1
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Naïja A, Horie Y, Boughattas S, Ismail S, Al-Mansouri N. Toxicity assessment of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate using zebrafish embryos: Cardiotoxic potential. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2024; 283:109956. [PMID: 38838795 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2024.109956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Plasticizers are considered as newly emerged contaminants. They are added to plastics to increase their flexibility and softness. Phthalate plasticizers including the Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalates (DEHP) are toxic and induce adverse effects on the different organization levels of the environment. In the current study, we investigated the potential toxicity of DEHP using Zebrafish as a biological model. Five ascending concentrations of DEHP were tested in embryos throughout 96 hpf: 0.0086, 0.086, 0.86, 8.6, and 86 mg/L. Embryotoxicity assessments revealed limited lethal effects on DEHP-exposed embryos, yet notable anticipation of the hatching process was observed at 48 hpf. Although DEHP showed negligible influence on the length and pericardial area of exposed embryos, it led to multiple bodily deformities. Gene expression analyses of key cardiogenic and inflammatory genes evidenced alterations in tbx20, bcl2, and il1b expression in Zebrafish embryos at 96 h post-fertilization. Results from the cardiac function analysis displayed that DEHP significantly affected the arterial pulse and linear velocity within the Posterior Cardinal Vein (PCV) of exposed fish. These findings strongly advance that even at low concentrations, DEHP can be considered as potential toxic agent, capable of inducing cardiotoxic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azza Naïja
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. https://twitter.com/@NaijaAzza
| | - Yoshifumi Horie
- Research Center for Inland Seas (KURCIS), Kobe University, Fukaeminami-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-0022, Japan
| | | | - Sara Ismail
- Biomedical Science Department, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nafja Al-Mansouri
- Biomedical Science Department, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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2
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Naïja A, Mutlu O, Khan T, Seers TD, Yalcin HC. An optimized CT-dense agent perfusion and micro-CT imaging protocol for chick embryo developmental stages. BMC Biomed Eng 2024; 6:3. [PMID: 38654382 DOI: 10.1186/s42490-024-00078-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Compared to classical techniques of morphological analysis, micro-CT (μ-CT) has become an effective approach allowing rapid screening of morphological changes. In the present work, we aimed to provide an optimized micro-CT dense agent perfusion protocol and μ-CT guidelines for different stages of chick embryo cardiogenesis. Our study was conducted over a period of 10 embryonic days (Hamburger-Hamilton HH36) in chick embryo hearts. During the perfusion of the micro-CT dense agent at different developmental stages (HH19, HH24, HH27, HH29, HH31, HH34, HH35, and HH36), we demonstrated that durations and volumes of the injected contrast agent gradually increased with the heart developmental stages contrary to the flow rate that was unchanged during the whole experiment. Analysis of the CT imaging confirmed the efficiency of the optimized parameters of the heart perfusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azza Naïja
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Onur Mutlu
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Talha Khan
- Petroleum Engineering Program, Texas A&M University, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Huseyin C Yalcin
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
- Department of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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3
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Deng Y, Hu T, Chen J, Zeng J, Yang J, Ke Q, Miao L, Chen Y, Li R, Zhang R, Xu P. Non-invasive methods for heart rate measurement in fish based on photoplethysmography. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246464. [PMID: 38284767 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Heart rate is a crucial physiological indicator for fish, but current measurement methods are often invasive or require delicate manipulation. In this study, we introduced two non-invasive and easy-to-operate methods based on photoplethysmography, namely reflectance-type photoplethysmography (PPG) and remote photoplethysmography (rPPG), which we applied to the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea). PPG showed perfect synchronization with electrocardiogram (ECG), with a Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.99999. For rPPG, the results showed good agreement with ECG. Under active provision of green light, the Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.966, surpassing the value of 0.947 under natural light. Additionally, the root mean square error was 0.810, which was lower than the value of 1.30 under natural light, indicating not only that the rPPG method had relatively high accuracy but also that green light may have the potential to further improve its accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yacheng Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Tianyu Hu
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering (National Model Microelectronics College), Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jia Chen
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering (National Model Microelectronics College), Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Junjia Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jinqian Yang
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering (National Model Microelectronics College), Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Qiaozhen Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Lingwei Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yujia Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Rui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Rongxin Zhang
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering (National Model Microelectronics College), Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Peng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
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4
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Van Impe M, Caboor L, Deleeuw V, De Rycke K, Vanhooydonck M, De Backer J, Segers P, Sips P. Application of an automated analysis framework for pulsed-wave Doppler cardiac ultrasound measurements to generate reference data in adult zebrafish. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2023; 325:R782-R796. [PMID: 37811715 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00103.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
High-frequency cardiac ultrasound is the only well-established method to characterize in vivo cardiovascular function in adult zebrafish noninvasively. Pulsed-wave Doppler imaging allows measurements of blood flow velocities at well-defined anatomical positions, but the measurements and results obtained using this technique need to be analyzed carefully, taking into account the substantial baseline variability within one recording and the possibility for operator bias. To address these issues and to increase throughput by limiting hands-on analysis time, we have developed a fully automated processing pipeline. This framework enables the fast, unbiased analysis of all cardiac cycles in a zebrafish pulsed-wave Doppler recording of both atrioventricular valve flow as well as aortic valve flow without operator-dependent inputs. Applying this automated pipeline to a large number of recordings from wild-type zebrafish shows a strong agreement between the automated results and manual annotations performed by an experienced operator. The reference data obtained from this analysis showed that the early wave peak during ventricular inflow is lower for female compared with male zebrafish. We also found that the peaks of the ventricular inflow and outflow waves as well as the peaks of the regurgitation waves are all correlated positively with body surface area. In general, the presented reference data, as well as the automated Doppler measurement processing tools developed and validated in this study will facilitate future (high-throughput) cardiovascular phenotyping studies in adult zebrafish ultimately leading to a more comprehensive understanding of human (genetic) cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Van Impe
- IBiTech-BioMMedA, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lisa Caboor
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Violette Deleeuw
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Karo De Rycke
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Michiel Vanhooydonck
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Julie De Backer
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Patrick Segers
- IBiTech-BioMMedA, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Patrick Sips
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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5
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Sukumaran V, Mutlu O, Murtaza M, Alhalbouni R, Dubansky B, Yalcin HC. Experimental assessment of cardiovascular physiology in the chick embryo. Dev Dyn 2023; 252:1247-1268. [PMID: 37002896 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
High resolution assessment of cardiac functional parameters is crucial in translational animal research. The chick embryo is a historically well-used in vivo model for cardiovascular research due to its many practical advantages, and the conserved form and function of the chick and human cardiogenesis programs. This review aims to provide an overview of several different technical approaches for chick embryo cardiac assessment. Doppler echocardiography, optical coherence tomography, micromagnetic resonance imaging, microparticle image velocimetry, real-time pressure monitoring, and associated issues with the techniques will be discussed. Alongside this discussion, we also highlight recent advances in cardiac function measurements in chick embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Onur Mutlu
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | - Benjamin Dubansky
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Office of Research and Economic Development, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Huseyin C Yalcin
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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6
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Wilson SI, Ingram KE, Oh A, Moreno MR, Kassi M. The role of innovative modeling and imaging techniques in improving outcomes in patients with LVAD. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1248300. [PMID: 37692033 PMCID: PMC10484111 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1248300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart failure remains a significant cause of mortality in the United States and around the world. While organ transplantation is acknowledged as the gold standard treatment for end stage heart failure, supply is limited, and many patients are treated with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). LVADs extend and improve patients' lives, but they are not without their own complications, particularly the hemocompatibility related adverse events (HRAE) including stroke, bleeding and pump thrombosis. Mainstream imaging techniques currently in use to assess appropriate device function and troubleshoot complications, such as echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography, provide some insight but do not provide a holistic understanding of pump induced flow alterations that leads to HRAEs. In contrast, there are technologies restricted to the benchtop-such as computational fluid dynamics and mock circulatory loops paired with methods like particle image velocimetry-that can assess flow metrics but have not been optimized for clinical care. In this review, we outline the potential role and current limitations of converging available technologies to produce novel imaging techniques, and the potential utility in evaluating hemodynamic flow to determine whether LVAD patients may be at higher risk of HRAEs. This addition to diagnostic and monitoring capabilities could improve prevention and treatment of LVAD-induced complications in heart failure patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon I. Wilson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Katelyn E. Ingram
- DeBakey Heart and Vascular- Heart Center Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Albert Oh
- School of Engineering Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Michael R. Moreno
- J. Mike Walker ‘66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Mahwash Kassi
- Cardiology, DeBakey Heart and Vascular, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
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7
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Hegemann N, Bintig W, Perret PL, Rees J, Viperino A, Eickholt B, Kuebler WM, Höpfner M, Nitzsche B, Grune J. In-ovo echocardiography for application in cardiovascular research. Basic Res Cardiol 2023; 118:19. [PMID: 37193927 PMCID: PMC10188421 DOI: 10.1007/s00395-023-00989-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Preclinical cardiovascular research relies heavily on non-invasive in-vivo echocardiography in mice and rats to assess cardiac function and morphology, since the complex interaction of heart, circulation, and peripheral organs are challenging to mimic ex-vivo. While n-numbers of annually used laboratory animals worldwide approach 200 million, increasing efforts are made by basic scientists aiming to reduce animal numbers in cardiovascular research according to the 3R's principle. The chicken egg is well-established as a physiological correlate and model for angiogenesis research but has barely been used to assess cardiac (patho-) physiology. Here, we tested whether the established in-ovo system of incubated chicken eggs interfaced with commercially available small animal echocardiography would be a suitable alternative test system in experimental cardiology. To this end, we defined a workflow to assess cardiac function in 8-13-day-old chicken embryos using a commercially available high resolution ultrasound system for small animals (Vevo 3100, Fujifilm Visualsonics Inc.) equipped with a high frequency probe (MX700; centre transmit: 50 MHz). We provide detailed standard operating procedures for sample preparation, image acquisition, data analysis, reference values for left and right ventricular function and dimensions, and inter-observer variabilities. Finally, we challenged incubated chicken eggs with two interventions well-known to affect cardiac physiology-metoprolol treatment and hypoxic exposure-to demonstrate the sensitivity of in-ovo echocardiography. In conclusion, in-ovo echocardiography is a feasible alternative tool for basic cardiovascular research, which can easily be implemented into the small animal research environment using existing infrastructure to replace mice and rat experiments, and thus, reduce use of laboratory animals according to the 3R principle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Hegemann
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum Der Charité (DHZC), Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Willem Bintig
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Biochemistry, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul-Lennard Perret
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Judith Rees
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alessandra Viperino
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Britta Eickholt
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Biochemistry, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wolfgang M Kuebler
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Höpfner
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bianca Nitzsche
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jana Grune
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum Der Charité (DHZC), Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
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8
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Naija A, Yalcin HC. Evaluation of cadmium and mercury on cardiovascular and neurological systems: Effects on humans and fish. Toxicol Rep 2023; 10:498-508. [PMID: 37396852 PMCID: PMC10313869 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2023.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemicals are at the top of public health concerns and metals have received much attention in terms of toxicological studies. Cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) are among the most toxic heavy metals and are widely distributed in the environment. They are considered important factors involved in several organ disturbances. Heart and brain tissues are not among the first exposure sites to Cd and Hg but they are directly affected and may manifest intoxication reactions leading to death. Many cases of human intoxication with Cd and Hg showed that these metals have potential cardiotoxic and neurotoxic effects. Human exposure to heavy metals is through fish consumption which is considered as an excellent source of human nutrients. In the current review, we will summarize the most known cases of human intoxication with Cd and Hg, highlight their toxic effects on fish, and investigate the common signal pathways of both Cd and Hg to affect heart and brain tissues. Also, we will present the most common biomarkers used in the assessment of cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity using Zebrafish model.
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9
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Mutlu O, Salman HE, Al-Thani H, El-Menyar A, Qidwai UA, Yalcin HC. How does hemodynamics affect rupture tissue mechanics in abdominal aortic aneurysm: Focus on wall shear stress derived parameters, time-averaged wall shear stress, oscillatory shear index, endothelial cell activation potential, and relative residence time. Comput Biol Med 2023; 154:106609. [PMID: 36724610 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.106609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a critical health condition with a risk of rupture, where the diameter of the aorta enlarges more than 50% of its normal diameter. The incidence rate of AAA has increased worldwide. Currently, about three out of every 100,000 people have aortic diseases. The diameter and geometry of AAAs influence the hemodynamic forces exerted on the arterial wall. Therefore, a reliable assessment of hemodynamics is crucial for predicting the rupture risk. Wall shear stress (WSS) is an important metric to define the level of the frictional force on the AAA wall. Excessive levels of WSS deteriorate the remodeling mechanism of the arteries and lead to abnormal conditions. At this point, WSS-related hemodynamic parameters, such as time-averaged WSS (TAWSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI), endothelial cell activation potential (ECAP), and relative residence time (RRT) provide important information to evaluate the shear environment on the AAA wall in detail. Calculation of these parameters is not straightforward and requires a physical understanding of what they represent. In addition, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solvers do not readily calculate these parameters when hemodynamics is simulated. This review aims to explain the WSS-derived parameters focusing on how these represent different characteristics of disturbed hemodynamics. A representative case is presented for spatial and temporal formulation that would be useful for interested researchers for practical calculations. Finally, recent hemodynamics investigations relating WSS-related parameters with AAA rupture risk assessment are presented. This review will be useful to understand the physical representation of WSS-related parameters in cardiovascular flows and how they can be calculated practically for AAA investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onur Mutlu
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Huseyin Enes Salman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Hassan Al-Thani
- Department of Surgery, Trauma and Vascular Surgery, Hamad General Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ayman El-Menyar
- Department of Surgery, Trauma and Vascular Surgery, Hamad General Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar; Clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar
| | - Uvais Ahmed Qidwai
- Department of Computer Science Engineering, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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10
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Naija A, Mutlu O, Khan T, Seers TD, Yalcin HC. An optimized CT-dense agent perfusion and micro-CT imaging protocol for chick embryo developmental stages.. [DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2541863/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Compared to classical techniques of morphological analysis, micro-CT (µ-CT) has become an effective approach allowing rapid screening of morphological changes. In the present work, we aimed to provide an optimized µ-CT dense agent perfusion protocol and µ-CT guidelines for different stages of chick embryo cardiogenesis. Our study was conducted over a period of 10 embryonic days (Hamburger-Hamilton HH36) in chick embryo hearts. During the perfusion of the µ-CT dense agent at different developmental stages (HH19, HH24, HH27, HH29, HH31, HH34, HH35, and HH36), we demonstrated that durations and volumes of the injected contrast agent gradually increased with the heart developmental stages contrary to the flow rate that was unchanged during the whole experiment. Analysis of the CT imaging confirmed the efficiency of the optimized parameters of the heart perfusion.
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11
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Alser M, Salman HE, Naïja A, Seers TD, Khan T, Yalcin HC. Blood Flow Disturbance and Morphological Alterations Following the Right Atrial Ligation in the Chick Embryo. Front Physiol 2022; 13:849603. [PMID: 35492580 PMCID: PMC9047544 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.849603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Collectively known as congenital heart defects (CHDs), cardiac abnormalities at birth are the most common forms of neonatal defects. Being principally responsible for the heart‘s pumping power, ventricles are particularly affected by developmental abnormalities, such as flow disturbances or genomic defects. Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome (HRHS) is a rare disease where the right ventricle is underdeveloped. In this study, we introduce a surgical procedure performed on chick embryo, termed right atrial ligation (RAL) for disturbing hemodynamics within the right heart aiming in order to generate an animal model of HRHS. RAL is a new surgical manipulation, similar to the well-studied left atrial ligation (LAL) surgery but it induces the hemodynamic change into the right side of the heart. After inducing RAL, We utilized techniques such as Doppler ultrasound, x-ray micro-CT, histology, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, for a comprehensive functional and structural analysis of a developing heart. Our results displayed that RAL does not induce severe flow disturbance and ventricular abnormalities consistent with clinical findings. This study allows us to better understand the hemodynamics-driven CHD development and sensitivities of ventricles under disturbed flows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Alser
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Huseyin Enes Salman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Azza Naïja
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Talha Khan
- Petroleum Engineering Program, Texas A&M University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Huseyin Cagatay Yalcin
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- *Correspondence: Huseyin Cagatay Yalcin,
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12
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Salman HE, Kamal RY, Hijazi ZM, Yalcin HC. Hemodynamic and Structural Comparison of Human Fetal Heart Development Between Normally Growing and Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome-Diagnosed Hearts. Front Physiol 2022; 13:856879. [PMID: 35399257 PMCID: PMC8984126 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.856879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) affect a wide range of societies with an incidence rate of 1.0–1.2%. These defects initiate at the early developmental stage and result in critical health disorders. Although genetic factors play a role in the formation of CHDs, the occurrence of cases in families with no history of CHDs suggests that mechanobiological forces may also play a role in the initiation and progression of CHDs. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a critical CHD, which is responsible for 25–40% of all prenatal cardiac deaths. The comparison of healthy and HLHS hearts helps in understanding the main hemodynamic differences related to HLHS. Echocardiography is the most common imaging modality utilized for fetal cardiac assessment. In this study, we utilized echocardiographic images to compare healthy and HLHS human fetal hearts for determining the differences in terms of heart chamber dimensions, valvular flow rates, and hemodynamics. The cross-sectional areas of chamber dimensions are determined from 2D b-mode ultrasound images. Valvular flow rates are measured via Doppler echocardiography, and hemodynamic quantifications are performed with the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The obtained results indicate that cross-sectional areas of the left and right sides of the heart are similar for healthy fetuses during gestational development. The left side of HLHS heart is underdeveloped, and as a result, the hemodynamic parameters such as flow velocity, pressure, and wall shear stress (WSS) are significantly altered compared to those of healthy hearts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huseyin Enes Salman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Reema Yousef Kamal
- Pediatric Cardiology Division, Hamad General Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ziyad M. Hijazi
- Sidra Heart Center, Sidra Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar
| | - Huseyin Cagatay Yalcin
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- *Correspondence: Huseyin Cagatay Yalcin,
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13
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Effect of Water-Pipe Smoking on the Normal Development of Zebrafish. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111659. [PMID: 34770174 PMCID: PMC8582815 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: Among all types of tobacco consumption, Water-Pipe Smoking (WPS) is the most widely used in the Middle East and second-most in several other countries. The effect of WPS on normal development is not yet fully understood, thus the aim of this study is to explore the acute toxicity effects of WPS extract on zebrafish larvae. Methods: In this study, we compared the effects of WPS smoke condensates at concentrations varying from 50 to 200 µg/mL on developmental, cardiac, and behavioural (neurotoxicity) functions. Gene expression patterns of cardiac biomarkers were also evaluated by RT-qPCR. Results: Exposing zebrafish embryos to 50, 100, 150 and 200 µg/mL WPS for three days did not affect the normal morphology of Zebrafish embryos, as the tail flicking, behavioural and locomotion assays did not show any change. However, WPS deregulated cardiac markers including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP/NPPA) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP/NPPB). Furthermore, it induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that WPS can significantly affect specific cardiac parameters during the normal development of zebrafish. Further investigations are necessary to elucidate the pathogenic outcome of WPS on different aspects of human life, including pregnancy.
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14
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Bensimon-Brito A, Boezio GLM, Cardeira-da-Silva J, Wietelmann A, Ramkumar S, Lundegaard PR, Helker CSM, Ramadass R, Piesker J, Nauerth A, Mueller C, Stainier DYR. Integration of multiple imaging platforms to uncover cardiovascular defects in adult zebrafish. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 118:2665-2687. [PMID: 34609500 PMCID: PMC9491864 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvab310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims Mammalian models have been instrumental in investigating adult heart function and human disease. However, electrophysiological differences with human hearts and high costs motivate the need for non-mammalian models. The zebrafish is a well-established genetic model to study cardiovascular development and function; however, analysis of cardiovascular phenotypes in adult specimens is particularly challenging as they are opaque. Methods and results Here, we optimized and combined multiple imaging techniques including echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and micro-computed tomography to identify and analyse cardiovascular phenotypes in adult zebrafish. Using alk5a/tgfbr1a mutants as a case study, we observed morphological and functional cardiovascular defects that were undetected with conventional approaches. Correlation analysis of multiple parameters revealed an association between haemodynamic defects and structural alterations of the heart, as observed clinically. Conclusion We report a new, comprehensive, and sensitive platform to identify otherwise indiscernible cardiovascular phenotypes in adult zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabela Bensimon-Brito
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany.,DZHK German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Rhine-Main, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Giulia L M Boezio
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany.,DZHK German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Rhine-Main, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - João Cardeira-da-Silva
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany.,DZHK German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Rhine-Main, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Astrid Wietelmann
- Scientific Service Group MRI and µ-CT, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Srinath Ramkumar
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany.,DZHK German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Rhine-Main, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Pia R Lundegaard
- Laboratory for Molecular Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Vascular, Pulmonary and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian S M Helker
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Radhan Ramadass
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Janett Piesker
- Scientific Service Group Microscopy, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | | | | | - Didier Y R Stainier
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany.,DZHK German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Rhine-Main, Bad Nauheim, Germany
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15
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Muir CA, Neff BD, Damjanovski S. Adaptation of a mouse Doppler echocardiograph system for assessing cardiac function and thermal performance in a juvenile salmonid. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab070. [PMID: 34512992 PMCID: PMC8415535 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Measures of cardiac performance are pertinent to the study of thermal physiology and exercise in teleosts, particularly as they pertain to migration success. Increased heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output have previously been linked to improved swimming performance and increased upper thermal tolerance in anadromous salmonids. To assess thermal performance in fishes, it has become commonplace to measure the response of maximum heart rate to warming using electrocardiograms. However, electrocardiograms do not provide insight into the hemodynamic characteristics of heart function that can impact whole-animal performance. Doppler echocardiography is a popular tool used to examine live animal processes, including real-time cardiac function. This method allows for nonsurgical measurements of blood flow velocity through the heart and has been used to detect abnormalities in cardiovascular function, particularly in mammals. Here, we show how a mouse Doppler echocardiograph system can be adapted for use in a juvenile salmonid over a range of temperatures and timeframes. Using this compact, noninvasive system, we measured maximum heart rate, atrioventricular (AV) blood flow velocity, the early flow-atrial flow ratio and stroke distance in juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) during acute warming. Using histologically determined measures of AV valve area, we show how stroke distance measurements obtained with this system can be used to calculate ventricular inflow volume and approximate cardiac output. Further, we show how this Doppler system can be used to determine cardiorespiratory thresholds for thermal performance, which are increasingly being used to predict the consequences that warming water temperatures will have on migratory fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlie A Muir
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7
| | - Bryan D Neff
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7
| | - Sashko Damjanovski
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7
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16
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Al-Thani HF, Shurbaji S, Yalcin HC. Zebrafish as a Model for Anticancer Nanomedicine Studies. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:625. [PMID: 34203407 PMCID: PMC8308643 DOI: 10.3390/ph14070625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanomedicine is a new approach to fight against cancer by the development of anticancer nanoparticles (NPs) that are of high sensitivity, specificity, and targeting ability to detect cancer cells, such as the ability of Silica NPs in targeting epithelial cancer cells. However, these anticancer NPs require preclinical testing, and zebrafish is a useful animal model for preclinical studies of anticancer NPs. This model affords a large sample size, optical imaging, and easy genetic manipulation that aid in nanomedicine studies. This review summarizes the numerous advantages of the zebrafish animal model for such investigation, various techniques for inducing cancer in zebrafish, and discusses the methods to assess cancer development in the model and to test for the toxicity of the anticancer drugs and NPs. In addition, it summarizes the recent studies that used zebrafish as a model to test the efficacy of several different anticancer NPs in treating cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hissa F Al-Thani
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Samar Shurbaji
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Huseyin C Yalcin
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
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17
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Saputra F, Lai YH, Fernandez RAT, Macabeo APG, Lai HT, Huang JC, Hsiao CD. Acute and Sub-Chronic Exposure to Artificial Sweeteners at the Highest Environmentally Relevant Concentration Induce Less Cardiovascular Physiology Alterations in Zebrafish Larvae. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:548. [PMID: 34207293 PMCID: PMC8233861 DOI: 10.3390/biology10060548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Artificial sweeteners are widely used food ingredients in beverages and drinks to lower calorie intake which in turn helps prevent lifestyle diseases such as obesity. However, as their popularity has increased, the release of artificial sweetener to the aquatic environment has also increased at a tremendous rate. Thus, our study aims to systematically explore the potential cardiovascular physiology alterations caused by eight commercial artificial sweeteners, including acesulfame-K, alitame, aspartame, sodium cyclamate, dulcin, neotame, saccharine and sucralose, at the highest environmentally relevant concentration on cardiovascular performance using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model system. Embryonic zebrafish were exposed to the eight artificial sweeteners at 100 ppb and their cardiovascular performance (heart rate, ejection fraction, fractional shortening, stroke volume, cardiac output, heartbeat variability, and blood flow velocity) was measured and compared. Overall, our finding supports the safety of artificial sweetener exposure. However, several finding like a significant increase in the heart rate and heart rate variability after incubation in several artificial sweeteners are noteworthy. Biomarker testing also revealed that saccharine significantly increase the dopamine level in zebrafish larvae, which is might be the reason for the cardiac physiology changes observed after saccharine exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferry Saputra
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan 320314, Taiwan;
| | - Yu-Heng Lai
- Department of Chemistry, Chinese Culture University, Taipei 11114, Taiwan;
| | - Rey Arturo T. Fernandez
- Laboratory for Organic Reactivity, Discovery and Synthesis (LORDS), Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Santo Tomas, Espana St., Manila 1015, Philippines; (R.A.T.F.); (A.P.G.M.)
| | - Allan Patrick G. Macabeo
- Laboratory for Organic Reactivity, Discovery and Synthesis (LORDS), Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Santo Tomas, Espana St., Manila 1015, Philippines; (R.A.T.F.); (A.P.G.M.)
| | - Hong-Thih Lai
- Department of Aquatic Biosciences, National Chiayi University, Chiayi 600355, Taiwan
| | - Jong-Chin Huang
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Pingtung University, Pingtung 90003, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Der Hsiao
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan 320314, Taiwan;
- Center for Nanotechnology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan 320314, Taiwan
- Research Center for Aquatic Toxicology and Pharmacology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan 320314, Taiwan
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18
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Alser M, Shurbaji S, Yalcin HC. Mechanosensitive Pathways in Heart Development: Findings from Chick Embryo Studies. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 8:jcdd8040032. [PMID: 33810288 PMCID: PMC8065436 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd8040032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The heart is the first organ that starts to function in a developing embryo. It continues to undergo dramatic morphological changes while pumping blood to the rest of the body. Genetic regulation of heart development is partly governed by hemodynamics. Chick embryo is a major animal model that has been used extensively in cardiogenesis research. To reveal mechanosensitive pathways, a variety of surgical interferences and chemical treatments can be applied to the chick embryo to manipulate the blood flow. Such manipulations alter expressions of mechanosensitive genes which may anticipate induction of morphological changes in the developing heart. This paper aims to present different approaches for generating clinically relevant disturbed hemodynamics conditions using this embryonic chick model and to summarize identified mechanosensitive genes using the model, providing insights into embryonic origins of congenital heart defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Alser
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (M.A.); (S.S.)
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar
| | - Samar Shurbaji
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (M.A.); (S.S.)
| | - Huseyin C. Yalcin
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (M.A.); (S.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +974-4403-7719
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19
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Computational Modeling of Blood Flow Hemodynamics for Biomechanical Investigation of Cardiac Development and Disease. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 8:jcdd8020014. [PMID: 33572675 PMCID: PMC7912127 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd8020014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The heart is the first functional organ in a developing embryo. Cardiac development continues throughout developmental stages while the heart goes through a serious of drastic morphological changes. Previous animal experiments as well as clinical observations showed that disturbed hemodynamics interfere with the development of the heart and leads to the formation of a variety of defects in heart valves, heart chambers, and blood vessels, suggesting that hemodynamics is a governing factor for cardiogenesis, and disturbed hemodynamics is an important source of congenital heart defects. Therefore, there is an interest to image and quantify the flowing blood through a developing heart. Flow measurement in embryonic fetal heart can be performed using advanced techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or echocardiography. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling is another approach especially useful when the other imaging modalities are not available and in-depth flow assessment is needed. The approach is based on numerically solving relevant physical equations to approximate the flow hemodynamics and tissue behavior. This approach is becoming widely adapted to simulate cardiac flows during the embryonic development. While there are few studies for human fetal cardiac flows, many groups used zebrafish and chicken embryos as useful models for elucidating normal and diseased cardiogenesis. In this paper, we explain the major steps to generate CFD models for simulating cardiac hemodynamics in vivo and summarize the latest findings on chicken and zebrafish embryos as well as human fetal hearts.
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20
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Salman HE, Alser M, Shekhar A, Gould RA, Benslimane FM, Butcher JT, Yalcin HC. Effect of left atrial ligation-driven altered inflow hemodynamics on embryonic heart development: clues for prenatal progression of hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2021; 20:733-750. [PMID: 33481120 PMCID: PMC7979615 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-020-01413-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are abnormalities in the heart structure present at birth. One important condition is hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) where severely underdeveloped left ventricle (LV) cannot support systemic circulation. HLHS usually initiates as localized tissue malformations with no underlying genetic cause, suggesting that disturbed hemodynamics contribute to the embryonic development of these defects. Left atrial ligation (LAL) is a surgical procedure on embryonic chick resulting in a phenotype resembling clinical HLHS. In this study, we investigated disturbed hemodynamics and deteriorated cardiac growth following LAL to investigate possible mechanobiological mechanisms for the embryonic development of HLHS. We integrated techniques such as echocardiography, micro-CT and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for these analyses. Specifically, LAL procedure causes an immediate flow disturbance over atrioventricular (AV) cushions. At later stages after the heart septation, it causes hemodynamic disturbances in LV. As a consequence of the LAL procedure, the left-AV canal and LV volume decrease in size, and in the opposite way, the right-AV canal and right ventricle volume increase. According to our CFD analysis, LAL results in an immediate decrease in the left AV canal WSS levels for 3.5-day (HH21) pre-septated hearts. For 7-day post-septated hearts (HH30), LAL leads to further reduction in WSS levels in the left AV canal, and relatively increased WSS levels in the right AV canal. This study demonstrates the critical importance of the disturbed hemodynamics during the heart valve and ventricle development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huseyin Enes Salman
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Maha Alser
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Akshay Shekhar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | - Russell A Gould
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | - Jonathan T Butcher
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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21
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Vedder VL, Aherrahrou Z, Erdmann J. Dare to Compare. Development of Atherosclerotic Lesions in Human, Mouse, and Zebrafish. Front Cardiovasc Med 2020; 7:109. [PMID: 32714944 PMCID: PMC7344238 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2020.00109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, are the leading cause of death worldwide. Although mice are currently the most commonly used model for atherosclerosis, zebrafish are emerging as an alternative, especially for inflammatory and lipid metabolism studies. Here, we review the history of in vivo atherosclerosis models and highlight the potential for future studies on inflammatory responses in lipid deposits in zebrafish, based on known immune reactions in humans and mice, in anticipation of new zebrafish models with more advanced atherosclerotic plaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana L Vedder
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,University Heart Centre Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Zouhair Aherrahrou
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,University Heart Centre Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jeanette Erdmann
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,University Heart Centre Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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22
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Keller BB, Kowalski WJ, Tinney JP, Tobita K, Hu N. Validating the Paradigm That Biomechanical Forces Regulate Embryonic Cardiovascular Morphogenesis and Are Fundamental in the Etiology of Congenital Heart Disease. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2020; 7:E23. [PMID: 32545681 PMCID: PMC7344498 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd7020023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The goal of this review is to provide a broad overview of the biomechanical maturation and regulation of vertebrate cardiovascular (CV) morphogenesis and the evidence for mechanistic relationships between function and form relevant to the origins of congenital heart disease (CHD). The embryonic heart has been investigated for over a century, initially focusing on the chick embryo due to the opportunity to isolate and investigate myocardial electromechanical maturation, the ability to directly instrument and measure normal cardiac function, intervene to alter ventricular loading conditions, and then investigate changes in functional and structural maturation to deduce mechanism. The paradigm of "Develop and validate quantitative techniques, describe normal, perturb the system, describe abnormal, then deduce mechanisms" was taught to many young investigators by Dr. Edward B. Clark and then validated by a rapidly expanding number of teams dedicated to investigate CV morphogenesis, structure-function relationships, and pathogenic mechanisms of CHD. Pioneering studies using the chick embryo model rapidly expanded into a broad range of model systems, particularly the mouse and zebrafish, to investigate the interdependent genetic and biomechanical regulation of CV morphogenesis. Several central morphogenic themes have emerged. First, CV morphogenesis is inherently dependent upon the biomechanical forces that influence cell and tissue growth and remodeling. Second, embryonic CV systems dynamically adapt to changes in biomechanical loading conditions similar to mature systems. Third, biomechanical loading conditions dynamically impact and are regulated by genetic morphogenic systems. Fourth, advanced imaging techniques coupled with computational modeling provide novel insights to validate regulatory mechanisms. Finally, insights regarding the genetic and biomechanical regulation of CV morphogenesis and adaptation are relevant to current regenerative strategies for patients with CHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley B. Keller
- Cincinnati Children’s Heart Institute, Greater Louisville and Western Kentucky Practice, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - William J. Kowalski
- Laboratory of Stem Cell and Neuro-Vascular Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Joseph P. Tinney
- Kosair Charities Pediatric Heart Research Program, Cardiovascular Innovation Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA;
| | - Kimimasa Tobita
- Department of Medical Affairs, Abiomed Japan K.K., Muromachi Higashi Mitsui Bldg, Tokyo 103-0022, Japan;
| | - Norman Hu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA;
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23
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Benslimane FM, Zakaria ZZ, Shurbaji S, Abdelrasool MKA, Al-Badr MAHI, Al Absi ESK, Yalcin HC. Cardiac function and blood flow hemodynamics assessment of zebrafish (Danio rerio) using high-speed video microscopy. Micron 2020; 136:102876. [PMID: 32512409 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2020.102876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the last few decades, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were introduced as a model organism to investigate human diseases including cardiovascular and neuronal disorders. In most zebrafish investigations, cardiac function and blood flow hemodynamics need to be assessed to study the effects of the interference on the cardiovascular system. For heart function assessment, most important parameters include heart rate, cardiac output, ejection fraction, fractional area change, and fractional shortening. METHODS A 10 s high-speed video of beating heart and flowing blood within major vessels of zebrafish that are less than 5 days post fertilization (dpf) were recorded via a stereo microscope equipped with a high speed camera. The videos were analyzed using MicroZebraLab and image J software for the assessment of cardiac function. RESULTS Using the technique described here, we were able to simply yet effectively assess cardiac function and blood flow dynamics of normal zebrafish embryos. We believe that the practical method presented here will help cardiac researchers using the zebrafish as a model to examine cardiac function by using tools that could be available in their laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zain Z Zakaria
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Samar Shurbaji
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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24
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Yalcin HC, Benslimane FM, Kawakami K. The First International Zebrafish Conference/Workshop in Qatar. Zebrafish 2019; 16:493-495. [PMID: 31453757 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2019.1786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
A zebrafish conference/workshop was held in Qatar between April 13 and 17, 2019. The aim of the event was to promote zebrafish research in Qatar and in Middle East/Asia by bringing together local zebrafish researchers with international colleagues. Another aim was to give basic zebrafish training to interested researchers enabling them to initiate relevant zebrafish research. A total of 25 speakers and >150 attendees participated in the event from distinguished international and local institutions demonstrating the success of the event.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Koichi Kawakami
- Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Genetics, and Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima, Japan
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