PUBLICATION

Effect of Tbx1 knock-down on cardiac performance in zebrafish

Authors
Zhang, L.F., Gui, Y.H., Wang, Y.X., Jiang, Q., and Song, H.Y.
ID
ZDB-PUB-100614-24
Date
2010
Source
Chinese Medical Journal   123(9): 1182-1189 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Jiang, Qiu, Song, Houyan, Wang, Yuexiang
Keywords
Tbx1, zebrafish, pharyngeal arches, neural crest cells, morpholino, cardiac performance
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Branchial Region/cytology
  • Branchial Region/drug effects
  • Heart/drug effects*
  • Heart/physiology*
  • Heart Rate/drug effects
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Myocardium/cytology
  • Neural Crest/cytology
  • Neural Crest/drug effects
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense/pharmacology
  • T-Box Domain Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
  • T-Box Domain Proteins/metabolism*
  • Thymus Gland/cytology
  • Thymus Gland/drug effects
  • Zebrafish/embryology
  • Zebrafish/metabolism*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism*
PubMed
20529560
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tbx1 is the major candidate gene for DiGeorge syndrome (DGS). Similar to defects observed in DGS patients, the structures disrupted in Tbx1(-/-) animal models are derived from the neural crest cells during development. Although the morphological phenotypes of some Tbx1 knock-down animal models have been well described, analysis of the cardiac performance is limited. Therefore, myocardial performance was explored in Tbx1 morpholino injected zebrafish embryos. METHODS: To elucidate these issues, Tbx1 specific morpholino was used to reduce the function of Tbx1 in zebrafish. The differentiation of the myocardial cells was observed using whole mount in situ hybridization. Heart rates were observed and recorded under the microscope from 24 to 72 hours post fertilization (hpf). The cardiac performance was analyzed by measuring ventricular shortening fraction and atrial shortening fraction. RESULTS: Tbx1 morpholino injected embryos were characterized by defects in the pharyngeal arches, otic vesicle, aortic arches and thymus. In addition, Tbx1 knock down reduced the amount of pharyngeal neural crest cells in zebrafish. Abnormal cardiac morphology was visible in nearly 20% of the Tbx1 morpholino injected embryos. The hearts in these embryos did not loop or loop incompletely. Importantly, cardiac performance and heart rate were reduced in Tbx1 morpholino injected embryos. CONCLUSIONS: Tbx1 might play an essential role in the development of pharyngeal neural crest cells in zebrafish. Cardiac performance is impaired by Tbx1 knock down in zebrafish.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping