PUBLICATION

Zebrafish as a model for studying the developmental neurotoxicity of propofol

Authors
Guo, P., Huang, Z., Tao, T., Chen, X., Zhang, W., Zhang, Y., Lin, C.
ID
ZDB-PUB-150625-9
Date
2015
Source
Journal of applied toxicology : JAT   35(12): 1511-9 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Chen, Xiaohui, Huang, Zhibin, Zhang, Yiyue
Keywords
Cell apoptosis, Developmental neurotoxicity, Myelin basic protein, Propofol, Zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Anesthetics, Intravenous/toxicity*
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis/drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/drug effects*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/pathology
  • Models, Animal
  • Nervous System/drug effects*
  • Nervous System/embryology
  • Nervous System/pathology
  • Organogenesis/drug effects*
  • Propofol/toxicity*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
PubMed
26103940 Full text @ J. Appl. Toxicol.
CTD
26103940
Abstract
Anesthetics can cause widespread apoptotic neurodegeneration and adverse effects on synaptogenesis during early postnatal life. Synaptogenesis correlates with several proteins, including myelin basic protein (MBP). However, little is known about the adverse effects of exposure to propofol on MBP, particularly during embryonic development. Our goal was to use zebrafish to explore the effect of propofol on embryonic development, apoptosis and MBP expression. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to propofol at defined doses and stages from 6 to 48 h postfertilization by immersion. The survival rate, hatchability, aberration rate, cell apoptosis and gene expression were analyzed at defined stages. Analysis revealed that doses of 1, 2 and 3 µg ml(-1) propofol were reasonable anesthetic concentrations for zebrafish embryos. These doses of propofol caused a significant decrease in hatchability and an increase in aberration rate. Moreover, 6 days postfertilization (dpf) larvae are anesthetized by immersion into water containing 1, 2 or 3 µg ml(-1) of propofol. The number of apoptotic cells in the head of propofol-treated 36 h postfertilization embryos were significantly increased, and the expression of caspases-3, -8 and -9 were upregulated. Apoptosis was also induced in the brain of 3 dpf larvae exposed to propofol. However, propofol caused a decrease in mbp gene and protein (dose-dependent) expression levels in the central nervous system of 3 dpf zebrafish. These data show that embryonic exposure to propofol is neurotoxic, causing increased apoptosis and decreased MBP expression. We believe zebrafish can be used as a novel model to explore the mechanisms of propofol neurotoxicity.
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Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
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