PUBLICATION

Analysis of the distal urinary tract in larval and adult zebrafish reveals homology to the human system

Authors
Jubber, I., Morhardt, D.R., Griffin, J., Cumberbatch, M., Glover, M., Zheng, Y., Rehman, I., Loynes, C., Hussain, S.A., Renshaw, S.A., Leach, S.D., Cunliffe, V.T., Catto, J.W.F.
ID
ZDB-PUB-230609-49
Date
2023
Source
Disease models & mechanisms   16(7): (Journal)
Registered Authors
Cunliffe, Vincent, Loynes, Catherine, Renshaw, Steve A.
Keywords
Tetraspanins, Urethra, Urinary Bladder, Urinary Tract, Uroplakins, Zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Membrane Glycoproteins*/metabolism
  • Urinary Bladder/metabolism
  • Uroplakin II/metabolism
  • Uroplakin Ia/metabolism
  • Zebrafish*/metabolism
PubMed
37293698 Full text @ Dis. Model. Mech.
Abstract
Little is known about the distal excretory component of the urinary tract in Danio rerio (zebrafish). This component is affected by many human diseases and disorders of development. Here, we undertook multi-level analyses to determine the structure and composition of the distal urinary tract in the zebrafish. In silico searches identified uroplakin 1a, 2-like and 3-like genes in the zebrafish genome (orthologues to genes that encode urothelium-specific proteins in humans). In situ hybridization demonstrated uroplakin-1a expression in the zebrafish pronephros and cloaca from 96 hours post-fertilisation. H&E sectioning of adult zebrafish demonstrated two mesonephric ducts uniting into a urinary bladder which leads to a distinct urethral opening. Immunohistochemistry identified Uroplakin 1a and 2 expression and Gata3 expression in zebrafish urinary bladder cell layers that match human urothelial expression. Fluorescent dye injections demonstrated zebrafish urinary bladder function, including urine storage, intermittent micturition, and a urethral orifice separate from the larger anal canal and rectum. Our findings reveal homology between the urinary tracts of zebrafish and humans and offer the former as a model system to study disease.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping