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Zheng Y, Yang M, Chen X, Zhang G, Wan S, Zhang B, Huo J, Liu H. Decreased tubulin-binding cofactor B was involved in the formation disorder of nascent astrocyte processes by regulating microtubule plus-end growth through binding with end-binding proteins 1 and 3 after chronic alcohol exposure. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:989945. [PMID: 36385945 PMCID: PMC9641617 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.989945] [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: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a neurological disease caused by excessive drinking during pregnancy and characterized by congenital abnormalities in the structure and function of the fetal brain. This study was proposed to provide new insights into the pathogenesis of FAS by revealing the possible mechanisms of alcohol-induced astrocyte injury. First, a chronic alcohol exposure model of astrocytes was established, and the formation disorder was found in astrocyte processes where tubulin-binding cofactor B (TBCB) was decreased or lost, accompanied by disorganized microtubules (MT). Second, to understand the relationship between TBCB reduction and the formation disorder of astrocyte processes, TBCB was silenced or overexpressed. It caused astrocyte processes to retract or lose after silencing, while the processes increased with expending basal part and obtuse tips after overexpressing. It confirmed that TBCB was one of the critical factors for the formation of astrocyte processes through regulating MT plus-end and provided a new view on the pathogenesis of FAS. Third, to explore the mechanism of TBCB regulating MT plus-ends, we first proved end-binding proteins 1 and 3 (EB1/3) were bound at MT plus-ends in astrocytes. Then, through interference experiments, we found that both EB1 and EB3, which formed in heterodimers, were necessary to mediate TBCB binding to MT plus-ends and thus regulated the formation of astrocyte processes. Finally, the regulatory mechanism was studied and the ERK1/2 signaling pathway was found as one of the main pathways regulating the expression of TBCB in astrocytes after alcohol injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Zheng
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Basic Medicine, Chongqing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, China
| | - Mei Yang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoqiao Chen
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Gaoli Zhang
- Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shanshan Wan
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Chengdu, China
| | - Bingqiu Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiechao Huo
- Fujian Province University Engineering Research Center of Mindong She Medicine, Medical College, Ningde Normal University, Ningde, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Hui Liu
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Chen Z, Long H, Guo J, Wang Y, He K, Tao C, Li X, Jiang K, Guo S, Pi Y. Autism-Risk Gene necab2 Regulates Psychomotor and Social Behavior as a Neuronal Modulator of mGluR1 Signaling. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:901682. [PMID: 35909444 PMCID: PMC9326220 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.901682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundDe novo deletion of the neuronal calcium-binding protein 2 (NECAB2) locus is associated with idiopathic autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The in vivo function of NECAB2 in the brain remains largely elusive.MethodsWe investigated the morphological and behavioral profiles of both necab2 knock-out and overexpression zebrafish models. The expression pattern and molecular role of necab2 were probed through a combination of in vitro and in vivo assays.ResultsWe show that Necab2 is a neuronal specific, cytoplasmic, and membrane-associated protein, abundantly expressed in the telencephalon, habenula, and cerebellum. Necab2 is distributed peri-synaptically in subsets of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons. CRISPR/Cas9-generated necab2 knock-out zebrafish display normal morphology but exhibit a decrease in locomotor activity and thigmotaxis with impaired social interaction only in males. Conversely, necab2 overexpression yields behavioral phenotypes opposite to the loss-of-function. Proteomic profiling uncovers a role of Necab2 in modulating signal transduction of G-protein coupled receptors. Specifically, co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and confocal live-cell imaging suggest a complex containing NECAB2 and the metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1). In vivo measurement of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate further substantiates that Necab2 promotes mGluR1 signaling.ConclusionsNecab2 regulates psychomotor and social behavior via modulating a signaling cascade downstream of mGluR1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zexu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Biology Education, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Han Long
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Biology Education, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianhua Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Biology Education, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiran Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Biology Education, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Programs in Human Genetics and Biological Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Kezhe He
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Biology Education, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenchen Tao
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Biology Education, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Programs in Human Genetics and Biological Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Keji Jiang
- East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Su Guo
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Programs in Human Genetics and Biological Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Su Guo,
| | - Yan Pi
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Biology Education, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Yan Pi,
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3
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Zheng Y, Huo J, Yang M, Zhang G, Wan S, Chen X, Zhang B, Liu H. ERK1/2 Signalling Pathway Regulates Tubulin-Binding Cofactor B Expression and Affects Astrocyte Process Formation after Acute Foetal Alcohol Exposure. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12070813. [PMID: 35884621 PMCID: PMC9312805 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12070813] [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: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a spectrum of neurological disorders whose neurological symptoms, besides the neuronal damage caused by alcohol, may also be associated with neuroglial damage. Tubulin-binding cofactor B (TBCB) may be involved in the pathogenesis of FASD. To understand the mechanism and provide new insights into the pathogenesis of FASD, acute foetal alcohol exposure model on astrocytes was established and the interference experiments were carried out. First, after alcohol exposure, the nascent astrocyte processes were reduced or lost, accompanied by the absence of TBCB expression and the disruption of microtubules (MTs) in processes. Subsequently, TBCB was silenced with siRNA. It was severely reduced or lost in nascent astrocyte processes, with a dramatic reduction in astrocyte processes, indicating that TBCB plays a vital role in astrocyte process formation. Finally, the regulating mechanism was studied and it was found that the extracellular signal-regulated protease 1/2 (ERK1/2) signalling pathway was one of the main pathways regulating TBCB expression in astrocytes after alcohol injury. In summary, after acute foetal alcohol exposure, the decreased TBCB in nascent astrocyte processes, regulated by the ERK1/2 signalling pathway, was the main factor leading to the disorder of astrocyte process formation, which could contribute to the neurological symptoms of FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Zheng
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; (M.Y.); (X.C.); (B.Z.); (H.L.)
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (J.H.)
| | - Jiechao Huo
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; (M.Y.); (X.C.); (B.Z.); (H.L.)
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (J.H.)
| | - Mei Yang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; (M.Y.); (X.C.); (B.Z.); (H.L.)
| | - Gaoli Zhang
- Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400063, China;
| | - Shanshan Wan
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Chengdu 610044, China;
| | - Xiaoqiao Chen
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; (M.Y.); (X.C.); (B.Z.); (H.L.)
| | - Bingqiu Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; (M.Y.); (X.C.); (B.Z.); (H.L.)
| | - Hui Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; (M.Y.); (X.C.); (B.Z.); (H.L.)
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Li F, Lin J, Li T, Jian J, Zhang Q, Zhang Y, Liu X, Li Q. Rrn3 gene knockout affects ethanol-induced locomotion in adult heterozygous zebrafish. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:621-630. [PMID: 35006303 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-06056-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Genome-wide analysis has identified the transcription factor, RRN3 (or TIF-1A), on human chromosome 16p13.11 as a candidate gene associated with mental disorders. Both genetic and biochemical experiments have demonstrated that RRN3 plays a major role in the transcriptional regulation of ribosomal DNA and cell growth. Previous research has suggested that loss of RRN3 from mature neurons reproduces the chronic nature of neurodegenerative processes. Here, we report the first generation and characterization of rrn3 mutant zebrafish in larval and adult stages using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technique. Homozygous knockout zebrafish exhibited morphological changes, such as pericardial oedema and deformed heads, and died at the larval stage of embryonic development. Behaviourally, the locomotion and shoaling behaviour of adult rrn3+/- zebrafish was not significantly different compared with rrn3+/+ zebrafish. Notably, rrn3+/- zebrafish demonstrated abnormal locomotor activity in response to ethanol. We found decreased norepinephrine expression in the brains of rrn3+/- zebrafish when treated with ethanol. In summary, our results indicated that rrn3 was closely associated with early embryonic development in zebrafish. Furthermore, behavioural and neurochemical research revealed the importance of genetic differences in drug sensitivity. The results suggest that caution should be taken when treating RRN3 heterozygous patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Li
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Institute of Pediatrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Lin
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Institute of Pediatrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Institute of Pediatrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Jian
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Institute of Pediatrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Institute of Pediatrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yinglan Zhang
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Institute of Pediatrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiuyun Liu
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Institute of Pediatrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Institute of Pediatrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China.
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5
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Cararo JH, Rico EP. Long-lasting implications of embryonic exposure to alcohol: Insights from zebrafish research. Dev Neurobiol 2021; 82:29-40. [PMID: 34687497 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The harmful consumption of ethanol is associated with significant health problems and social burdens. This drug activates a complex network of reward mechanisms and habit formation learning that is supposed to contribute to the consumption of increasingly high and frequent amounts, ultimately leading to addiction. In the context of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a consequence of the harmful use of alcohol during pregnancy, which affects the embryonic development of the fetus. FAS can be easily reproduced in zebrafish by exposing the embryos to different concentrations of ethanol in water. In this regard, the aim of the present review is to discuss the late pathological implications in zebrafish exposed to ethanol at the embryonic stage, providing information in the context of human fetal alcoholic spectrum disorders. Experimental FAS in zebrafish is associated with impairments in the metabolic, morphological, neurochemical, behavioral, and cognitive domains. Many of the pathways that are affected by ethanol in zebrafish have at least one ortholog in humans, collaborating with the wider adoption of zebrafish in studies on alcohol disorders. In fact, zebrafish present validities required for the study of these conditions, which contributes to the use of this species in research, in addition to studies with rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Henrique Cararo
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Pacheco Rico
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
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6
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Souza TP, Franscescon F, Stefanello FV, Müller TE, Santos LW, Rosemberg DB. Acute effects of ethanol on behavioral responses of male and female zebrafish in the open field test with the influence of a non-familiar object. Behav Processes 2021; 191:104474. [PMID: 34371127 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
In this report, we investigate whether the acute effects of different ethanol (EtOH) concentrations are sex-dependent in zebrafish subjected to the open field test (OFT) with the influence of a non-familiar object. Male and female zebrafish were separated into four groups and exposed to EtOH (0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, or 1.0% v/v) for 1 h. Fish were tested individually in the OFT, in which tank was divided into three areas: periphery, intermediate, and center area. An object (black sphere; diameter: 1 cm) was placed in the center of the tank and behaviors were recorded for 5 min. At the baseline, females had a distinct exploratory activity and interaction pattern with the object, reflecting a more anxious and shyer behavior in relation to males. Females exposed to 0.5% EtOH performed more rapid investigation to the object than males, while 1.0% EtOH reduced locomotion in both sexes and increased immobility only in males. Principal component analyses revealed that anxiety-like behaviors, exploratory activity, and locomotion were the components that most accounted for total variances. Collectively, our novel findings show the existence of a sex-dependent effect in the zebrafish models acutely exposed to EtOH tested in the OFT with a non-familiar object.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiele P Souza
- Laboratory of Experimental Neuropsychobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Natural and Exact Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Francini Franscescon
- Laboratory of Experimental Neuropsychobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Natural and Exact Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Flavia V Stefanello
- Laboratory of Experimental Neuropsychobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Natural and Exact Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Talise E Müller
- Laboratory of Experimental Neuropsychobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Natural and Exact Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Laura W Santos
- Laboratory of Experimental Neuropsychobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Natural and Exact Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Denis B Rosemberg
- Laboratory of Experimental Neuropsychobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Natural and Exact Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil; The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA, 70458, USA.
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7
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Color as an important biological variable in zebrafish models: Implications for translational neurobehavioral research. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 124:1-15. [PMID: 33359096 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Color is an important environmental factor that in multiple ways affects human and animal behavior and physiology. Widely used in neuroscience research, various experimental (animal) models may help improve our understanding of how different colors impact brain and behavioral processes. Complementing laboratory rodents, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) is rapidly emerging as an important novel model species to explore complex neurobehavioral processes. The growing utility of zebrafish in biomedicine makes it timely to consider the role of colors in their behavioral and physiological responses. Here, we summarize mounting evidence implicating colors as a critical variable in zebrafish models and neurobehavioral traits, with a particular relevance to CNS disease modeling, genetic and pharmacological modulation, as well as environmental enrichment and animal welfare. We also discuss the growing value of zebrafish models to study color neurobiology and color-related neurobehavioral phenomics, and outline future directions of research in this field.
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8
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Ethanol affects behavior and HPA axis activity during development in zebrafish larvae. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21402. [PMID: 33293624 PMCID: PMC7722840 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78573-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that long-term alcohol intake from food can lead to numerous mental disorders in humans, and the social and health effects of excessive intake of alcohol currently represent serious problems for governments and families worldwide. However, to date, it has not been determined how alcohol affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The zebrafish offers a good model for studying the toxicology of food-grade ethanol. In the present study, using zebrafish larvae exposed to 1% ethanol, we performed zebrafish behavioral analysis. Samples were collected for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) experiments, and statistical analysis was performed. We found that ethanol decreased the locomotor activity of zebrafish larvae, which showed a more intense reaction to external stimuli. Ethanol also increased the level of HPA axis hormones in zebrafish larvae, influenced the level of neurotransmitters, and altered the expression of key genes in neurotransmitter metabolism. Ethanol exposure affects zebrafish behavior, increases the level of HPA axis hormones in zebrafish larvae, affects the level of neurotransmitters, and affects the expression of key genes in dopamine and serotonin metabolism. These findings may help to elucidate the effects of ethanol on HPA axis activity.
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9
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Kang YY, Wachi Y, Engdorf E, Fumagalli E, Wang Y, Myers J, Massey S, Greiss A, Xu S, Roman G. Normal Ethanol Sensitivity and Rapid Tolerance Require the G Protein Receptor Kinase 2 in Ellipsoid Body Neurons in Drosophila. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020; 44:1686-1699. [PMID: 32573992 PMCID: PMC7485117 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND G protein signaling pathways are key neuromodulatory mechanisms for behaviors and neurological functions that affect the impact of ethanol (EtOH) on locomotion, arousal, and synaptic plasticity. Here, we report a novel role for the Drosophila G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GPRK2) as a member of the GRK4/5/6 subfamily in modulating EtOH-induced behaviors. METHODS We studied the requirement of Drosophila Gprk2 for naïve sensitivity to EtOH sedation and ability of the fly to develop rapid tolerance after a single exposure to EtOH, using the loss of righting reflex (LORR) and fly group activity monitor (FlyGrAM) assays. RESULTS Loss-of-function Gprk2 mutants demonstrate an increase in alcohol-induced hyperactivity, reduced sensitivity to the sedative effects of EtOH, and diminished rapid tolerance after a single intoxicating exposure. The requirement for Gprk2 in EtOH sedation and rapid tolerance maps to ellipsoid body neurons within the Drosophila brain, suggesting that wild-type Gprk2 is required for modulation of locomotion and alertness. However, even though Gprk2 loss of function leads to decreased and fragmented sleep, this change in the sleep state does not depend on Gprk2 expression in the ellipsoid body. CONCLUSION Our work on GPRK2 has established a role for this GRK4/5/6 subfamily member in EtOH sensitivity and rapid tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Shiyu Xu
- University of HoustonHoustonTexas
| | - Gregg Roman
- University of MississippiUniversityMississippi
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10
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Preclinical methodological approaches investigating of the effects of alcohol on perinatal and adolescent neurodevelopment. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 116:436-451. [PMID: 32681938 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Despite much evidence of its economic and social costs, alcohol use continues to increase. Much remains to be known as to the effects of alcohol on neurodevelopment across the lifespan and in both sexes. We provide a comprehensive overview of the methodological approaches to ethanol administration when using animal models (primarily rodent models) and their translational relevance, as well as some of the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Special consideration is given to early developmental periods (prenatal through adolescence), as well as to the types of research questions that are best addressed by specific methodologies. The zebrafish is used increasingly in alcohol research, and how to use this model effectively as a preclinical model is reviewed as well.
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11
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Prakash BA, Toro CP. Modulating the Zebrafish Camouflage Response Pathway to Illustrate Neuroendocrine Control Over a Robust and Quantifiable Behavior. JOURNAL OF UNDERGRADUATE NEUROSCIENCE EDUCATION : JUNE : A PUBLICATION OF FUN, FACULTY FOR UNDERGRADUATE NEUROSCIENCE 2019; 18:A57-A64. [PMID: 31983901 PMCID: PMC6973300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Zebrafish detect the light levels of their surroundings and adjust their coloration in response. By controlling the location of melanosome pigment granules within melanocytes in their dermis, fish can lighten or darken their appearance to blend in with their environment. This camouflage response pathway, which begins in the retina and ends in the melanocyte, involves both neuronal and endocrine signaling. Ultimately, two hormones, α-melanocyte stimulating hormone and melanin concentrating hormone, converge on the melanocyte and cause dispersion or aggregation of melanosomes, respectively; the camouflage behavior can therefore be modulated both environmentally and pharmacologically. Here, we describe a two-part protocol designed for use in an undergraduate laboratory. Students induce the camouflage response by exposing zebrafish larvae to darkness or bright light, in conjunction with pharmacological treatments that alter the ability of the larvae to properly respond to these environmental cues. Students then fix the larvae, take photographs of their samples using their smartphones and dissecting microscopes, and directly measure the camouflage response by quantifying the size of melanocytes using ImageJ software. Finally, students present their data in a single professional-quality figure with an accompanying detailed figure legend. This protocol enables students to gain unique laboratory experiences in which they modulate and quantify a hormone-driven behavior, observable on a cellular level. It can therefore complement course topics in neurobiology, endocrinology, animal physiology, animal behavior, and cell biology classes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke A Prakash
- Biology Department, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY 10708
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12
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Amorim RR, Silva PF, Luchiari AC. Effects of Alcohol on Inhibitory Avoidance Learning in Zebrafish (Danio rerio). Zebrafish 2017; 14:430-437. [DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2017.1438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ana Carolina Luchiari
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
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13
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Fontana BD, Meinerz DL, Rosa LVC, Mezzomo NJ, Silveira A, Giuliani GS, Quadros VA, Filho GL, Blaser RE, Rosemberg DB. Modulatory action of taurine on ethanol-induced aggressive behavior in zebrafish. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2016; 141:18-27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2015.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Revised: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 11/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Tran S, Facciol A, Gerlai R. The Zebrafish, a Novel Model Organism for Screening Compounds Affecting Acute and Chronic Ethanol-Induced Effects. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2016; 126:467-84. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2016.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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15
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Differential effects of acute administration of SCH-23390, a D₁ receptor antagonist, and of ethanol on swimming activity, anxiety-related responses, and neurochemistry of zebrafish. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2015. [PMID: 26210378 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-015-4030-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The zebrafish has become an increasingly popular animal model for investigating ethanol's actions in the brain and its effects on behavior. Acute exposure to ethanol in zebrafish has been shown to induce a dose-dependent increase of locomotor activity, to reduce fear- and anxiety-related behavioral responses, and to increase the levels of dopamine and its metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC). OBJECTIVES The objective of the present study was to investigate the role of dopamine D1 receptors (D1-R) in ethanol-induced locomotor activity in zebrafish. METHODS Zebrafish were pre-treated with SCH-23390 (0 or 1 mg/L bath concentration), a D1-R antagonist, and subsequently exposed to ethanol (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 % v/v). To explore potential underlying mechanisms, we quantified levels of dopamine, DOPAC, serotonin, and 5-HIAA from whole-brain tissue using high-precision liquid chromatography. RESULTS We found pre-treatment with the D1-R antagonist to attenuate locomotor activity independent of ethanol concentration. Furthermore, unlike ethanol, D1-R antagonism did not alter behavioral responses associated with fear and anxiety. Pre-treatment with SCH-23390 decreased levels of dopamine and DOPAC, but this effect was also independent of ethanol concentration. The D1-R antagonist also reduced serotonin and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) levels. CONCLUSION These results suggest a multifaceted and at least partially independent role of dopamine D1 receptors in ethanol-induced locomotor activity and anxiety-related responses as well as in the functioning of the dopaminergic and serotoninergic neurotransmitter systems in zebrafish.
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Kottler VA, Künstner A, Koch I, Flötenmeyer M, Langenecker T, Hoffmann M, Sharma E, Weigel D, Dreyer C. Adenylate cyclase 5
is required for melanophore and male pattern development in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata
). Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2015; 28:545-58. [DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Axel Künstner
- Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology; Tübingen Germany
| | - Iris Koch
- Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology; Tübingen Germany
| | | | | | | | - Eshita Sharma
- Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology; Tübingen Germany
| | - Detlef Weigel
- Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology; Tübingen Germany
| | - Christine Dreyer
- Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology; Tübingen Germany
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Hall ZJ, De Serrano AR, Rodd FH, Tropepe V. Casting a wider fish net on animal models in neuropsychiatric research. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2014; 55:7-15. [PMID: 24726811 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2014.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2014] [Revised: 03/28/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, are associated with abnormal brain development. In this review, we discuss how studying dimensional components of these disorders, or endophenotypes, in a wider range of animal models will deepen our understanding of how interactions between biological and environmental factors alter the trajectory of neurodevelopment leading to aberrant behavior. In particular, we discuss some of the advantages of incorporating studies of brain and behavior using a range of teleost fish species into current neuropsychiatric research. From the perspective of comparative neurobiology, teleosts share a fundamental pattern of neurodevelopment and functional brain organization with other vertebrates, including humans. These shared features provide a basis for experimentally probing the mechanisms of disease-associated brain abnormalities. Moreover, incorporating information about how behaviors have been shaped by evolution will allow us to better understand the relevance of behavioral variation to determine their physiological underpinnings. We believe that exploiting the conservation in brain development across vertebrate species, and the rich diversity of fish behavior in lab and natural populations will lead to significant new insights and a holistic understanding of the neurobiological systems implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary J Hall
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Alex R De Serrano
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - F Helen Rodd
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Canada.
| | - Vincent Tropepe
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Canada.
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18
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Tran S, Gerlai R. Recent advances with a novel model organism: alcohol tolerance and sensitization in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2014; 55:87-93. [PMID: 24593943 PMCID: PMC4225077 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2014.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2014] [Revised: 02/06/2014] [Accepted: 02/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol abuse and dependence are a rapidly growing problem with few treatment options available. The zebrafish has become a popular animal model for behavioral neuroscience. This species may be appropriate for investigating the effects of alcohol on the vertebrate brain. In the current review, we examine the literature by discussing how alcohol alters behavior in zebrafish and how it may affect biological correlates. We focus on two phenomena that are often examined in the context of alcohol-induced neuroplasticity. Alcohol tolerance (a progressive decrease in the effect of alcohol over time) is often observed following continuous (chronic) exposure to low concentrations of alcohol. Alcohol sensitization also called reverse tolerance (a progressive increase in the effect of alcohol over time) is often observed following repeated discrete exposures to higher concentrations of alcohol. These two phenomena may underlie the development and maintenance of alcohol addiction. The phenotypical characterization of these responses in zebrafish may be the first important steps in establishing this species as a tool for the analysis of the molecular and neurobiological mechanisms underlying human alcohol addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Tran
- University of Toronto, Department of Cell and Systems Biology, Canada
| | - Robert Gerlai
- University of Toronto, Department of Cell and Systems Biology, Canada; University of Toronto at Mississauga, Department of Psychology, Canada.
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Zamora-Martinez ER, Edwards S. Neuronal extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activity as marker and mediator of alcohol and opioid dependence. Front Integr Neurosci 2014; 8:24. [PMID: 24653683 PMCID: PMC3949304 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2014.00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Early pioneering work in the field of biochemistry identified phosphorylation as a crucial post-translational modification of proteins with the ability to both indicate and arbitrate complex physiological processes. More recent investigations have functionally linked phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) to a variety of neurophysiological mechanisms ranging from acute neurotransmitter action to long-term gene expression. ERK phosphorylation serves as an intracellular bridging mechanism that facilitates neuronal communication and plasticity. Drugs of abuse, including alcohol and opioids, act as artificial yet powerful rewards that impinge upon natural reinforcement processes critical for survival. The graded progression from initial exposure to addiction (or substance dependence) is believed to result from drug- and drug context-induced adaptations in neuronal signaling processes across brain reward and stress circuits following excessive drug use. In this regard, commonly abused drugs as well as drug-associated experiences are capable of modifying the phosphorylation of ERK within central reinforcement systems. In addition, chronic drug and alcohol exposure may drive ERK-regulated epigenetic and structural alterations that underlie a long-term propensity for escalating drug use. Under the influence of such a neurobiological vulnerability, encountering drug-associated cues and contexts can produce subsequent alterations in ERK signaling that drive relapse to drug and alcohol seeking. Current studies are determining precisely which molecular and regional ERK phosphorylation-associated events contribute to the addiction process, as well as which neuroadaptations need to be targeted in order to return dependent individuals to a healthy state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva R Zamora-Martinez
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Scott Edwards
- Department of Physiology and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, LA, USA
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20
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Kalueff AV, Stewart AM, Gerlai R. Zebrafish as an emerging model for studying complex brain disorders. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2014; 35:63-75. [PMID: 24412421 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2013.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 697] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2013] [Revised: 12/06/2013] [Accepted: 12/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is rapidly becoming a popular model organism in pharmacogenetics and neuropharmacology. Both larval and adult zebrafish are currently used to increase our understanding of brain function, dysfunction, and their genetic and pharmacological modulation. Here we review the developing utility of zebrafish in the analysis of complex brain disorders (including, e.g., depression, autism, psychoses, drug abuse, and cognitive deficits), also covering zebrafish applications towards the goal of modeling major human neuropsychiatric and drug-induced syndromes. We argue that zebrafish models of complex brain disorders and drug-induced conditions are a rapidly emerging critical field in translational neuroscience and pharmacology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan V Kalueff
- ZENEREI Institute and the International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA.
| | - Adam Michael Stewart
- ZENEREI Institute and the International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, A210 Langley Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Robert Gerlai
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road North, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada
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21
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Kalueff AV, Gebhardt M, Stewart AM, Cachat JM, Brimmer M, Chawla JS, Craddock C, Kyzar EJ, Roth A, Landsman S, Gaikwad S, Robinson K, Baatrup E, Tierney K, Shamchuk A, Norton W, Miller N, Nicolson T, Braubach O, Gilman CP, Pittman J, Rosemberg DB, Gerlai R, Echevarria D, Lamb E, Neuhauss SCF, Weng W, Bally-Cuif L, Schneider H. Towards a comprehensive catalog of zebrafish behavior 1.0 and beyond. Zebrafish 2013; 10:70-86. [PMID: 23590400 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2012.0861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 653] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are rapidly gaining popularity in translational neuroscience and behavioral research. Physiological similarity to mammals, ease of genetic manipulations, sensitivity to pharmacological and genetic factors, robust behavior, low cost, and potential for high-throughput screening contribute to the growing utility of zebrafish models in this field. Understanding zebrafish behavioral phenotypes provides important insights into neural pathways, physiological biomarkers, and genetic underpinnings of normal and pathological brain function. Novel zebrafish paradigms continue to appear with an encouraging pace, thus necessitating a consistent terminology and improved understanding of the behavioral repertoire. What can zebrafish 'do', and how does their altered brain function translate into behavioral actions? To help address these questions, we have developed a detailed catalog of zebrafish behaviors (Zebrafish Behavior Catalog, ZBC) that covers both larval and adult models. Representing a beginning of creating a more comprehensive ethogram of zebrafish behavior, this effort will improve interpretation of published findings, foster cross-species behavioral modeling, and encourage new groups to apply zebrafish neurobehavioral paradigms in their research. In addition, this glossary creates a framework for developing a zebrafish neurobehavioral ontology, ultimately to become part of a unified animal neurobehavioral ontology, which collectively will contribute to better integration of biological data within and across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan V Kalueff
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Program, Tulane University Medical School, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
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22
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Nguyen M, Poudel MK, Stewart AM, Kalueff AV. Skin too thin? The developing utility of zebrafish skin (neuro)pharmacology for CNS drug discovery research. Brain Res Bull 2013; 98:145-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2013.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Revised: 08/25/2013] [Accepted: 08/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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23
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Kapfhamer D, King I, Zou ME, Lim JP, Heberlein U, Wolf FW. JNK pathway activation is controlled by Tao/TAOK3 to modulate ethanol sensitivity. PLoS One 2012; 7:e50594. [PMID: 23227189 PMCID: PMC3515618 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2012] [Accepted: 10/25/2012] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal signal transduction by the JNK MAP kinase pathway is altered by a broad array of stimuli including exposure to the widely abused drug ethanol, but the behavioral relevance and the regulation of JNK signaling is unclear. Here we demonstrate that JNK signaling functions downstream of the Sterile20 kinase family gene tao/Taok3 to regulate the behavioral effects of acute ethanol exposure in both the fruit fly Drosophila and mice. In flies tao is required in neurons to promote sensitivity to the locomotor stimulant effects of acute ethanol exposure and to establish specific brain structures. Reduced expression of key JNK pathway genes substantially rescued the structural and behavioral phenotypes of tao mutants. Decreasing and increasing JNK pathway activity resulted in increased and decreased sensitivity to the locomotor stimulant properties of acute ethanol exposure, respectively. Further, JNK expression in a limited pattern of neurons that included brain regions implicated in ethanol responses was sufficient to restore normal behavior. Mice heterozygous for a disrupted allele of the homologous Taok3 gene (Taok3Gt) were resistant to the acute sedative effects of ethanol. JNK activity was constitutively increased in brains of Taok3Gt/+ mice, and acute induction of phospho-JNK in brain tissue by ethanol was occluded in Taok3Gt/+ mice. Finally, acute administration of a JNK inhibitor conferred resistance to the sedative effects of ethanol in wild-type but not Taok3Gt/+ mice. Taken together, these data support a role of a TAO/TAOK3-JNK neuronal signaling pathway in regulating sensitivity to acute ethanol exposure in flies and in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Kapfhamer
- The Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, University of California San Francisco, Emeryville, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DK); (FWW)
| | - Ian King
- Department of Anatomy, Program in Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Mimi E. Zou
- The Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, University of California San Francisco, Emeryville, California, United States of America
| | - Jana P. Lim
- The Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, University of California San Francisco, Emeryville, California, United States of America
| | - Ulrike Heberlein
- The Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, University of California San Francisco, Emeryville, California, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy, Program in Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Fred W. Wolf
- The Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, University of California San Francisco, Emeryville, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DK); (FWW)
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24
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Nilsson Sköld H, Aspengren S, Wallin M. Rapid color change in fish and amphibians - function, regulation, and emerging applications. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2012; 26:29-38. [PMID: 23082932 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2012] [Accepted: 10/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Physiological color change is important for background matching, thermoregulation as well as signaling and is in vertebrates mediated by synchronous intracellular transport of pigmented organelles in chromatophores. We describe functions of and animal situations where color change occurs. A summary of endogenous and external factors that regulate this color change in fish and amphibians is provided, with special emphasis on extracellular stimuli. We describe not only color change in skin, but also highlight studies on color change that occurs using chromatophores in other areas such as iris and on the inside of the body. In addition, we discuss the growing field that applies melanophores and skin color in toxicology and as biosensors, and point out research areas with future potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Nilsson Sköld
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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25
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Rosemberg DB, Braga MM, Rico EP, Loss CM, Córdova SD, Mussulini BHM, Blaser RE, Leite CE, Campos MM, Dias RD, Calcagnotto ME, de Oliveira DL, Souza DO. Behavioral effects of taurine pretreatment in zebrafish acutely exposed to ethanol. Neuropharmacology 2012; 63:613-23. [PMID: 22634362 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2012.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2011] [Revised: 04/12/2012] [Accepted: 05/05/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Taurine (TAU) is an amino sulfonic acid that plays protective roles against neurochemical impairments induced by ethanol (EtOH). Mounting evidence shows the applicability of zebrafish for evaluating locomotor parameters and anxiety-like behavioral phenotypes after EtOH exposure in a large scale manner. In this study, we assess the effects of TAU pretreatment on the behavior of zebrafish in the open tank after acute 1% EtOH (v/v) exposure (20 and 60 min of duration) and on brain alcohol contents. The exposure for 20 min exerted significant anxiolytic effects, which were prevented by 42, 150, and 400 mg/L TAU. Conversely, the 60-min condition induced depressant/sedative effects, in which the changes on vertical activity were associated to modifications on the exploratory profile. Although all TAU concentrations kept locomotor parameters at basal levels, 150 mg/L TAU, did not prevent the impairment on vertical activity of EtOH[60]. Despite the higher brain EtOH content detected in the 60-min exposure, 42, 150, and 400 mg/L TAU attenuated the increase of alcohol content in EtOH[60] group. In conclusion, our data suggest that both protocols of acute EtOH exposure induce significant changes in the spatio-temporal behavior of zebrafish and that TAU may exert a preventive role by antagonizing the effects induced by EtOH possibly due to its neuromodulatory role and also by decreasing brain EtOH levels. The hormetic dose-response of TAU on vertical exploration suggests a complex interaction between TAU and EtOH in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis B Rosemberg
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600-Anexo, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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26
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In vivo imaging and quantitative analysis of changes in axon length using transgenic zebrafish embryos. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2011; 33:618-23. [PMID: 21903162 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2011.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2011] [Revised: 08/23/2011] [Accepted: 08/24/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We describe an imaging procedure to measure axon length in zebrafish embryos in vivo. Automated fluorescent image acquisition was performed with the ImageXpress Micro high content screening reader and further analysis of axon lengths was performed on archived images using AcuityXpress software. We utilized the Neurite Outgrowth Application module with a customized protocol (journal) to measure the axons. Since higher doses of ethanol (2-2.5%, v/v) have been shown to deform motor neurons and axons during development, here we used ethanol to treat transgenic [hb9:GFP (green fluorescent protein)] zebrafish embryos at 28 hpf (hours post-fertilization). These embryos express GFP in the motor neurons and their axons. Embryos after ethanol treatment were arrayed in 384-well plates for automated fluorescent image acquisition in vivo. Average axon lengths of high dose ethanol-treated embryos were significantly lower than the control. Another experiment showed that there was no significant difference in the axon lengths between the embryos grown for 24h at 22°C and 28.5°C. These test experiments demonstrate that using axon development as an end-point, compound screening can be performed in a time-efficient manner.
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Abstract
This review provides an overview of the assays that are used for measuring escape and avoidance behavior in zebrafish, with a specific focus on zebrafish larvae during the first week of development. Zebrafish larvae display a startle response when exposed to tactile, acoustic, or visual stimuli and will avoid dark areas, moving objects, conspecifics, and open spaces. Emotional states such as fear and anxiety might be induced when larvae are exposed to stimuli that they would normally escape from or avoid. Although these emotional states probably differ between species and change during development, much can be learned about human fear and anxiety using zebrafish as a model system. The molecular mechanisms of fear and anxiety are highly conserved in vertebrates and are present during early zebrafish development. Larvae during the first week of development display elevated cortisol levels in response to stress and are sensitive to the same anxiolytics that are used for the management of anxiety in humans. Zebrafish larvae are well suited for high-throughput analyses of behavior, and automated systems have been developed for imaging and analyzing the behavior of zebrafish larvae in multiwell plates. These high-throughput analyses will not only provide a wealth of information on the genes and environmental factors that influence escape and avoidance behaviors and the emotional states that might accompany them but will also facilitate the discovery of novel pharmaceuticals that could be used in the management of anxiety disorders in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth M Colwill
- Department of Psychology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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Evaluation of spontaneous propulsive movement as a screening tool to detect rescue of Parkinsonism phenotypes in zebrafish models. Neurobiol Dis 2011; 44:9-18. [PMID: 21669287 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2011.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2011] [Revised: 05/23/2011] [Accepted: 05/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish models of human neuropsychiatric diseases offer opportunities to identify novel therapeutic targets and treatments through phenotype-based genetic or chemical modifier screens. In order to develop an assay to detect rescue of zebrafish models of Parkinsonism, we characterized spontaneous zebrafish larval motor behavior from 3 to 9 days post fertilization in a microtiter plate format suitable for screening, and clarified the role of dopaminergic signaling in its regulation. The proportion of time that larvae spent moving increased progressively between 3 and 9 dpf, whereas their active velocity decreased between 5 and 6 dpf as sporadic burst movements gave way to a more mature beat-and-glide pattern. Spontaneous movement varied between larvae and during the course of recordings as a result of intrinsic larval factors including genetic background. Variability decreased with age, such that small differences between groups of larvae exposed to different experimental conditions could be detected robustly by 6 to 7 dpf. Suppression of endogenous dopaminergic signaling by exposure to MPP(+), haloperidol or chlorpromazine reduced mean velocity by decreasing the frequency with which spontaneous movements were initiated, but did not alter active velocity. The variability of mean velocity assays could be reduced by analyzing groups of larvae for each data point, yielding acceptable screening window coefficients; the sample size required in each group was determined by the magnitude of the motor phenotype in different models. For chlorpromazine exposure, samples of four larvae allowed robust separation of treated and untreated data points (Z=0.42), whereas the milder impairment provoked by MPP(+) necessitated groups of eight larvae in order to provide a useful discovery assay (Z=0.13). Quantification of spontaneous larval movement offers a simple method to determine functional integrity of motor systems, and may be a useful tool to isolate novel molecular modulators of Parkinsonism phenotypes.
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29
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Wielhouwer EM, Ali S, Al-Afandi A, Blom MT, Riekerink MBO, Poelma C, Westerweel J, Oonk J, Vrouwe EX, Buesink W, vanMil HGJ, Chicken J, van't Oever R, Richardson MK. Zebrafish embryo development in a microfluidic flow-through system. LAB ON A CHIP 2011; 11:1815-24. [PMID: 21491052 DOI: 10.1039/c0lc00443j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The zebrafish embryo is a small, cheap, whole-animal model which may replace rodents in some areas of research. Unfortunately, zebrafish embryos are commonly cultured in microtitre plates using cell-culture protocols with static buffer replacement. Such protocols are highly invasive, consume large quantities of reagents and do not readily permit high-quality imaging. Zebrafish and rodent embryos have previously been cultured in static microfluidic drops, and zebrafish embryos have also been raised in a prototype polydimethylsiloxane setup in a Petri dish. Other than this, no animal embryo has ever been shown to undergo embryonic development in a microfluidic flow-through system. We have developed and prototyped a specialized lab-on-a-chip made from bonded layers of borosilicate glass. We find that zebrafish embryos can develop in the chip for 5 days, with continuous buffer flow at pressures of 0.005-0.04 MPa. Phenotypic effects were seen, but these were scored subjectively as 'minor'. Survival rates of 100% could be reached with buffer flows of 2 µL per well per min. High-quality imaging was possible. An acute ethanol exposure test in the chip replicated the same assay performed in microtitre plates. More than 100 embryos could be cultured in an area, excluding infrastructure, smaller than a credit card. We discuss how biochip technology, coupled with zebrafish larvae, could allow biological research to be conducted in massive, parallel experiments, at high speed and low cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M Wielhouwer
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylvius Laboratory, Sylviusweg 72, 2333, BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Ali S, Champagne DL, Alia A, Richardson MK. Large-scale analysis of acute ethanol exposure in zebrafish development: a critical time window and resilience. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20037. [PMID: 21625530 PMCID: PMC3098763 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2010] [Accepted: 04/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In humans, ethanol exposure during pregnancy causes a spectrum of developmental defects (fetal alcohol syndrome or FAS). Individuals vary in phenotypic expression. Zebrafish embryos develop FAS-like features after ethanol exposure. In this study, we ask whether stage-specific effects of ethanol can be identified in the zebrafish, and if so, whether they allow the pinpointing of sensitive developmental mechanisms. We have therefore conducted the first large-scale (>1500 embryos) analysis of acute, stage-specific drug effects on zebrafish development, with a large panel of readouts. Methodology/Principal Findings Zebrafish embryos were raised in 96-well plates. Range-finding indicated that 10% ethanol for 1 h was suitable for an acute exposure regime. High-resolution magic-angle spinning proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that this produced a transient pulse of 0.86% concentration of ethanol in the embryo within the chorion. Survivors at 5 days postfertilisation were analysed. Phenotypes ranged from normal (resilient) to severely malformed. Ethanol exposure at early stages caused high mortality (≥88%). At later stages of exposure, mortality declined and malformations developed. Pharyngeal arch hypoplasia and behavioral impairment were most common after prim-6 and prim-16 exposure. By contrast, microphthalmia and growth retardation were stage-independent. Conclusions Our findings show that some ethanol effects are strongly stage-dependent. The phenotypes mimic key aspects of FAS including craniofacial abnormality, microphthalmia, growth retardation and behavioral impairment. We also identify a critical time window (prim-6 and prim-16) for ethanol sensitivity. Finally, our identification of a wide phenotypic spectrum is reminiscent of human FAS, and may provide a useful model for studying disease resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaukat Ali
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylvius Laboratory, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Danielle L. Champagne
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylvius Laboratory, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Alia Alia
- Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Michael K. Richardson
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylvius Laboratory, Leiden, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Kim KS, Kim H, Baek IS, Lee KW, Han PL. Mice lacking adenylyl cyclase type 5 (AC5) show increased ethanol consumption and reduced ethanol sensitivity. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2011; 215:391-8. [PMID: 21193983 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-010-2143-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2010] [Accepted: 12/10/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The adenylyl cyclase (AC)/cAMP system is believed to be a key component in regulating alcohol-drinking behavior. It was reported that adenylyl cyclase-5 (AC5) is expressed widely in the brain, with a preferential concentration in the dorsal striatum and nucleus accumbens, brain regions which are important for addiction and emotion. AC5 has been shown to be an essential mediator of morphine addiction and dopamine receptor function; however, it remains unknown whether or not AC5 plays a role in ethanol preference and sensitivity in animals. OBJECTIVE This work was carried out to determine the role of AC5 in alcohol consumption and the hypnotic response to alcohol using AC5 knockout (KO) mice. RESULTS In the test for ethanol preference employing a two-bottle free-choice paradigm, AC5 KO mice showed increased ethanol consumption and preference compared with the wild-type mice. Ethanol-induced hypothermia was weakly reduced in AC5 KO mice. AC5 KO mice exhibited sedation/behavioral sleep to high-dose ethanol, but their responses were greatly suppressed compared with the wild-type mice. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that AC5 is an important signaling molecule regulating alcohol sensitivity and preference in animals. These data provide critical information for AC5 activation as a candidate target for the treatment of alcoholism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoung-Shim Kim
- Brain Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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Pharmacological analysis of zebrafish (Danio rerio) scototaxis. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2011; 35:624-31. [PMID: 21237231 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2011.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2010] [Revised: 01/04/2011] [Accepted: 01/04/2011] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The scototaxis test has been introduced recently to assess anxiety-like phenotypes in fish, including zebrafish. Parametric analyses suggest that scototaxis represents an approach-avoidance conflict, which hints at anxiety. In this model, white avoidance represents anxiety-like behavior, while the number of shuttling events represents activity. Acute or chronic fluoxetine, buspirone, benzodiazepines, ethanol, caffeine and dizocilpine were assessed using the light-dark box (scototaxis) test in zebrafish. Acute fluoxetine treatment did not alter white avoidance, but altered locomotion in the higher dose; chronic treatment (2 weeks), on the other hand, produced an anxiolytic effect with no locomotor outcomes. The benzodiazepines produced a hormetic (inverted U-shaped) dose-response profile, with intermediate doses producing anxiolysis and no effect at higher doses; clonazepam, a high-potency benzodiazepine agonist, produced a locomotor impairment at the highest dose. Buspirone produced an anxiolytic profile, without locomotor impairments. Moclobemide did not produce behavioral effects. Ethanol also produced a hormetic profile in white avoidance, with locomotor activation in 0.5% concentration. Caffeine produced an anxiogenic profile, without locomotor effects. These results suggest that the light-dark box is sensitive to anxiolytic and anxiogenic drugs in zebrafish.
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Klee EW, Ebbert JO, Schneider H, Hurt RD, Ekker SC. Zebrafish for the study of the biological effects of nicotine. Nicotine Tob Res 2011; 13:301-12. [PMID: 21385906 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntr010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Zebrafish are emerging as a powerful animal model for studying the molecular and physiological effects of nicotine exposure. The zebrafish have many advantageous physical characteristics, including small size, high fecundity rates, and externally developing transparent embryos. When combined with a battery of molecular-genetic tools and behavioral assays, these attributes enable studies to be conducted that are not practical using traditional animal models. METHODS We reviewed the literature on the application of the zebrafish model as a preclinical model to study the biological effects of nicotine exposure. RESULTS The identified studies used zebrafish to examine the effects of nicotine exposure on early development, addiction, anxiety, and learning. The methods used included green fluorescent protein-labeled proteins to track in vivo nicotine-altered neuron development, nicotine-conditioned place preference, and locomotive sensitization linked with high-throughput molecular and genetic screens and behavioral models of learning and stress response to nicotine. Data are presented on the complete homology of all known human neural nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in zebrafish and on the biological similarity of human and zebrafish dopaminergic signaling. CONCLUSIONS Tobacco dependence remains a major health problem worldwide. Further understanding of the molecular effects of nicotine exposure and genetic contributions to dependence may lead to improvement in patient treatment strategies. While there are limitations to the use of zebrafish as a preclinical model, it should provide a valuable tool to complement existing model systems. The reviewed studies demonstrate the enormous opportunity zebrafish have to advance the science of nicotine and tobacco research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric W Klee
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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Howarth DL, Passeri M, Sadler KC. Drinks like a fish: using zebrafish to understand alcoholic liver disease. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2011; 35:826-9. [PMID: 21284674 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2010.01407.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Steatosis is the most common consequence of acute alcohol abuse, such as occurs during a drinking binge. Acute alcohol induced steatosis may predispose to more severe hepatic disease. We have developed a model of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in zebrafish larvae to provide a system in which the genes and pathways that contribute to steatosis can be rapidly identified. Zebrafish larvae represent an attractive vertebrate model for studying acute ALD because they possess the pathways to metabolize alcohol, the liver is mature by 4 days post-fertilization (dpf), and alcohol can be simply added to their water. Exposing 4 dpf zebrafish larvae to 2% ethanol (EtOH) for 32 hours achieves ∼80 mM intracellular EtOH and upregulation of hepatic cyp2e1, sod, and bip, indicating that EtOH is metabolized and provokes oxidative stress. EtOH-treated larvae develop ALD as demonstrated by hepatomegaly and steatosis. Increased lipogenesis driven by the sterol response element binding protein (SREBP) transcription factors is essential for steatosis associated with chronic alcohol ingestion but it has not been determined if the same pathway is essential for steatosis following a drinking binge. We report that several Srebp target genes are induced in the liver of zebrafish exposed to EtOH. We used fish which harbor a mutation in the gene encoding the membrane bound transcription factor protease 1 (mbtps1; also called site-1 protease) and embryos in which the Srebp cleavage activating protein (scap) is knocked down to determine the requirement of this pathway in acute ALD. We find that both means of blocking Srebp activation prevents steatosis in response to 2% EtOH. Moreover, this is accompanied by the failure to activate several Srebp target genes in response to alcohol. We conclude that Srebps are required for steatosis in response to acute alcohol exposure. Moreover, these data highlight the utility of zebrafish as a useful new vertebrate model to study ALD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deanna L Howarth
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA
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Mathur P, Guo S. Differences of acute versus chronic ethanol exposure on anxiety-like behavioral responses in zebrafish. Behav Brain Res 2011; 219:234-9. [PMID: 21255611 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2010] [Revised: 01/06/2011] [Accepted: 01/10/2011] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish, a vertebrate model organism amenable to high throughput screening, is an attractive system to model and study the mechanisms underlying human diseases. Alcoholism and alcoholic medical disorders are among the most debilitating diseases, yet the mechanisms by which ethanol inflicts the disease states are not well understood. In recent years zebrafish behavior assays have been used to study learning and memory, fear and anxiety, and social behavior. It is important to characterize the effects of ethanol on zebrafish behavioral repertoires in order to successfully harvest the strength of zebrafish for alcohol research. One prominent effect of alcohol in humans is its effect on anxiety, with acute intermediate doses relieving anxiety and withdrawal from chronic exposure increasing anxiety, both of which have significant contributions to alcohol dependence. In this study, we assess the effects of both acute and chronic ethanol exposure on anxiety-like behaviors in zebrafish, using two behavioral paradigms, the Novel Tank Diving Test and the Light/Dark Choice Assay. Acute ethanol exposure exerted significant dose-dependent anxiolytic effects. However, withdrawal from repeated intermittent ethanol exposure disabled recovery from heightened anxiety. These results demonstrate that zebrafish exhibit different anxiety-like behavioral responses to acute and chronic ethanol exposure, which are remarkably similar to these effects of alcohol in humans. Because of the accessibility of zebrafish to high throughput screening, our results suggest that genes and small molecules identified in zebrafish will be of relevance to understand how acute versus chronic alcohol exposure have opposing effects on the state of anxiety in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Mathur
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Programs in Biological Sciences and Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-2811, United States
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36
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Wagle M, Mathur P, Guo S. Corticotropin-releasing factor critical for zebrafish camouflage behavior is regulated by light and sensitive to ethanol. J Neurosci 2011; 31:214-24. [PMID: 21209207 PMCID: PMC3030280 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3339-10.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2010] [Revised: 10/15/2010] [Accepted: 10/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish camouflage response is an innate "hard-wired" behavior that offers an excellent opportunity to explore neural circuit assembly and function. Moreover, the camouflage response is sensitive to ethanol, making it a tractable system for understanding how ethanol influences neural circuit development and function. Here we report the identification of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) as a critical component of the camouflage response pathway. We further show that ethanol, having no direct effect on the visual sensory system or the melanocytes, acts downstream of retinal ganglion cells and requires the CRF-proopiomelanocortin pathway to exert its effect on camouflage. Treatment with ethanol, as well as alteration of light exposure that changes sensory input into the camouflage circuit, robustly modifies CRF expression in subsets of neurons. Activity of both adenylyl cyclase 5 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is required for such ethanol-induced or light-induced plasticity of crf expression. These results reveal an essential role of a peptidergic pathway in camouflage that is regulated by light and influenced by ethanol at concentrations relevant to abuse and anxiolysis, in a cAMP-dependent and ERK-dependent manner. We conclude that this ethanol-modulated camouflage response represents a novel and relevant system for molecular genetic dissection of a neural circuit that is regulated by light and sensitive to ethanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahendra Wagle
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Programs in Human Genetics and Biological Sciences, The Wheeler Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-2811
| | - Priya Mathur
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Programs in Human Genetics and Biological Sciences, The Wheeler Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-2811
| | - Su Guo
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Programs in Human Genetics and Biological Sciences, The Wheeler Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-2811
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38
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Maximino C, Herculano AM. A Review of Monoaminergic Neuropsychopharmacology in Zebrafish. Zebrafish 2010; 7:359-78. [DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2010.0669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Caio Maximino
- Laboratório de Neuroendocrinologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém/PA, Brazil
- Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium
| | - Anderson Manoel Herculano
- Laboratório de Neuroendocrinologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém/PA, Brazil
- Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium
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39
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Mathur P, Berberoglu MA, Guo S. Preference for ethanol in zebrafish following a single exposure. Behav Brain Res 2010; 217:128-33. [PMID: 20974186 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2010] [Revised: 09/14/2010] [Accepted: 10/18/2010] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Ethanol is one of the most widely abused drugs in the world. Its addictive property is believed to primarily stem from its ability to influence the brain reinforcement pathway evolved for mediating natural rewards. Although dopamine is a known component of the reinforcement pathway, clear molecular and cellular compositions of this pathway and its sensitivity to ethanol remain not well understood. Zebrafish has been increasingly used to model and understand human disease states, due to its genetic tractability and ease of maintenance. In this study, we determine whether adult zebrafish develop ethanol preference after a single exposure using a conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Moreover, we establish a procedure that can be carried out in an automated and relatively high-throughput fashion. We find that zebrafish of the AB strain display significantly increased preference for the compartment where they received ethanol during a single 20-min exposure. The largest increase in preference is in response to a 1.5% ethanol administered in the tank water. The results demonstrate robust ethanol preference in zebrafish. Such a relatively high-throughput assay with automated tracking and response to a single ethanol exposure provides a potential means for a large-scale screening aimed at understanding the brain reinforcement pathway and its sensitivity to ethanol in this genetically tractable vertebrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Mathur
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Programs in Human Genetics and Biological Sciences, The Wheeler Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-2811, USA
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40
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Rosemberg DB, da Rocha RF, Rico EP, Zanotto-Filho A, Dias RD, Bogo MR, Bonan CD, Moreira JCF, Klamt F, Souza DO. Taurine prevents enhancement of acetylcholinesterase activity induced by acute ethanol exposure and decreases the level of markers of oxidative stress in zebrafish brain. Neuroscience 2010; 171:683-92. [PMID: 20884336 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2010] [Revised: 08/31/2010] [Accepted: 09/17/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Ethanol (EtOH) is a drug widely consumed throughout the world that promotes several neurochemical disorders. Its deleterious effects are generally associated with modifications in oxidative stress parameters, signaling transduction pathways, and neurotransmitter systems, leading to distinct behavioral changes. Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a β-amino acid not incorporated into proteins found in mM range in the central nervous system (CNS). The actions of taurine as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, neuromodulator, and antioxidant make it attractive for studying a potential protective role against EtOH-mediated neurotoxicity. In this study, we investigated whether acute taurine cotreatment or pretreatment (1 h) prevent EtOH-induced changes in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and in oxidative stress parameters in zebrafish brain. The results showed that EtOH exposure (1% in volume) during 1 h increased AChE activity, whereas the cotreatment with 400 mg·L(-1) taurine prevented this enhancement. A similar protective effect of 150 and 400 mg·L(-1) taurine was also observed when the animals were pretreated with this amino acid. Taurine treatments also prevented the alterations promoted in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities by EtOH, suggesting a modulatory role in enzymatic antioxidant defenses. The pretreatment with 150 and 400 mg·L(-1) taurine significantly increased the sulfydryl levels as compared to control and EtOH groups. Moreover, 150 and 400 mg·L(-1) taurine significantly decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) levels, but the cotreatment with EtOH plus 400 mg·L(-1) taurine did not prevent the EtOH-induced lipoperoxidation. In contrast, the pretreatment with 150 and 400 mg·L(-1) taurine prevented the TBARS increase besides decreased the basal levels of lipid peroxides. Altogether, our data showed for the first time that EtOH induced oxidative stress in adult zebrafish brain and reinforce the idea that this vertebrate is an attractive alternative model to evaluate the beneficial effect of taurine against acute EtOH exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- D B Rosemberg
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600-Anexo, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Mathur P, Guo S. Use of zebrafish as a model to understand mechanisms of addiction and complex neurobehavioral phenotypes. Neurobiol Dis 2010; 40:66-72. [PMID: 20493262 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2010.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2010] [Revised: 05/07/2010] [Accepted: 05/11/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite massive research efforts the exact pathogenesis and pathophysiology of addiction and neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety, schizophrenia and autism remain largely unknown. Animal models can serve as tools to understand the etiology and pathogenesis of these disorders. In recent years researchers are turning to zebrafish as it allows easy access to all developmental stages and imaging of pathological processes as well as automated behavioral quantification coupled with large scale screening and mutagenesis strategies. This review summarizes studies conducted over the last few years which demonstrate the relevance of the zebrafish model to human diseases including addiction and neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Mathur
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Programs in Human Genetics and Biological Sciences, University of California San Francisco, CA 94143-2811, USA
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Kroetz DL, Ahituv N, Burchard EG, Guo S, Sali A, Giacomini KM. Institutional Profile: The University of California Pharmacogenomics Center: at the interface of genomics, biological mechanisms and drug therapy. Pharmacogenomics 2010; 10:1569-76. [PMID: 19842929 DOI: 10.2217/pgs.09.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Pharmacogenomics Center of the University of California, San Francisco (CA, USA) fosters research and educational activities focused on the genomic basis for variation in drug response. Investigators in the Center conduct multidisciplinary and multicenter research on a diverse array of clinically used drugs with the goal of understanding the genetic factors that contribute to variation in therapeutic and adverse drug response. The Center houses the large NIH-supported Pharmacogenomics of Membrane Transporters Project, which is a leader in understanding genetic variation in membrane transporters that are important in clinical drug response. Center investigators study racially and ethnically diverse populations, are pioneers in the education of PharmD, MD and PhD students in pharmacogenomics, and have led the establishment of unique graduate and postdoctoral training programs focused on pharmacogenomics. A key emphasis of the Center is on biological mechanisms with a goal of facilitating the development of safer and more effective medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deanna L Kroetz
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Björk K, Hansson AC, Sommer WH. Genetic Variation and Brain Gene Expression in Rodent Models of Alcoholism. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2010; 91:129-71. [DOI: 10.1016/s0074-7742(10)91005-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Foroud T, Edenberg HJ, Crabbe JC. Genetic research: who is at risk for alcoholism. ALCOHOL RESEARCH & HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM 2010; 33:64-75. [PMID: 23579937 PMCID: PMC3887503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) was founded 40 years ago to help elucidate the biological underpinnings of alcohol dependence, including the potential contribution of genetic factors. Twin, adoption, and family studies conclusively demonstrated that genetic factors account for 50 to 60 percent of the variance in risk for developing alcoholism. Case-control studies and linkage analyses have helped identify DNA variants that contribute to increased risk, and the NIAAA-sponsored Collaborative Studies on Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) has the expressed goal of identifying contributing genes using state-of-the-art genetic technologies. These efforts have ascertained several genes that may contribute to an increased risk of alcoholism, including certain variants encoding alcohol-metabolizing enzymes and neurotransmitter receptors. Genome-wide association studies allowing the analysis of millions of genetic markers located throughout the genome will enable discovery of further candidate genes. In addition to these human studies, genetic animal models of alcohol's effects and alcohol use have greatly advanced our understanding of the genetic basis of alcoholism, resulting in the identification of quantitative trait loci and allowing for targeted manipulation of candidate genes. Novel research approaches-for example, into epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation-also are under way and undoubtedly will further clarify the genetic basis of alcoholism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Foroud
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
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