NPCs to normal levels. Conclusion Collectively, our data demonstrate that hcfc1a regulates NPC number, NPC proliferation, motor behavior, and brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria L Castro
- Department of Biological Sciences and Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Joel F Reyes
- Department of Biological Sciences and Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Nayeli G Reyes-Nava
- Department of Biological Sciences and Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - David Paz
- Department of Biological Sciences and Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Anita M Quintana
- Department of Biological Sciences and Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
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21
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Wasilewska I, Gupta RK, Wojtaś B, Palchevska O, Kuźnicki J. stim2b Knockout Induces Hyperactivity and Susceptibility to Seizures in Zebrafish Larvae. Cells 2020; 9:cells9051285. [PMID: 32455839 PMCID: PMC7291033 DOI: 10.3390/cells9051285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In neurons, stromal interaction molecule (STIM) proteins regulate store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) and are involved in calcium signaling pathways. However, STIM activity in neurological diseases is unclear and should be clarified by studies that are performed in vivo rather than in cultured cells in vitro. The present study investigated the role of neuronal Stim2b protein in zebrafish. We generated stim2b knockout zebrafish, which were fertile and had a regular lifespan. Using various behavioral tests, we found that stim2b−/− zebrafish larvae were hyperactive compared with wild-type fish. The mutants exhibited increases in mobility and thigmotaxis and disruptions of phototaxis. They were also more sensitive to pentylenetetrazol and glutamate treatments. Using lightsheet microscopy, a higher average oscillation frequency and higher average amplitude of neuronal Ca2+ oscillations were observed in stim2b−/− larvae. RNA sequencing detected upregulation of the annexin 3a and gpr39 genes and downregulation of the rrm2, neuroguidin, and homer2 genes. The latter gene encodes a protein that is involved in several processes that are involved in Ca2+ homeostasis in neurons, including metabotropic glutamate receptors. We propose that Stim2b deficiency in neurons dysregulates SOCE and triggers changes in gene expression, thereby causing abnormal behavior, such as hyperactivity and susceptibility to seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iga Wasilewska
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 4 Ks. Trojdena Street, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland; (I.W.); (R.K.G.); (O.P.)
| | - Rishikesh Kumar Gupta
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 4 Ks. Trojdena Street, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland; (I.W.); (R.K.G.); (O.P.)
| | - Bartosz Wojtaś
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Oksana Palchevska
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 4 Ks. Trojdena Street, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland; (I.W.); (R.K.G.); (O.P.)
| | - Jacek Kuźnicki
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 4 Ks. Trojdena Street, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland; (I.W.); (R.K.G.); (O.P.)
- Correspondence:
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22
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Karpenko S, Wolf S, Lafaye J, Le Goc G, Panier T, Bormuth V, Candelier R, Debrégeas G. From behavior to circuit modeling of light-seeking navigation in zebrafish larvae. eLife 2020; 9:52882. [PMID: 31895038 PMCID: PMC6989119 DOI: 10.7554/elife.52882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Bridging brain-scale circuit dynamics and organism-scale behavior is a central challenge in neuroscience. It requires the concurrent development of minimal behavioral and neural circuit models that can quantitatively capture basic sensorimotor operations. Here, we focus on light-seeking navigation in zebrafish larvae. Using a virtual reality assay, we first characterize how motor and visual stimulation sequences govern the selection of discrete swim-bout events that subserve the fish navigation in the presence of a distant light source. These mechanisms are combined into a comprehensive Markov-chain model of navigation that quantitatively predicts the stationary distribution of the fish’s body orientation under any given illumination profile. We then map this behavioral description onto a neuronal model of the ARTR, a small neural circuit involved in the orientation-selection of swim bouts. We demonstrate that this visually-biased decision-making circuit can capture the statistics of both spontaneous and contrast-driven navigation. All animals with the ability to move use sensory signals to help them navigate towards areas that seem better than their current location. Such areas might contain desirable things like food and mates, or they might allow an animal to escape from threats such as predators. But how the brain gives rise to this navigation behavior is unclear. Karpenko et al. have now obtained insights into the underlying mechanism by studying a behavior in zebrafish larvae called phototaxis. Phototaxis is the tendency to move in response to light. The advantage of using zebrafish larvae to study this behavior is that their brains are small and semi-transparent. This makes it possible to record the activity of almost every neuron. As a result, an individual’s brain activity can be mapped on to their behavior more precisely than in most other species. To probe how visual cues influence fish behavior, Karpenko et al. exposed individual fish to a carefully controlled virtual light source and then tracked their movements with a camera. The fish used two strategies to move towards the light. They selected their next movement based partly on the difference in the amount of light reaching each of their eyes, and partly on the change in overall brightness with each swim movement. Karpenko et al. used this information to build a numerical model of fish phototaxis, and to show how a simple brain circuit could generate this behavior. Species whose brains differ in size and structure may nevertheless develop similar strategies to perform similar tasks. By quantifying a generic behavior in a simple animal model, this study could provide insights into comparable behaviors in other species. In addition, the study suggests a simple mechanism for how animals select actions on the basis of sensory signals, which may also be relevant to other species and other tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Karpenko
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS), Laboratoire Jean Perrin (LJP), Paris, France.,Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Paris, France
| | - Sebastien Wolf
- Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS UMR 8023 & PSL Research, Paris, France.,Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, UMR 8197 & PSL Research, Paris, France
| | - Julie Lafaye
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS), Laboratoire Jean Perrin (LJP), Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Le Goc
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS), Laboratoire Jean Perrin (LJP), Paris, France
| | - Thomas Panier
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS), Laboratoire Jean Perrin (LJP), Paris, France
| | - Volker Bormuth
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS), Laboratoire Jean Perrin (LJP), Paris, France
| | - Raphaël Candelier
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS), Laboratoire Jean Perrin (LJP), Paris, France
| | - Georges Debrégeas
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS), Laboratoire Jean Perrin (LJP), Paris, France
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Xie R, Zhang M, Venkatraman P, Zhang X, Zhang G, Carmer R, Kantola SA, Pang CP, Ma P, Zhang M, Zhong W, Leung YF. Normalization of large-scale behavioural data collected from zebrafish. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212234. [PMID: 30768618 PMCID: PMC6377122 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Many contemporary neuroscience experiments utilize high-throughput approaches to simultaneously collect behavioural data from many animals. The resulting data are often complex in structure and are subjected to systematic biases, which require new approaches for analysis and normalization. This study addressed the normalization need by establishing an approach based on linear-regression modeling. The model was established using a dataset of visual motor response (VMR) obtained from several strains of wild-type (WT) zebrafish collected at multiple stages of development. The VMR is a locomotor response triggered by drastic light change, and is commonly measured repeatedly from multiple larvae arrayed in 96-well plates. This assay is subjected to several systematic variations. For example, the light emitted by the machine varies slightly from well to well. In addition to the light-intensity variation, biological replication also created batch-batch variation. These systematic variations may result in differences in the VMR and must be normalized. Our normalization approach explicitly modeled the effect of these systematic variations on VMR. It also normalized the activity profiles of different conditions to a common baseline. Our approach is versatile, as it can incorporate different normalization needs as separate factors. The versatility was demonstrated by an integrated normalization of three factors: light-intensity variation, batch-batch variation and baseline. After normalization, new biological insights were revealed from the data. For example, we found larvae of TL strain at 6 days post-fertilization (dpf) responded to light onset much stronger than the 9-dpf larvae, whereas previous analysis without normalization shows that their responses were relatively comparable. By removing systematic variations, our model-based normalization can facilitate downstream statistical comparisons and aid detecting true biological differences in high-throughput studies of neurobehaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Xie
- Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Mengrui Zhang
- Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Prahatha Venkatraman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Xinlian Zhang
- Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Gaonan Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Robert Carmer
- Department of Statistics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Skylar A. Kantola
- 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 SAR, China
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - Ping Ma
- Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Mingzhi Zhang
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
- * E-mail: (MZ); (WZ); (YFL)
| | - Wenxuan Zhong
- Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MZ); (WZ); (YFL)
| | - 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
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
- Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MZ); (WZ); (YFL)
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24
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Hartmann S, Vogt R, Kunze J, Rauschert A, Kuhnert KD, Wanzenböck J, Lamatsch DK, Witte K. Zebrafish larvae show negative phototaxis to near-infrared light. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207264. [PMID: 30485324 PMCID: PMC6261574 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio) are among the most used model species to test biological effects of different substances in biomedical research, neuroscience and ecotoxicology. Most tests are based on changes in swimming activity of zebrafish larvae by using commercially available high-throughput screening systems. These systems record and analyse behaviour patterns using visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) light sources, to simulate day (VIS) and night (NIR) phases, which allow continuous recording of the behaviour using a NIR sensitive camera. So far, however, the sensitivity of zebrafish larvae to NIR has never been tested experimentally, although being a critical piece of information for interpreting their behaviour under experimental conditions. Here, we investigated the swimming activity of 96 hpf (hours post fertilization) and 120 hpf zebrafish larvae under light sources of NIR at 860 nm and at 960 nm wavelength and under VIS light. A thermal source was simultaneously presented opposite to one of the light sources as control. We found that zebrafish larvae of both larval stages showed a clear negative phototactic response towards 860 nm NIR light and to VIS light, but not to 960 nm NIR light. Our results demonstrated that zebrafish larvae are able to perceive NIR at 860 nm, which is almost identical to the most commonly used light source in commercial screening systems (NIR at 850 nm) to create a dark environment. These tests, however, are not performed in the dark from the zebrafish´s point of view. We recommend testing sensitivity of the used test organism before assuming no interaction with the applied light source of commonly used biosensor test systems. Previous studies on biological effects of substances to zebrafish larvae should be interpreted with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Hartmann
- Research Group of Ecology and Behavioural Biology, Institute of Biology, Department of Chemistry-Biology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Roland Vogt
- Research Department for Limnology, Mondsee, University of Innsbruck, Mondsee, Austria
| | - Jan Kunze
- Institute of Real-time Learning Systems, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Anna Rauschert
- Research Group of Ecology and Behavioural Biology, Institute of Biology, Department of Chemistry-Biology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Klaus-Dieter Kuhnert
- Institute of Real-time Learning Systems, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Josef Wanzenböck
- Research Department for Limnology, Mondsee, University of Innsbruck, Mondsee, Austria
| | - Dunja K. Lamatsch
- Research Department for Limnology, Mondsee, University of Innsbruck, Mondsee, Austria
| | - Klaudia Witte
- Research Group of Ecology and Behavioural Biology, Institute of Biology, Department of Chemistry-Biology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
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C2orf71a/pcare1 is important for photoreceptor outer segment morphogenesis and visual function in zebrafish. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9675. [PMID: 29946172 PMCID: PMC6018674 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27928-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in C2orf71 are causative for autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa and occasionally cone-rod dystrophy. We have recently discovered that the protein encoded by this gene is important for modulation of the ciliary membrane through the recruitment of an actin assembly module, and have therefore renamed the gene to PCARE (photoreceptor cilium actin regulator). Here, we report on the identification of two copies of the c2orf71/pcare gene in zebrafish, pcare1 and pcare2. To study the role of the gene most similar to human PCARE, pcare1, we have generated a stable pcare1 mutant zebrafish model (designated pcare1rmc100/rmc100) in which the coding sequence was disrupted using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Retinas of both embryonic (5 dpf) and adult (6 mpf) pcare1rmc100/rmc100 zebrafish display a clear disorganization of photoreceptor outer segments, resembling the phenotype observed in Pcare−/− mice. Optokinetic response and visual motor response measurements indicated visual impairment in pcare1rmc100/rmc100 zebrafish larvae at 5 dpf. In addition, electroretinogram measurements showed decreased b-wave amplitudes in pcare1rmc100/rmc100 zebrafish as compared to age- and strain-matched wild-type larvae, indicating a defect in the transretinal current. Altogether, our data show that lack of pcare1 causes a retinal phenotype in zebrafish and indicate that the function of the PCARE gene is conserved across species.
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Mutation of IPO13 causes recessive ocular coloboma, microphthalmia, and cataract. Exp Mol Med 2018; 50:1-11. [PMID: 29700284 PMCID: PMC5938035 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-018-0079-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ocular coloboma is a developmental structural defect of the eye that often occurs as complex ocular anomalies. However, its genetic etiology remains largely unexplored. Here we report the identification of mutation (c.331C>T, p.R111C) in the IPO13 gene in a consanguineous family with ocular coloboma, microphthalmia, and cataract by a combination of whole-exome sequencing and homozygosity mapping. IPO13 encodes an importin-B family protein and has been proven to be associated with the pathogenesis of coloboma and microphthalmia. We found that Ipo13 was expressed in the cornea, sclera, lens, and retina in mice. Additionally, the mRNA expression level of Ipo13 decreased significantly in the patient compared with its expression in a healthy individual. Morpholino-oligonucleotide-induced knockdown of ipo13 in zebrafish caused dose-dependent microphthalmia and coloboma, which is highly similar to the ocular phenotypes in the patient. Moreover, both visual motor response and optokinetic response were impaired severely. Notably, these ocular phenotypes in ipo13-deficient zebrafish could be rescued remarkably by full-length ipo13 mRNA, suggesting that the phenotypes observed in zebrafish were due to insufficient ipo13 function. Altogether, our findings demonstrate, for the first time, a new role of IPO13 in eye morphogenesis and that loss of function of IPO13 could lead to ocular coloboma, microphthalmia, and cataract in humans and zebrafish. In-depth genomic analysis of the family of a young man with severe visual impairment reveals a new gene involved in eye development. Ocular coloboma encompasses various hereditary disorders in which the eyes form improperly. Many of the underlying genetic factors remain unidentified. Researchers led by Zi-Bing Jin at Wenzhou Medical University in China sequenced the genes of 28-year-old man with a recessive form of ocular coloboma. By comparing these genetic data against equivalent genome sequences from his healthy parents, Jin’s team identified a gene called IPO13 as the culprit. IPO13 has not been linked to human disease before, but the researchers demonstrated that switching off IPO13 expression in zebrafish embryos gave rise to underdeveloped eyes with defects in the iris and cornea. These findings give clinicians another potential indicator for early diagnosis of ocular coloboma.
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Nonlinear mixed-modelling discriminates the effect of chemicals and their mixtures on zebrafish behavior. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1999. [PMID: 29386525 PMCID: PMC5792435 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20112-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) early-life stage behavior has the potential for high-throughput screening of neurotoxic environmental contaminants. However, zebrafish embryo and larval behavioral assessments typically utilize linear analyses of mean activity that may not capture the complexity of the behavioral response. Here we tested the hypothesis that nonlinear mixed-modelling of zebrafish embryo and larval behavior provides a better assessment of the impact of chemicals and their mixtures. We demonstrate that zebrafish embryo photomotor responses (PMRs) and larval light/dark locomotor activities can be fit by asymmetric Lorentzian and Ricker-beta functions, respectively, which estimate the magnitude of activity (e.g., maximum and total activities) and temporal aspects (e.g., duration of the responses and its excitatory periods) characterizing early life-stage zebrafish behavior. We exposed zebrafish embryos and larvae to neuroactive chemicals, including isoproterenol, serotonin, and ethanol, as well as their mixtures, to assess the feasibility of using the nonlinear mixed-modelling to assess behavioral modulation. Exposure to chemicals led to distinct effects on specific behavioral characteristics, and interactive effects on temporal characteristics of the behavioral response that were overlooked by the linear analyses of mean activity. Overall, nonlinear mixed-modelling is a more comprehensive approach for screening the impact of chemicals and chemical mixtures on zebrafish behavior.
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28
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van den Bos R, Zethof J, Flik G, Gorissen M. Light regimes differentially affect baseline transcript abundance of stress-axis and (neuro)development-related genes in zebrafish ( Danio rerio, Hamilton 1822) AB and TL larvae. Biol Open 2017; 6:1692-1697. [PMID: 28982701 PMCID: PMC5703615 DOI: 10.1242/bio.028969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Many strains of zebrafish (Danio rerio) are readily available. Earlier we observed differences between AB and Tupfel long-fin (TL) larvae regarding baseline hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis activity and (neuro)development. Light regimes, i.e. 14 h light:10 h dark and 24 h continuous dark or light, affect hatching rate and larval growth. Here, we assessed baseline transcript abundance of HPI-axis-related genes and (neuro)development-related genes of AB and TL larvae (5 days post fertilisation) using these light regimes. A principal component analysis revealed that in AB larvae the baseline expression of HPI-axis-related genes was higher the more hours of light, while the expression of (neuro)development-related genes was higher under 14 h light:10 h dark than under both continuous light or dark. In TL larvae, a complex pattern emerged regarding baseline expression of HPI-axis-related and (neuro)development-related genes. These data extend data of earlier studies by showing that light regimes affect gene-expression in larvae, and more importantly so, strengthen the notion of differences between larvae of the AB and TL strain. The latter finding adds to the growing database of phenotypical differences between zebrafish of the AB and TL strain. Summary: This study shows gene expression levels of zebrafish AB and TL larvae differ in relation to light regimes, strengthening earlier observations: AB and TL are not interchangeable strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruud van den Bos
- Radboud University, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Zethof
- Radboud University, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gert Flik
- Radboud University, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marnix Gorissen
- Radboud University, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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29
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Stowers JR, Hofbauer M, Bastien R, Griessner J, Higgins P, Farooqui S, Fischer RM, Nowikovsky K, Haubensak W, Couzin ID, Tessmar-Raible K, Straw AD. Virtual reality for freely moving animals. Nat Methods 2017; 14:995-1002. [PMID: 28825703 PMCID: PMC6485657 DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.4399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Standard animal behavior paradigms incompletely mimic nature and thus limit our understanding of behavior and brain function. Virtual reality (VR) can help, but it poses challenges. Typical VR systems require movement restrictions but disrupt sensorimotor experience, causing neuronal and behavioral alterations. We report the development of FreemoVR, a VR system for freely moving animals. We validate immersive VR for mice, flies, and zebrafish. FreemoVR allows instant, disruption-free environmental reconfigurations and interactions between real organisms and computer-controlled agents. Using the FreemoVR platform, we established a height-aversion assay in mice and studied visuomotor effects in Drosophila and zebrafish. Furthermore, by photorealistically mimicking zebrafish we discovered that effective social influence depends on a prospective leader balancing its internally preferred directional choice with social interaction. FreemoVR technology facilitates detailed investigations into neural function and behavior through the precise manipulation of sensorimotor feedback loops in unrestrained animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R. Stowers
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
- loopbio gmbh, Kritzendorf, Austria
| | - Maximilian Hofbauer
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
- loopbio gmbh, Kritzendorf, Austria
- Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Renaud Bastien
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
- Chair of Biodiversity and Collective Behaviour, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Johannes Griessner
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Higgins
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sarfarazhussain Farooqui
- Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Medizinische Universität Wien, Dept. for Internal Medicine I, 1090 Wien, Austria
| | - Ruth M. Fischer
- Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Nowikovsky
- Medizinische Universität Wien, Dept. for Internal Medicine I, 1090 Wien, Austria
| | - Wulf Haubensak
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Iain D. Couzin
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
- Chair of Biodiversity and Collective Behaviour, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Kristin Tessmar-Raible
- Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrew D. Straw
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Biology I and Bernstein Center Freiburg, Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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30
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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.
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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.
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31
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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.
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Further characterisation of differences between TL and AB zebrafish (Danio rerio): Gene expression, physiology and behaviour at day 5 of the larval stage. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0175420. [PMID: 28419104 PMCID: PMC5395159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have become popular as model organism in research. Many strains are readily available, which not only differ morphologically, but also genetically, physiologically and behaviourally. Here, we focus on the AB and Tupfel long-fin (TL) strain for which we have previously shown that adults differ in baseline hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal (HPI)-axis activity (AB higher than TL) affecting inhibitory avoidance behaviour (absent in AB). To assess whether strain differences are already present in early life stages, we compared baseline HPI-axis related gene expression as well as cortisol levels, (neuro)development related as well as (innate) immune system related gene expression, and light-dark as well as startle behaviour in larvae 5 days post fertilisation. The data show that AB and TL larvae differ in baseline HPI-axis activity (AB higher than TL), expression of (neuro)development and immune system related genes (AB higher than TL), habituation to acoustic/vibrational stimuli (AB habituate faster than TL) and light-dark induced changes in motor behaviour (AB stronger than TL). Our data show that already in larval stages differences exist between zebrafish of the AB and TL strain confirming and extending data of earlier studies. To what extent the mutation in connexin 41.8, leading to spots rather than stripes in TL, but also (possibly) affecting eye, heart and brain function, is involved in the expression of (some of) these differences needs to be studied. These results emphasise that differences between strains need to be taken into account to enhance reproducibility both within, and between, laboratories.
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33
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Zhang G, Truong L, Tanguay RL, Reif DM. A New Statistical Approach to Characterize Chemical-Elicited Behavioral Effects in High-Throughput Studies Using Zebrafish. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169408. [PMID: 28099482 PMCID: PMC5242475 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish have become an important alternative model for characterizing chemical bioactivity, partly due to the efficiency at which systematic, high-dimensional data can be generated. However, these new data present analytical challenges associated with scale and diversity. We developed a novel, robust statistical approach to characterize chemical-elicited effects in behavioral data from high-throughput screening (HTS) of all 1,060 Toxicity Forecaster (ToxCast™) chemicals across 5 concentrations at 120 hours post-fertilization (hpf). Taking advantage of the immense scale of data for a global view, we show that this new approach reduces bias introduced by extreme values yet allows for diverse response patterns that confound the application of traditional statistics. We have also shown that, as a summary measure of response for local tests of chemical-associated behavioral effects, it achieves a significant reduction in coefficient of variation compared to many traditional statistical modeling methods. This effective increase in signal-to-noise ratio augments statistical power and is observed across experimental periods (light/dark conditions) that display varied distributional response patterns. Finally, we integrated results with data from concomitant developmental endpoint measurements to show that appropriate statistical handling of HTS behavioral data can add important biological context that informs mechanistic hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guozhu Zhang
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Lisa Truong
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Robert L. Tanguay
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - David M. Reif
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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