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Chin JSR, Phan TAN, Albert LT, Keene AC, Duboué ER. Long lasting anxiety following early life stress is dependent on glucocorticoid signaling in zebrafish. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12826. [PMID: 35896563 PMCID: PMC9329305 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16257-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic adversity in early childhood is associated with increased anxiety and a propensity for substance abuse later in adulthood, yet the effects of early life stress (ELS) on brain development remain poorly understood. The zebrafish, Danio rerio, is a powerful model for studying neurodevelopment and stress. Here, we describe a zebrafish model of ELS and identify a role for glucocorticoid signaling during a critical window in development that leads to long-term changes in brain function. Larval fish subjected to chronic stress in early development exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior and elevated glucocorticoid levels later in life. Increased stress-like behavior was only observed when fish were subjected to ELS within a precise time window in early development, revealing a temporal critical window of sensitivity. Moreover, enhanced anxiety-like behavior only emerges after two months post-ELS, revealing a developmentally specified delay in the effects of ELS. ELS leads to increased levels of baseline cortisol, and resulted in a dysregulation of cortisol receptors' mRNA expression, suggesting long-term effects on cortisol signaling. Together, these findings reveal a 'critical window' for ELS to affect developmental reprogramming of the glucocorticoid receptor pathway, resulting in chronic elevated stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline S R Chin
- Jupiter Life Science Initiative, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL, 33407, USA
| | - Tram-Anh N Phan
- Jupiter Life Science Initiative, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL, 33407, USA
| | - Lydia T Albert
- Jupiter Life Science Initiative, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL, 33407, USA
| | - Alex C Keene
- College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, 3258 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Erik R Duboué
- Jupiter Life Science Initiative, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL, 33407, USA.
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Musee N, Kebaabetswe LP, Tichapondwa S, Tubatsi G, Mahaye N, Leareng SK, Nomngongo PN. Occurrence, Fate, Effects, and Risks of Dexamethasone: Ecological Implications Post-COVID-19. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111291. [PMID: 34769808 PMCID: PMC8583091 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The recent outbreak of respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has led to the widespread use of therapeutics, including dexamethasone (DEXA). DEXA, a synthetic glucocorticoid, is among the widely administered drugs used to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The global COVID-19 surge in infections, consequent increasing hospitalizations, and other DEXA applications have raised concerns on eminent adverse ecological implications to aquatic ecosystems. Here, we aim to summarize published studies on DEXA occurrence, fate, and effects on organisms in natural and engineered systems as, pre-COVID, the drug has been identified as an emerging environmental contaminant. The results demonstrated a significant reduction of DEXA in wastewater treatment plants, with a small portion, including its transformation products (TPs), being released into downstream waters. Fish and crustaceans are the most susceptible species to DEXA exposure in the parts-per-billion range, suggesting potential deleterious ecological effects. However, there are data deficits on the implications of DEXA to marine and estuarine systems and wildlife. To improve DEXA management, toxicological outcomes of DEXA and formed TPs should entail long-term studies from whole organisms to molecular effects in actual environmental matrices and at realistic exposure concentrations. This can aid in striking a fine balance of saving human lives and protecting ecological integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ndeke Musee
- Emerging Contaminants Ecological Risk Assessment (ECERA) Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; (N.M.); (S.K.L.)
- Correspondence: or
| | - Lemme Prica Kebaabetswe
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Palapye, Botswana; (L.P.K.); (G.T.)
| | - Shepherd Tichapondwa
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Water Utilization and Environmental Engineering Division, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa;
| | - Gosaitse Tubatsi
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Palapye, Botswana; (L.P.K.); (G.T.)
| | - Ntombikayise Mahaye
- Emerging Contaminants Ecological Risk Assessment (ECERA) Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; (N.M.); (S.K.L.)
| | - Samuel Keeng Leareng
- Emerging Contaminants Ecological Risk Assessment (ECERA) Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; (N.M.); (S.K.L.)
| | - Philiswa Nosizo Nomngongo
- Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)/National Research Foundation (NRF) South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI), Nanotechnology for Water, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa;
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Eachus H, Choi MK, Ryu S. The Effects of Early Life Stress on the Brain and Behaviour: Insights From Zebrafish Models. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:657591. [PMID: 34368117 PMCID: PMC8335398 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.657591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The early life period represents a window of increased vulnerability to stress, during which exposure can lead to long-lasting effects on brain structure and function. This stress-induced developmental programming may contribute to the behavioural changes observed in mental illness. In recent decades, rodent studies have significantly advanced our understanding of how early life stress (ELS) affects brain development and behaviour. These studies reveal that ELS has long-term consequences on the brain such as impairment of adult hippocampal neurogenesis, altering learning and memory. Despite such advances, several key questions remain inadequately answered, including a comprehensive overview of brain regions and molecular pathways that are altered by ELS and how ELS-induced molecular changes ultimately lead to behavioural changes in adulthood. The zebrafish represents a novel ELS model, with the potential to contribute to answering some of these questions. The zebrafish offers some important advantages such as the ability to non-invasively modulate stress hormone levels in a whole animal and to visualise whole brain activity in freely behaving animals. This review discusses the current status of the zebrafish ELS field and its potential as a new ELS model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Eachus
- Living Systems Institute and College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Min-Kyeung Choi
- Living Systems Institute and College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Soojin Ryu
- Living Systems Institute and College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.,Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Xin N, Lu J, Zhou Y, Cheng Y. Dexamethasone Protects Against Ischaemic Brain Injury via Inhibiting the pAkt Signalling Pathway Through Increasing Hap1. Neurotox Res 2021; 39:191-197. [PMID: 32876919 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-020-00255-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Dexamethasone has been reported to reduce the infarct volume and protect neurological function after ischaemic injury, but the mechanism of Dex in brain injury is not clear. We aimed to study the mechanism by which dexamethasone protects against ischaemic brain injury. Western blotting was to detected the expression of Hap1,TrkB, Akt and Erk; TTC staining to analyse ischemic volume; neurological deficit evaluation to test degree of ischemic injury; immunofluorescence staining to analyse the distribution of Hap1; and the MCAO model was used to study these processes. All data are expressed as the means ± SEM and were analysed by GraphPad Prism 6. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. After dexamethasone (Dex) treatment, Hap1 levels were increased and peaked at 2 days; then, we found that body weight was decreased in Hap1-/+ mice. Further study showed that Dex treatment reduced the ischaemic volume and improved neurological function. Finally, we showed that Hap1 regulated the levels of pTrkB, pAkt and pErk 1/2 in ischaemic injury after Dex treatment. Our data suggest that dexamethasone protects against ischaemic brain injury by inhibiting the pAkt signalling pathway through increasing Hap1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Xin
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou City, 221000, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jun Lu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou City, 221000, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yanlong Zhou
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou City, 221000, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yanbo Cheng
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou City, 221000, Jiangsu Province, China.
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Demin KA, Taranov AS, Ilyin NP, Lakstygal AM, Volgin AD, de Abreu MS, Strekalova T, Kalueff AV. Understanding neurobehavioral effects of acute and chronic stress in zebrafish. Stress 2021; 24:1-18. [PMID: 32036720 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2020.1724948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress is a common cause of neuropsychiatric disorders, evoking multiple behavioral, endocrine and neuro-immune deficits. Animal models have been extensively used to understand the mechanisms of stress-related disorders and to develop novel strategies for their treatment. Complementing rodent and clinical studies, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) is one of the most important model organisms in biomedicine. Rapidly becoming a popular model species in stress neuroscience research, zebrafish are highly sensitive to both acute and chronic stress, and show robust, well-defined behavioral and physiological stress responses. Here, we critically evaluate the utility of zebrafish-based models for studying acute and chronic stress-related CNS pathogenesis, assess the advantages and limitations of these aquatic models, and emphasize their relevance for the development of novel anti-stress therapies. Overall, the zebrafish emerges as a powerful and sensitive model organism for stress research. Although these fish generally display evolutionarily conserved behavioral and physiological responses to stress, zebrafish-specific aspects of neurogenesis, neuroprotection and neuro-immune responses may be particularly interesting to explore further, as they may offer additional insights into stress pathogenesis that complement (rather than merely replicate) rodent findings. Compared to mammals, zebrafish models are also characterized by increased availability of gene-editing tools and higher throughput of drug screening, thus being able to uniquely empower translational research of genetic determinants of stress and resilience, as well as to foster innovative CNS drug discovery and the development of novel anti-stress therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin A Demin
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, Almazov National Medical Research Center, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexander S Taranov
- Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Laboratory of Preclinical Bioscreening, Granov Russian Research Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Pesochny, Russia
| | - Nikita P Ilyin
- Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Laboratory of Preclinical Bioscreening, Granov Russian Research Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Pesochny, Russia
| | - Anton M Lakstygal
- Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Laboratory of Preclinical Bioscreening, Granov Russian Research Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Pesochny, Russia
| | - Andrey D Volgin
- Laboratory of Preclinical Bioscreening, Granov Russian Research Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Pesochny, Russia
| | - Murilo S de Abreu
- Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Slidell, LA, USA
| | - Tatyana Strekalova
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Research Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia
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