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Murari M, Pesavento S, Greco F, Vettori A, Tagliaro F, Gottardo R. Study of metabolism and potential toxicity of nine synthetic opioid analogs using the zebrafish larvae model. Drug Test Anal 2024; 16:629-637. [PMID: 37916273 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
The use of novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) has dramatically increased worldwide, and among them, synthetic opioids are one of the fastest growing groups, where cinnamylpiperazines and 2-benzylbenzimidazoles represent two of the most relevant subclasses. However, the data on their toxicity and metabolism are still limited. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the toxicity and metabolic pathways of some compounds belonging to these families, namely, AP-237, 2-methyl AP-237, isotonitazene, flunitazene, etodesnitazene, metonitazene, metodesnitazene, N-pyrrolidino etonitazene, and butonitazene. The study was performed using a zebrafish early life stages model. In fact, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae have recently been recognized as a suitable animal model in alternative to mammals, because they require less time and resources and do not need complex procedures for ethics approval. The cellular toxicity after a single administration was assessed at the fourth day post-fertilization with acridine orange staining. Possible morphological defects were evaluated with a light microscope after 24 h of exposure to 1 μmol/L concentration of each drug. Subsequently, the larvae were euthanized and underwent analysis of drug metabolites using UPLC coupled to an Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometer. High rates of morphological defects, as well as of cellular death, were detected, but no significant difference in mortality between treatment and control groups was observed. In addition, several metabolites, mainly produced through monohydroxylation, N-dealkylation, and O-dealkylation, were identified in the larvae extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Murari
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Sara Pesavento
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Greco
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Andrea Vettori
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Franco Tagliaro
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Rossella Gottardo
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Bilel S, Murari M, Pesavento S, Arfè R, Tirri M, Torroni L, Marti M, Tagliaro F, Gottardo R. Toxicity and behavioural effects of ocfentanil and 2-furanylfentanyl in zebrafish larvae and mice. Neurotoxicology 2023; 95:83-93. [PMID: 36634872 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2023.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The introduction of the so-called New Psychoactive Substances represents a problem of global concern due to several factors, including multiplicity of structures, poorly known activity, short half-life in the market, lack of pure standards etc. Among these problems, of the highest relevance is also the lack of information about metabolism and adverse effects, which must be faced using simple and low-cost animal models. On these grounds, the present work has been carried out on 5 days post fertilization zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae in comparison with adult mice (Mus musculus). Ocfentanil and 2-furanylfentanyl were administered at different concentrations to zebrafish larvae (1, 10 µM) and mice (0.1, 1, 6, 15 mg/kg). The behavioural assay showed a decrease in basal locomotor activity in zebrafish, whereas in mice this effect was evident only after the mechanical stimulus. Larva extracts and mice urine were analysed by using liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry to identify the metabolic pathways of the fentanyl analogs. For 2-furanylfentanyl, the most common biotransformations observed were hydroxylation, hydration and oxidation in zebrafish larvae, whereas mice produced mainly the dihydrodiol metabolite. Hydroxylation was the major route of metabolism for ocfentanil in zebrafish larvae, while in mice the O-demethylated derivative was the main metabolite. In addition, a study was conducted to evaluate morphological effects of the two drugs on zebrafish larvae. Malformations were noticeable only at the highest concentration of 2-furanylfentanyl, whereas no significant damage was observed with ocfentanil. In conclusion, the two animal models show similarities in behavioral response and in metabolism, considering the different biological investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Bilel
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - M Murari
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - S Pesavento
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - R Arfè
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - M Tirri
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - L Torroni
- Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - M Marti
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Italy; Collaborative Center of the National Early Warning System, Department for Anti-Drug Policies, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Italy
| | - F Tagliaro
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; "World-Class Research Center "Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare", Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - R Gottardo
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
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Musile G, Agard Y, Murari M, Pesavento S, Bortolotti F, Tagliaro F. Creatinine determination by origami paper-based device for identifying urine adulteration. Toxicologie Analytique et Clinique 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2022.06.248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Pesavento S, Bilel S, Murari M, Gottardo R, Arfè R, Tirri M, Panato A, Tagliaro F, Marti M. Zebrafish larvae: A new model to study behavioural effects and metabolism of fentanyl, in comparison to a traditional mice model. Med Sci Law 2022; 62:188-198. [PMID: 35040690 DOI: 10.1177/00258024221074568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In an effort to find alternatives to study in vivo the so-called New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), the present work was undertaken to investigate the use of zebrafish larvae as animal model in pharmaco-toxicology, providing behavioural and metabolism information. For this purpose, fentanyl, the progenitor of an extremely dangerous group of NPS, was administered at different doses to zebrafish larvae (1, 10, 50, 100 µM) in comparison to mice (0.1, 1, 6, 15 mg/kg), as a well-established animal model. A behavioural assay was performed at the time of the peak effect of fentanyl, showing that the results in larvae are consistent with those observed in mice. On the other hand, several morphological abnormalities (namely yolk sac edema, abnormal pericardial edema, jaw defect and spinal curvature) were found in larvae mostly at high fentanyl doses (50, 100 µM). Larva extract and mice urine were analyzed by using liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry to identify the metabolic pathways of fentanyl. The main metabolites detected were norfentanyl and hydroxyfentanyl in both the tested models. In conclusion, the present study provides evidence that fentanyl effects on zebrafish larvae and metabolism are similar to rodents and consequently support the hypothesis of using zebrafish larvae as a suitable rapid screening tool to investigate new drugs, and particularly NPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Pesavento
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - S Bilel
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, 9299University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - M Murari
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - R Gottardo
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - R Arfè
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, 9299University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - M Tirri
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, 9299University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - A Panato
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - F Tagliaro
- Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- "World-Class Research Center" Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare", Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - M Marti
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, 9299University of Ferrara, Italy
- Collaborative Center of the National Early Warning System, Department for Anti-Drug Policies, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Italy
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Pesavento S. Un outil unique au service de la stratégie marketing, de la promotion du don et de la planification des collectes ? Transfus Clin Biol 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tracli.2013.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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