PUBLICATION
Dechorionation as a tool to improve the fish embryo toxicity test (FET) with the zebrafish (Danio rerio)
- Authors
- Henn, K., and Braunbeck, T.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-101011-5
- Date
- 2011
- Source
- Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP 153(1): 91-98 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Braunbeck, Thomas
- Keywords
- Dechorionation, Zebrafish, Fish embryo test, Luviquat, Polymer
- MeSH Terms
-
- Acetone/toxicity
- Aniline Compounds/toxicity
- Animals
- Chorion*/metabolism
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/drug effects*
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/physiology
- Pronase/metabolism
- Toxicity Tests/methods*
- Zebrafish/embryology*
- Zebrafish/physiology
- PubMed
- 20869464 Full text @ Comp. Biochem. Physiol. C Toxicol. Pharmacol.
Citation
Henn, K., and Braunbeck, T. (2011) Dechorionation as a tool to improve the fish embryo toxicity test (FET) with the zebrafish (Danio rerio). Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP. 153(1):91-98.
Abstract
Prior to hatching, the zebrafish embryo is surrounded by an acellular envelope, the chorion. Despite repeated speculations, it could not be clarified unequivocally whether the chorion represents an effective barrier and, thus, protects the embryo from exposure to distinct chemicals. Potentially, there is a risk of generating false negative results in developmental toxicity studies due to limited permeability of the chorion for some compounds. The simplest way to exclude this is to remove the chorion and expose the "naked" embryo. In the context of ecotoxicity testing, standardized protocols do not exist for fish embryo dechorionation, and survival rates of dechorionated embryos have usually not been subjected to statistical analysis. Since reproducibly high survival rates are of fundamental importance for chemical toxicity assessment, the present study was designed to develop and optimize a dechorionation procedure. With appropriate modifications of the fish embryo test protocol, embryos can be dechorionated at 24h post-fertilization (hpf) with survival rates of e90%. However, for fish embryo tests with dechorionated embryos, the standard positive control test substance, 3,4-dichloroaniline, should be replaced by another compound, e.g., acetone, since 3,4-dichloroaniline exerts its effects during the first 24h of development. Dechorionation of younger stages (<24hpf) is generally possible, however with lower survival rates. The effect of dechorionation was demonstrated with the cationic polymer Luviquat HM 552, which is blocked by the chorion non-dechorionated embryos due to its molecular weight of ~400,000 Dalton, but becomes strongly toxic after dechorionation.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping