High-throughput sorting of two-color fluorescent-labeled zebrafish embryos

The zebrafish embryos were widely employed in genetics,development and drug discovery studies as miniatured animal models.Sorting of two-color fluorescent embryos is often required in large-scale experiments but it is challenging to manually sort with high efficiency.Here,we reported a high-throughput sorting system for two-color fluorescent zebraflsh embryos.The embryos can be automatically loaded from a sample pool and sorted based on the average fluorescent intensity.The two-color fluorescent signals were split into two lines and detected by an area array camera.The system achieves the sorting of 100 embryos in less than 10 min with an accuracy of greater than 95%.

Enantioselective separation and zebrafish embryo toxicity of insecticide beta-cypermethrin

Enantioselectivity of chiral pollutants is receiving growing concern due to the difference in toxicology and environment fate between enantiomers.In this study,enantiomers of insecticide beta-cypermethrin （beta-CP） were separated on selected chiral column by HPLC,and the toxicity of enantiomers was evaluated using the zebrafish embryo-larval assays.The enantiomers of beta-CP were baseline separated on Chiralcel OD and Chiralpak AD columns and detected by circular dichroism （CD） at 236 nm.Better separation could be achieved at lower temperature （e.g.,20°C） and with lower levels of polar modifiers.Pure enantiomers were obtained on Chiralcel OD.The CD spectra of enantiomers were recorded.By comparing the elution order with a previous similar study,the absolute configuration of beta-CP enantiomers was determined.The individual enantiomers were used in zebrafish embryo test,and the results showed that beta-CP enantioselectively induced yolk sac edema,pericardial edema and crooked body.The 1R-cis-αS and 1R-trans-αS enantiomers showed strong developmental toxicities at concentration of 0.1 mg/L,while the 1S-cis-αR and 1S-trans-αR induced no malformations at higher concentration （e.g.,0.3 mg/L）.The results suggest that the enantioselective toxicological effects of beta-CP should be considered when evaluating its ecotoxicological effects.

Toxicity of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes,Graphene Oxide,and Reduced Graphene Oxide to Zebrafish Embryos

Objective This study was aimed to investigate the toxic effects of 3 nanomaterials, i.e. multi-walled carbon nanotubes （MWCNTs）, graphene oxide （GO）, and reduced graphene oxide （RGO）, on zebrafish embryos. Methods The 2-h post-fertilization （hpf） zebrafish embryos were exposed to MWCNTs, GO, and RGO at different concentrations （1, 5, 10, 50, 100 mg/L） for 96 h. Afterwards, the effects of the 3 nanomateria on spontaneous movement, heart rate, hatching rate, length of larvae, mortality, and malformations Is were evaluated. Results Statistical analysis indicated that RGO significantly inhibited the hatching of zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, RGO and MWCNTs decreased the length of the hatched larvae at 96 hpf. No obvious morphological malformation or mortality was observed in the zebrafish embryos after exposure to the three nanomaterials. Conclusion MWCNTs, GO, and RGO were all toxic to zebrafish embryos to influence embryos hatching and larvae length. Although no obvious morphological malformation and mortality were observed in exposed zebrafish embryos, further studies on the toxicity of the three nanomaterials are still needed.

Cynodon dactylon andSida acuta extracts impact on the function of the cardiovascular system in zebrafish embryos

The aim of the present study was to screen cardioactive herbs from Western Ghats of India. The heart beat rate （HBR） and blood flow during systole and diastole were tested in zebrafish embryos. We found that Cynodon dactylon （C. dactylon） induced increases in the HBR in zebrafish embryos with a HBR of （3.968±0.344） beats/ s, which was significantly higher than that caused by betamethosone [（3.770±0.344） beats/s]. The EC50 value of C. dactylon was 3.738 μg/mL. The methanolic extract of Sida acuta （S. acuta） led to decreases in the HBR in zebrafish embryos [（1.877 ±0.079） beats/s], which was greater than that caused by nebivolol （positive control）. The EC50 value of Sida acuta was 1.195 μg/mL. The untreated embryos had a HBR of （2.685±0.160） beats/s at 3 d post fertilization （dpf）. The velocities of blood flow during the cardiac cycle were （2,291.667 ±72.169） μm/s for the control, （4,250± 125.000） μm/s for C. dactylon and （1,083.333±72.169） μm/s for S. acuta. The LC50 values were 32.6 μg/mL for C. dactylon and 20.9 μg/mL for S. acuta. In addition, the extracts exhibited no chemical genetic effects in the drug dosage range tested. In conclusion, we developed an assay that can measure changes in cardiac function in response to herbal small molecules and determine the cardiogenic effects by microvideography.

Effects of Exogenous Carbon Monoxide Releasing Molecules on the Development of Zebrafish Embryos and Larvae

The use of exogenous carbon monoxide releasing molecules（CORMs）provides promise for clinical application;however,the hazard potential of CORMs in vivo remains poorly understood.The developmental toxicity of CORM-3 was investigated by exposure to concentrations ranging from 6.25 to400μmol/L during 4-144 h post fertilization.Toxicity endpoints of mortality,spontaneous movement,heart rate,hatching rate,malformation,body length,and larval behavior were measured.

TOXICITY OF BISPHENOL A ON THE GROWTH OF ZEBRAFISH EMBRYOS

In order to evaluate the toxicity of the bisphenol A (BPA) on the growth of zebrafish embryos, fertilized eggs were exposed to the concentration of 2.00, 4.00, 6.00, 8.00, 10.00, 15.00, 18.00, 22.00 and 25.00mg/L BPA for 72 h at 26±1℃. The results revealed that the sublethal toxicological endpoints induced by BPA were:delayed hatch> blood balk >cyst>altered axial curvature and tail malformation. The median embryo lethal concentration (LC50) after 24 h was 16.36 mg/L. We concluded that the BPA toxicity on zebrafish embryos were caused before 8h exposure and it was not the result of long-term accumulation. Therefore, BPA maybe cause altered gene expression at the early stage of zebrafish embryos. In the further studies, we will use the technology of genetic chips to look for the toxic mechanism of BPA.

Use of zebrafish embryos as avatar of patients with pancreatic cancer:A new xenotransplantation model towards personalized medicine

BACKGROUND The response to chemotherapy treatment of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)is difficult to predict and the identification of patients who most likely will benefit from aggressive chemotherapy approaches is crucial.The concept of personalized medicine has emerged in the last years with the objective to tailor the medical treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient,and particularly to the tumor biology of each patient.The need for invivo xenotransplantation models for cancer patients has increased exponentially,and for this reason zebrafish avatars have gained popularity.Preliminary studies were conducted also with PDAC tissue.AIM To develop a simple,not expensive,diffusible zebrafish embryo model as avatar for patients affected by PDAC.METHODS Tumor tissue was taken from the surgical specimen by the histopathologist.After its fragmentation into small pieces,they are stained with CM-Dil.Small pieces of stained tissue were transplanted into the yolk of wt AB zebrafish embryos with a glass capillary needle.Embryos were incubated at 35°C in E3 medium supplemented with 1%Pen/Strep in the presence or absence of drugs for the following days in respect of the treatment plan(Gemcitabine;Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin;Gemcitabine and nab-Paclitaxel;5-Fluorouracil and Folinic acid and Oxaliplatin and Irinotecan).The response of zebrafish xenografts to the chemotherapy options has been analyzed by monitoring the fluorescent stained area at 2 h post injection(hpi),1 d and 2 d post injection(dpi).In each time point,the mean size of the stained area was measured by ImageJ and it was normalized with respect to the 1 dpi time point mean relative tumor area(RTA).We evaluated the effect of the chemotherapy exposition comparing the mean RTA of each treated subgroup and the control group and evaluating the percentage reduction of the mean RTA by comparing each treated subgroup with the control group.RESULTS Between July 2018 and October 2019,a total of 15 patients with pancreatic cancer were prospectively enrolled.In all cases,it was possible to take a fragment of the tumor from the surgical specimen for the xenotransplantation in the zebrafish embryos.The histological examination confirmed the presence of a PDAC in all cases.In absence of chemotherapy(control group),over time the Dil-stained area showed a statistically significant increase in all cases.A statistically significant reduction of the mean RTA in the treated subgroups for at least one chemotherapy scheme was reported in 6/15(40%)cases.The analysis of the percentage reduction of the RTA in treated subgroups in comparison to the control group revealed the presence of a linear relationship in each subgroup between the percentage reduction of the RTA and the number of cases reporting each percentage threshold considered for the analysis.CONCLUSION Our model seems to be effective for the xenotransplantation of PDAC tissue and evaluation of the effect of each chemotherapy scheme on the xenotransplanted tumor tissue.

Toxicity of Graphene Quantum Dots in Zebrafish Embryo

Objective To evaluate the bio-safety of graphene quantum dots （GQDs）, we studied its effects on the embryonic development of zebrafish. Methods In vivo, biodistribution and the developmental toxicity of GQDs were investigated in embryonic zebrafish at exposure concentrations ranging from 12.5-200μg/mL for 4-96 h post-fertilization （hpf）. The mortality, hatch rate, malformation, heart rate, GQDs uptake, spontaneous movement, and larval behavior were examined. Results The fluorescence of GQDs was mainly localized in the intestines and heart. As the exposure concentration increased, the hatch and heart rate decreased, accompanied by an increase in mortality. Exposure to a high level of GQDs （200μg/mL） resulted in various embryonic malformations including pericardial edema, vitelline cyst, bent spine, and bent tail. The spontaneous movement significantly decreased after exposure to GQDs at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200μg/mL. The larval behavior testing （visible light test） showed that the total swimming distance and speed decreased dose-dependently. Embryos exposed to 12.5 μg/mL showed hyperactivity while exposure to higher concentrations （25, 50, 100, and 200μg/mL） caused remarkable hypoactivity in the light-dark test. Conclusion Low concentrations of GODs were relatively non-toxic. However, GQDs disrupt the progression of embryonic development at concentrations exceeding 50 μg/mL.

Isolation of a small molecule with anti-MRSA activity from a mangrove symbiont Streptomyces sp.PVRK-1 and its biomedical studies in Zebrafish embryos

Objective:The aim of the present study was to isolate the anti-MRSA(Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus)molecule from the Mangrove symbiont Streptomyces and its biomedical studies in Zebrafish embryos.Methods:MRSA was isolated from the pus samples of Colachal hospitals and confirmed by amplification of mecA gene.Anti-MRSA molecule producing strain was identified by!6s rRNA gene sequencing.Anti-MRSA compound production was optimized by Solid State Fermentation(SSF)and the purification of the active molecule was carried out by TLC and RP-HPLC.The inhibitory concentration and LC_(50)were calculated using Statistical software SPSS.The Biomedical studies including the cardiac assay and organ toxicity assessment were carried out in Zebraiish.Results:The bioactive anti-MRSA small molecule A,was purified by TLC with Rf value of 0.37 with 1.389 retention time at RP-HPLC.The Inhibitory Concentration of the purified molecule A_2 was 30μg/mL but,the inhibitory concentration of the MRSA in the infected embryo was 32-34μg/mL for TLC purified molecule A,with LC_(50)mean value was61.504μg/mL.Zebrafish toxicity was assessed in 48-60μg/mL by observing the physiological deformities and the heart beat rates(HBR)of embryos for anti MRSA molecule showed the mean of 41.33-41.67 HBR/15 seconds for 40μg/mL and control was 42.33-42.67 for 15 seconds which significantly showed that the anti-MRSA molecule A_2 did not affected the HBR.Conclusions:Anti-MRSA molecule from Streptomyces sp PVRK-I was isolated and biomedical studies in Zebrafish model assessed that the molecule was non toxic at the minimal inhibitory concentration of MRSA.

Toxic Effects of Micro-plastics on Zebrafish Embryos

The large plastic produced by human production and life is degraded into micro-plastics in the environment. Micro-plastics are harmful to organisms and the environment. In order to determine the hazards of micro-plastic pollution, zebrafish embryos were used as the tested organism, and 0.6-1.0 μm polystyrene micro-plastic was used to carry out embryo exposure experiment. The toxic effects of polystyrene plastic particles on zebrafish embryos were investigated comprehensively, and the toxicity was evaluated. The results of this study showed that 0.6-1.0 μm polystyrene micro-plastic had certain toxicity on zebrafish embryos, and it had a lethal effect when the concentration reached 250 mg/L; 25 mg/L 0.6-1.0 μm polystyrene particles can cause cyrtosis and pericardial edema of zebrafish embryos and other non-lethal toxic effects; and 250 and 1 000 mg/L exposure concentration can slow down heart rate. A hazard evaluation index system of polystyrene particles to zebrafish embryos was established, and it is determined that the exposure to 250 mg/L or lower concentration of polystyrene particles has slight hazard.

Hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid,a perfluorooctanoic acid alternative,induces cardiovascular toxicity in zebrafish embryos

As an increasingly used alternative to perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA),hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid(HFPO-TA)has been widely detected in global water environments.However,little is known regarding its toxic effects on cardiovascular development.Here,zebrafish embryos were treated with egg water containing 0,60,120,or 240 mg/L HFPO-TA.Results showed that HFPO-TA treatment led to a significant reduction in both larval survival percentage and heart rate.Furthermore,HFPO-TA exposure caused severe pericardial edema and elongation of the sinus venous to bulbus arteriosus distance(SV-BA)in Tg(myl7:GFP)transgenic larvae,disrupting the expression of genes involved in heart development and thus causing abnormal heart looping.Obvious sprouting angiogenesis was observed in the 120 and 240 mg/L exposed Tg(fli:GFP)transgenic larvae.HFPO-TA treatment also impacted the mRNA levels of genes involved in the vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)pathway and embryonic vascular development.HFPO-TA exposure significantly decreased erythrocyte number in Tg(gata1:DsRed)transgenic embryos and influenced gene expression associated with the heme metabolism pathway.HFPO-TA also induced oxidative stress and altered the transcriptional levels of genes related to cell cycle and apoptosis,inhibiting cell proliferation while promoting apoptosis.Therefore,HFPO-TA exposure may induce abnormal development of the cardiovascular and hematopoietic systems in zebrafish embryos,suggesting it may not be a suitable or safe alternative for PFOA.

Dihalogenated nitrophenols in drinking water:Prevalence,resistance to household treatment,and cardiotoxic impact on zebrafish embryo

Dihalogenated nitrophenols(2,6-DHNPs),an emerging group of aromatic disinfection byproducts(DBPs)detected in drinking water,have limited available information regarding their persistence and toxicological risks.The present study found that 2,6-DHNPs are resistant to major drinking water treatment processes(sedimentation and filtration)and households methods(boiling,filtration,microwave irradiation,and ultrasonic cleaning).To further assess their health risks,we conducted a series of toxicology studies using zebrafish embryos as the model organism.Our findings reveal that these emerging 2,6-DHNPs showed lethal toxicity 248 times greater than that of the regulated DBP,dichloroacetic acid.Specifically,at sublethal concentrations,exposure to 2,6-DHNPs generated reactive oxygen species(ROS),caused apoptosis,inhibited cardiac looping,and induced cardiac failure in zebrafish.Remarkably,the use of a ROS scavenger,N-acetyl-l-cysteine,considerably mitigated these adverse effects,emphasizing the essential role of ROS in 2,6-DHNP-induced cardiotoxicity.Our findings highlight the cardiotoxic potential of 2,6-DHNPs in drinking water even at low concentrations of 19μg/L and the beneficial effect of N-acetyl-l-cysteine in alleviating the 2,6-DHNP-induced cardiotoxicity.This study underscores the urgent need for increased scrutiny of these emerging compounds in public health discussions.

Reduced pigmentation and thyroid hormone disruption in zebrafish embryos caused by industrial sludge near Bohai Bay,China

In recent years,pollution caused by the discharge of industrial wastewater into Bohai Bay has posed a potential threat to the health of surrounding residents.Sludge was collected from the outlet of a factory that discharges effluent into Bohai Bay,and alcohol extracts of sludge(SE)were prepared.We confirmed by UPLC-MS/MS analysis that the SE contained PAHs,including fluorene,pyrene,and phenanthrene.Zebrafish embryos as animal models were exposed to 0.1,0.3,0.5,1 and 5 mg/mL SE from 2 to 4 h post-fertilization(hpf)until 120 hpf.The results showed that SE caused a concentration-dependent increase in mortality and a decrease in hatchability.We found that SE significantly reduced eye pigmentation and decreased the movement of embryos and larvae.In addition,SE decreased triiodothyronine(T3)content and down-regulated the mRNA expression of some thyroid hormone-related genes including TPO and Thrβ,and caused the up-regulation of Dio2 and Dio3 at 120 hpf.Exposure to three individual PAHs found in SE,namely fluorene,pyrene,and phenanthrene,caused morphological and transcriptional changes that were similar to those caused by SE exposure.These findings indicate that PAHs in SE can reduce the pigmentation of zebrafish,which may be related to the genetic changes associated with thyroid hormones,and that zebrafish eye pigmentation can be used as an indicator of PAHs exposure.

Toxic effects of strychnine and strychnine N-oxide on zebrafish embryos

AIM: The application of strychnine(S) is limited due to its toxicity; strychnine N-oxide(SNO) is a derivative of strychnine. The aim was to employ zebrafish embryos to investigate and compare the developmental toxicity induced by S and SNO. METHODS: The toxicity of S and SNO was examined through the hatching rate and survival rate. Morphological changes of the zebrafish were observed with a dissecting microscope. Apoptosis was detected through acridine orange(AO) staining and flow cytometry. Apoptotic genes were measured by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Embryo malformation was observed in the embryos exposed to S at 200 μmol·L–1. When SNO concentration was increased to 1 mmol·L–1, scoliolosis, and pericardial edema could be seen in some embryos. Results from fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analysis showed that S at 200 μmol·L–1 induced apoptosis, whereas the apoptotic rate in the SNO-treated group(200 μmol·L–1) was much lower than that in the S group. RT-PCR analysis showed that p53 mRNA expression and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in the S group were significantly altered compared with the control group(*P < 0.05). Moreover, Bax mRNA expression in both S and SNO group were significantly different from that in the control group(**P <0.01). CONCLUSION: These results lead to the conclusion that SNO has significantly lower toxicity than S in zebrafish embryos.

Individual and joint toxic effects of cadmium sulfate and α-naphthoflavone on the development of zebrafish embryo

This paper aims to evaluate the individual and joint toxicities of cadmium sulfate （CdSO4） and α-naphthoflavone （ANF） in zebrafish embryos. As a result, CdSO4 caused both lethal and sub-lethal effects, such as 24 h post-fertilization （hpf） death and 72 hpf delayed hatching. However, ANF only caused sub-lethal effects, including 48 hpf cardiac edema and 72 hpf delayed hatching. Taking 24 hpf death and 48 hpf cardiac edema as endpoints, the toxicities of CdSO4 and ANF were significantly enhanced by each other. Consistently, both CdSO4 and ANF caused significant oxidative stress, including decreases in the reduced glutathione （GSH） level, inhibition of superoxide dis- mutase （SOD） activity, as well as increases in malondialdehyde （MDA） content in zebrafish embryos, but these mixtures produced much more significant alterations on the biomarkers. Co-treatment of CdSO4 and ANF significantly down-regulated the mRNA level of multidrug resistance-associated protein （mrp） 1 and cytochrome P450 （cyp） la, which constituted the protective mechanisms for zebraflsh embryos to chemical toxins. In conclusion, co-treatment of CdSO4 and ANF exhibited a much more severe damage in zebraflsh embryos than individual treatment. Meanwhile, production of oxidative stress and altered expression of mrpl and cypla could be important components of such joint toxicity.

Polystyrene nanoplastics aggravated ecotoxicological effects of polychlorinated biphenyls in on zebrafish(Danio rerio)embryos

In view of the accumulation of nanoplastics(NPs)in the food chain of environment and animals,and the good adsorption properties of nano-plastics to toxic substances,it is necessary to explore the influence of NPs in living organisms.In this study,single and joint toxicological effects of polystyrene nanoplastics(PS-NPs,size 80 nm)and polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs),were explored in freshwater aquatic animal model zebrafish(Danio rerio).Our study found that exposure to single PS-NPs induced mild acute toxicity,albeit the combined exposure of PS-NPs and polychlorinated biphenyls aggravated the toxicity of PCBs in a dose-dependent manner.Results from gene expression profiling showed that NPs exposure could activate detoxification process,resulting in a slight up-regulation of antioxidant genes(sod1,gstp1),bone development genes(bmp2,bmp4)and cardiac gene(tbx20);while PCBs suppressed the detoxification through down-regulation of these genes,and the addition of NPs will exacerbate the impact of PCBs on gene suppression.Importantly,the results of in vivo purification experiments found that NPs showed prolonged retention in liver,intestine and gills of zebrafish and they might have crossed biological barrier and accumulate in lipid-rich tissues and excretion does not appear as the significant pathway for their elimination.In conclusion,the toxic effects of polychlorinated biphenyls on chorionic protected embryos were not significant as zebrafish chorion plays an important role in resisting the invasion of pollutants;PCBs can seriously damage the bone and heart development of zebrafish,while the presence of NPs significantly enhanced the toxicity of PCBs in zebrafish,which is an alarming concern for growing NPs levels and ecological safety in aquatic environment.

T-2 toxin induces developmental toxicity and apoptosis in zebrafish embryos

T-2 toxin is one of the most important trichothecene mycotoxins occurring in various agriculture products. The developmental toxicity of T-2 toxin and the exact mechanism of action at early life stages are not understood precisely. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to different concentrations of the toxin at 4-6 hours post fertilization （hpf） stage of development, and were observed for different developmental toxic effects at 24, 48, 72, and 144 hpf. Exposure to 0.20 Ixmol/L or higher concentrations of T-2 toxin significantly increased the mortality and malformation rate such as tail deformities, cardiovascular defects and behavioral changes in early developmental stages of zebrafish. T-2 toxin exposure resulted in significant increases in reactive oxygen species （ROS） production and cell apoptosis, mainly in the tall areas, as revealed by Acridine Orange staining at 24 hpf. In addition, T-2 toxin-induced severe tail deformities could be attenuated by co-exposure to reduced glutathione （GSH）. T-2 toxin and GSH co-exposure induced a significant decrease of ROS production in the embryos. The overall results demonstrate that T-2 toxin is able to produce oxidative stress and induce apoptosis, which are involved in the developmental toxicity of T-2 toxin in zebrafish embryos.

Developmental Toxicity and Potential Teratogenicity of Compound Danshen Tablet, Angong Niuhuang Pill, and Lidan Paishi Tablet in Zebrafish Embryos

Objective Herbal medicines containing toxic herbs or minerals such as Compound Danshen Tablet （CDT）, Angong Niuhuang Pill （ANP）, and Lidan Paishi Tablet （LPT） are avoided or used with caution for pregnant women because of potential teratogenicity. To understand their mechanism, they were chosen as model subjects for the research. Methods Zebrafish embryos were used to evaluate their potential teratogenic risk in vitro. Results All of them showed teratogenic and lethal effects in zebrafish embryos, with the ECs0 values at 351,793, and 220 μg/mL, and LC50 values at 41 7, 596, and 380 μg/mL, respectively. CDT and LPT, displaying week potential teratogenicity as their teratogenicity indexes were greater than 1, induced tail malformation and cardiac edema mainly in zebrafish embryos, respectively. Conclusion The results provide the significant guidance of clinical safety of medication.

PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF VERBASCOSIDE ON STATIN-INDUCED MYOTOXICITY IN ZEBRAFISH EMBRYOS

Myotoxicity is a well-known side effect of statins,the common lipid-lowering drug.Herba Cistanches(HC,Cistanche deserticola)is a Chinese herb traditionally used for muscle problems.Recent studies demonstrated that HC could reduce muscle damage in post-exercised rats.Verbascoside(Vb)was fournd as the major constituent in the active fraction of HC and is known to be muscle protective,

A BIFLAVONOID AMENTOFLAVONE FROM GARCINIA XANTHOCHYMUS FRUIT EXHIBITEDANTI-ANGIOGENIC ACTIVITIES IN ZEBRAFISH EMBRYOS

Edible fruits of Garcinia xanthochymus were traditionally used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery.Our previous work showed that some components of G.xanthochymus fruits induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells.In this study,the aril(edible pulp of the fruit)and seed of G.xanthochymus fruits were further investigated for their