PUBLICATION

High-Content and Semi-Automated Quantification of Responses to Estrogenic Chemicals Using a Novel Translucent Transgenic Zebrafish

Authors
Green, J.M., Metz, J., Lee, O., Trznadel, M., Takesono, A., Brown, A.R., Owen, S.F., Kudoh, T., Tyler, C.R.
ID
ZDB-PUB-160527-2
Date
2016
Source
Environmental science & technology   50(12): 6536-45 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Kudoh, Tetsuhiro, Lee, Okhyun, Tyler, Charles R.
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified*
  • Estrogens/metabolism
  • Estrone/metabolism
  • Zebrafish/metabolism*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
PubMed
27227508 Full text @ Env. Sci. Tech.
Abstract
Rapid embryogenesis, together with genetic similarities with mammals, and the desire to reduce mammalian testing, are major incentives for using the zebrafish model in chemical screening and testing. Transgenic zebrafish, engineered for identifying target gene expression through expression of fluorophores, have considerable potential for both high-content and high-throughput testing of chemicals for endocrine activity. Here we generated an estrogen responsive transgenic zebrafish model in a pigment-free 'Casper' phenotype, facilitating identification of target tissues and quantification of these responses in whole intact fish. Using the ERE-GFP-Casper model we show chemical type and concentration dependence for green fluorescent protein (GFP) induction and both spatial and temporal responses for different environmental estrogens tested. We also developed a semi-automated (ArrayScan) imaging and image analysis system that we applied to quantify whole body fluorescence responses for a range of different estrogenic chemicals in the new transgenic zebrafish model. The zebrafish model developed provides a sensitive and highly integrative system for identifying estrogenic chemicals, their target tissues and effect concentrations for exposures in real time and across different life stages. It thus has application for chemical screening to better direct health effects analysis of environmental estrogens and for investigating the functional roles of estrogens in vertebrates.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping