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Nsuala BN, Enslin G, Chen W, Veale C, Viljoen A. Chemical profiling, anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effects of the smoke constituents isolated from Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 331:118271. [PMID: 38688356 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The use of medicinal plants for central nervous system (CNS)-related ailments, such as epilepsy and anxiety, is prevalent in South Africa. Plants from the Lamiaceae family are commonly used for their therapeutic benefits. Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br. has been reported in ethnobotanical literature to have anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effects through the inhalation of pyrolysis products obtained by combustion of the aerial parts. AIM AND OBJECTIVES To explore the chemical profiles and CNS activity of the smoke extract and isolated constituents of L. leonurus in zebrafish larvae, through anticonvulsive and anxiolytic activity assays. MATERIALS AND METHODS The smoke extract of L. leonurus was obtained through the combustion of the aerial parts of the plant using a custom-built smoke recovery apparatus. The chemical profile of the smoke constituents was determined using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Targeted compounds were subjected to preparative High-Performance Liquid Chromatography for separation before structure elucidation using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The maximum tolerated concentrations, as well as the anxiolytic activity of the smoke extract were determined in five days post fertilisation zebrafish larvae. Reverse-thigmotaxis and locomotor activity of larvae in the light/dark transition assay were used to determine anxiolytic activity. Zebrafish larvae at six days post fertilisation (dpf) were subjected to several concentrations of the smoke constituents of L. leonurus. The baseline locomotor activity of the larvae was tracked for 30 min, prior to addition of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) to induce seizure-like behaviour in the larvae, after which the locomotor activity of the larvae was once again tracked for an additional 30 min. RESULTS The UPLC-MS profiles of the smoke extract revealed the presence of two main compounds, leoleorin A and leoleorin B, which were targeted and isolated. Upon subjection to NMR spectroscopy for structure elucidation, the compounds were confirmed to be labdane diterpenoids. Both leoleorin A and leoleorin B, and the smoke extract displayed suppression of the PTZ induced seizure-like behaviour in zebrafish larvae. Under light and dark conditions, the smoke extract and compounds displayed potential anxiolytic activity at different concentrations. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the smoke constituents of L. leonurus may exert anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effects which align with the traditional indications and the mode of administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baudry N Nsuala
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
| | - Gill Enslin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
| | - Weiyang Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
| | - Clinton Veale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | - Alvaro Viljoen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; SAMRC Herbal Drugs Research Unit, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
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Liu Z, Luo X, Yan-Do R, Wang Y, Xie X, Li Z, Cheng SH, Shi P. Vertebrates on a Chip: Noninvasive Electrical and Optical Mapping of Whole Brain Activity Associated with Pharmacological Treatments. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:2121-2131. [PMID: 38775291 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Mapping brain activities is necessary for understanding brain physiology and discovering new treatments for neurological disorders. Such efforts have greatly benefited from the advancement in technologies for analyzing neural activity with improving temporal or spatial resolution. Here, we constructed a multielectrode array based brain activity mapping (BAM) system capable of stabilizing and orienting zebrafish larvae for recording electroencephalogram (EEG) like local field potential (LFP) signals and brain-wide calcium dynamics in awake zebrafish. Particularly, we designed a zebrafish trap chip that integrates with an eight-by-eight surface electrode array, so that brain electrophysiology can be noninvasively recorded in an agarose-free and anesthetic-free format with a high temporal resolution of 40 μs, matching the capability typically achieved by invasive LFP recording. Benefiting from the specially designed hybrid system, we can also conduct calcium imaging directly on immobilized awake larval zebrafish, which further supplies us with high spatial resolution brain-wide activity data. All of these innovations reconcile the limitations of sole LFP recording or calcium imaging, emphasizing a synergy of combining electrical and optical modalities within one unified device for activity mapping across a whole vertebrate brain with both improved spatial and temporal resolutions. The compatibility with in vivo drug treatment further makes it suitable for pharmacology studies based on multimodal measurement of brain-wide physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Xuan Luo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Richard Yan-Do
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Hong Kong Centre for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Xi Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhongping Li
- Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Shuk Han Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Peng Shi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Hong Kong Centre for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR
- Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF), City University of Hong Kong Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
- Shenzhen Research Institute, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, China
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Cintra L, Yanicostas C, Soussi-Yanicostas N, Vianna Maurer-Morelli C. Effects of baicalin pre-treatment on pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures: Insights from zebrafish larvae locomotor behavior and neuronal calcium imaging. Epilepsy Behav 2024; 157:109866. [PMID: 38820680 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2024.109866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Natural compounds are increasingly being studied for their potential neuroprotective effects against inflammatory neurological diseases. Epilepsy is a common neurological disease associated with inflammatory processes, and around 30% of people with epilepsy do not respond to traditional treatments. Some flavonoids, when taken along with antiseizure medications can help reduce the likelihood of drug-resistant epilepsy. Baicalin, a plant-based compound, has been shown to possess pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anticonvulsant, and antioxidant activities. In this study, we tested the effect of baicalin on an established model of pharmacologically induced seizure in zebrafish using measures of both locomotor behavior and calcium imaging of neuronal activity. The results of our study showed that, at the tested concentration, and contrary to other studies in rodents, baicalin did not have an anti-seizure effect in zebrafish larvae. However, given its known properties, other concentrations and approaches should be explored to determine if it could potentially have other beneficial effects, either alone or when administered in combination with classic antiseizure medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laís Cintra
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Unicamp, School of Medical Science, Department of Translational Medicine, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Campinas
| | - Constantin Yanicostas
- NeuroDiderot, Inserm U1141, Université Paris Cité, Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris, France; Department of Biochemistry, University of Paris, INSERM, T3S, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Nadia Soussi-Yanicostas
- NeuroDiderot, Inserm U1141, Université Paris Cité, Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris, France; Department of Biochemistry, University of Paris, INSERM, T3S, 75006 Paris, France.
| | - Claudia Vianna Maurer-Morelli
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Unicamp, School of Medical Science, Department of Translational Medicine, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Campinas.
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Bertoncello KT, Rodrigues G, Bonan CD. Berberine and hesperidin prevent the memory consolidation impairment induced by pentylenetetrazole in zebrafish. Behav Brain Res 2024; 466:114981. [PMID: 38580198 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
This study verified the effects of the natural compounds berberine and hesperidin on seizure development and cognitive impairment triggered by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in zebrafish. Adult animals were submitted to a training session in the inhibitory avoidance test and, after 10 minutes, they received an intraperitoneal injection of 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg berberine or 100 or 200 mg/kg hesperidin. After 30 minutes, the animals were exposed to 7.5 mM PTZ for 10 minutes. Animals were submitted to the test session 24 h after the training session to verify their cognitive performance. Zebrafish larvae were exposed to 100 µM or 500 µM berberine or 10 µM or 50 µM hesperidin for 30 minutes. After, larvae were exposed to PTZ and had the seizure development evaluated by latency to reach the seizure stages I, II, and III. Adult zebrafish pretreated with 50 mg/kg berberine showed a longer latency to reach stage III. Zebrafish larvae pretreated with 500 µM berberine showed a longer latency to reach stages II and III. Hesperidin did not show any effect on seizure development both in larvae and adult zebrafish. Berberine and hesperidin pretreatments prevented the memory consolidation impairment provoked by PTZ-induced seizures. There were no changes in the distance traveled in adult zebrafish pretreated with berberine or hesperidin. In larval stage, berberine caused no changes in the distance traveled; however, hesperidin increased the locomotion. Our results reinforce the need for investigating new therapeutic alternatives for epilepsy and its comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanandra Taisa Bertoncello
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Rodrigues
- Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Carla Denise Bonan
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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5
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Peters TMA, Engelke UFH, de Boer S, Reintjes JTG, Roullet JB, Broekman S, de Vrieze E, van Wijk E, Wamelink MMC, Artuch R, Barić I, Merx J, Boltje TJ, Martens J, Willemsen MAAP, Verbeek MM, Wevers RA, Gibson KM, Coene KLM. Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency in mice and in humans: An untargeted metabolomics perspective. J Inherit Metab Dis 2024; 47:417-430. [PMID: 37455357 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency (SSADHD) is a rare neurometabolic disorder caused by disruption of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) pathway. A more detailed understanding of its pathophysiology, beyond the accumulation of GABA and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), will increase our understanding of the disease and may support novel therapy development. To this end, we compared biochemical body fluid profiles from SSADHD patients with controls using next-generation metabolic screening (NGMS). Targeted analysis of NGMS data from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed a moderate increase of aspartic acid, glutaric acid, glycolic acid, 4-guanidinobutanoic acid, and 2-hydroxyglutaric acid, and prominent elevations of GHB and 4,5-dihydroxyhexanoic acid (4,5-DHHA) in SSADHD samples. Remarkably, the intensities of 4,5-DHHA and GHB showed a significant positive correlation in control CSF, but not in patient CSF. In an established zebrafish epilepsy model, 4,5-DHHA showed increased mobility that may reflect limited epileptogenesis. Using untargeted metabolomics, we identified 12 features in CSF with high biomarker potential. These had comparable increased fold changes as GHB and 4,5-DHHA. For 10 of these features, a similar increase was found in plasma, urine and/or mouse brain tissue for SSADHD compared to controls. One of these was identified as the novel biomarker 4,5-dihydroxyheptanoic acid. The intensities of selected features in plasma and urine of SSADHD patients positively correlated with the clinical severity score of epilepsy and psychiatric symptoms of those patients, and also showed a high mutual correlation. Our findings provide new insights into the (neuro)metabolic disturbances in SSADHD and give leads for further research concerning SSADHD pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa M A Peters
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Metabolic Laboratory (TML), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Udo F H Engelke
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Metabolic Laboratory (TML), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Siebolt de Boer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Metabolic Laboratory (TML), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Joris T G Reintjes
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Metabolic Laboratory (TML), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Baptiste Roullet
- Department of Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | - Sanne Broekman
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Erik de Vrieze
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Erwin van Wijk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mirjam M C Wamelink
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Metabolic Unit, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rafael Artuch
- Clinical Biochemistry Department, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERER and MetabERN Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ivo Barić
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University Hospital Center Zagreb and University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jona Merx
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas J Boltje
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jonathan Martens
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, FELIX Laboratory, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Michèl A A P Willemsen
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel M Verbeek
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Metabolic Laboratory (TML), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ron A Wevers
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Metabolic Laboratory (TML), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - K Michael Gibson
- Department of Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | - Karlien L M Coene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Metabolic Laboratory (TML), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, Máxima Medical Center, Veldhoven, The Netherlands
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Okanari K, Teranishi H, Umeda R, Shikano K, Inoue M, Hanada T, Ihara K, Hanada R. Behavioral and neurotransmitter changes on antiepileptic drugs treatment in the zebrafish pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure model. Behav Brain Res 2024; 464:114920. [PMID: 38403178 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Epilepsy, a recurrent neurological disorder involving abnormal neurotransmitter kinetics in the brain, has emerged as a global health concern. The mechanism of epileptic seizures is thought to involve a relative imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. Despite the recent advances in clinical and basic research on the pathogenesis of epilepsy, the complex relationship between the neurotransmitter changes and behavior with and without antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) during seizures remains unclear. To investigate the effects of AEDs such as levetiracetam (LEV), carbamazepine (CBZ), and fenfluramine (FFR) on key neurotransmitters in the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures in adult zebrafish, we examined the changes in glutamic acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), choline, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and adenosine. In this study, we observed that 5-HT and DA levels in the brain increased immediately after PTZ-induced seizures. Behavioral tests clearly showed that all of these AEDs suppressed the PTZ-induced seizures. Upon treatment of PTZ-induced seizures with these AEDs, CBZ decreased the glutamic acid and FFR increased the GABA levels; however, no neurotransmitter changes were observed in the brain after LEV administration. Thus, we demonstrated a series of neurotransmitter changes linked to behavioral changes during PTZ-induced epileptic seizures when LEV, CBZ, or FFR were administered. These findings will lead to a more detailed understanding of the pathogenesis of epilepsy associated with behavioral and neurotransmitter changes under AED treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuo Okanari
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty and Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Teranishi
- Department of Neurophysiology, Faculty and Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan
| | - Ryohei Umeda
- Department of Neurophysiology, Faculty and Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan
| | - Kenshiro Shikano
- Department of Neurophysiology, Faculty and Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan
| | - Masanori Inoue
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty and Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan
| | - Toshikatsu Hanada
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty and Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan
| | - Kenji Ihara
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty and Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan
| | - Reiko Hanada
- Department of Neurophysiology, Faculty and Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan.
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Whyte-Fagundes PA, Vance A, Carroll A, Figueroa F, Manukyan C, Baraban SC. Testing of putative antiseizure medications in a preclinical Dravet syndrome zebrafish model. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae135. [PMID: 38707709 PMCID: PMC11069116 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Dravet syndrome is a severe genetic epilepsy primarily caused by de novo mutations in a voltage-activated sodium channel gene (SCN1A). Patients face life-threatening seizures that are largely resistant to available anti-seizure medications. Preclinical Dravet syndrome animal models are a valuable tool to identify candidate anti-seizure medications for these patients. Among these, scn1lab mutant zebrafish, exhibiting spontaneous seizure-like activity, are particularly amenable to large-scale drug screening. Thus far, we have screened more than 3000 drug candidates in scn1lab zebrafish mutants, identifying valproate, stiripentol, and fenfluramine e.g. Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, with clinical application in the Dravet syndrome population. Successful phenotypic screening in scn1lab mutant zebrafish is rigorous and consists of two stages: (i) a locomotion-based assay measuring high-velocity convulsive swim behaviour and (ii) an electrophysiology-based assay, using in vivo local field potential recordings, to quantify electrographic seizure-like events. Historically, nearly 90% of drug candidates fail during translation from preclinical models to the clinic. With such a high failure rate, it becomes necessary to address issues of replication and false positive identification. Leveraging our scn1lab zebrafish assays is one approach to address these problems. Here, we curated a list of nine anti-seizure drug candidates recently identified by other groups using preclinical Dravet syndrome models: 1-Ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone, AA43279, chlorzoxazone, donepezil, lisuride, mifepristone, pargyline, soticlestat and vorinostat. First-stage locomotion-based assays in scn1lab mutant zebrafish identified only 1-Ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone, chlorzoxazone and lisuride. However, second-stage local field potential recording assays did not show significant suppression of spontaneous electrographic seizure activity for any of the nine anti-seizure drug candidates. Surprisingly, soticlestat induced frank electrographic seizure-like discharges in wild-type control zebrafish. Taken together, our results failed to replicate clear anti-seizure efficacy for these drug candidates highlighting a necessity for strict scientific standards in preclinical identification of anti-seizure medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige A Whyte-Fagundes
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory and Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Anjelica Vance
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory and Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Aloe Carroll
- Behavioral Neurosciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Francisco Figueroa
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory and Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Catherine Manukyan
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Scott C Baraban
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory and Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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Locubiche S, Ordóñez V, Abad E, Scotto di Mase M, Di Donato V, De Santis F. A Zebrafish-Based Platform for High-Throughput Epilepsy Modeling and Drug Screening in F0. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2991. [PMID: 38474238 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish model has emerged as a reference tool for phenotypic drug screening. An increasing number of molecules have been brought from bench to bedside thanks to zebrafish-based assays over the last decade. The high homology between the zebrafish and the human genomes facilitates the generation of zebrafish lines carrying loss-of-function mutations in disease-relevant genes; nonetheless, even using this alternative model, the establishment of isogenic mutant lines requires a long generation time and an elevated number of animals. In this study, we developed a zebrafish-based high-throughput platform for the generation of F0 knock-out (KO) models and the screening of neuroactive compounds. We show that the simultaneous inactivation of a reporter gene (tyrosinase) and a second gene of interest allows the phenotypic selection of F0 somatic mutants (crispants) carrying the highest rates of mutations in both loci. As a proof of principle, we targeted genes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and we efficiently generated de facto F0 mutants in seven genes involved in childhood epilepsy. We employed a high-throughput multiparametric behavioral analysis to characterize the response of these KO models to an epileptogenic stimulus, making it possible to employ kinematic parameters to identify seizure-like events. The combination of these co-injection, screening and phenotyping methods allowed us to generate crispants recapitulating epilepsy features and to test the efficacy of compounds already during the first days post fertilization. Since the strategy can be applied to a wide range of indications, this study paves the ground for high-throughput drug discovery and promotes the use of zebrafish in personalized medicine and neurotoxicity assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia Locubiche
- ZeClinics S.L., Carrer de Laureà Miró, 408-410, 08980 Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Víctor Ordóñez
- ZeClinics S.L., Carrer de Laureà Miró, 408-410, 08980 Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Elena Abad
- ZeClinics S.L., Carrer de Laureà Miró, 408-410, 08980 Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Spain
| | | | - Vincenzo Di Donato
- ZeClinics S.L., Carrer de Laureà Miró, 408-410, 08980 Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Flavia De Santis
- ZeClinics S.L., Carrer de Laureà Miró, 408-410, 08980 Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Spain
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Heins-Marroquin U, Singh RR, Perathoner S, Gavotto F, Merino Ruiz C, Patraskaki M, Gomez-Giro G, Kleine Borgmann F, Meyer M, Carpentier A, Warmoes MO, Jäger C, Mittelbronn M, Schwamborn JC, Cordero-Maldonado ML, Crawford AD, Schymanski EL, Linster CL. CLN3 deficiency leads to neurological and metabolic perturbations during early development. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302057. [PMID: 38195117 PMCID: PMC10776888 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (or Batten disease) is an autosomal recessive, rare neurodegenerative disorder that affects mainly children above the age of 5 yr and is most commonly caused by mutations in the highly conserved CLN3 gene. Here, we generated cln3 morphants and stable mutant lines in zebrafish. Although neither morphant nor mutant cln3 larvae showed any obvious developmental or morphological defects, behavioral phenotyping of the mutant larvae revealed hyposensitivity to abrupt light changes and hypersensitivity to pro-convulsive drugs. Importantly, in-depth metabolomics and lipidomics analyses revealed significant accumulation of several glycerophosphodiesters (GPDs) and cholesteryl esters, and a global decrease in bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate species, two of which (GPDs and bis(monoacylglycero)phosphates) were previously proposed as potential biomarkers for CLN3 disease based on independent studies in other organisms. We could also demonstrate GPD accumulation in human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cerebral organoids carrying a pathogenic variant for CLN3 Our models revealed that GPDs accumulate at very early stages of life in the absence of functional CLN3 and highlight glycerophosphoinositol and BMP as promising biomarker candidates for pre-symptomatic CLN3 disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula Heins-Marroquin
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Randolph R Singh
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
- https://ror.org/00hj8s172 Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Simon Perathoner
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Floriane Gavotto
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Carla Merino Ruiz
- Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Biosfer Teslab SL, Reus, Spain
| | - Myrto Patraskaki
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Gemma Gomez-Giro
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Felix Kleine Borgmann
- National Center of Pathology (NCP), Laboratoire national de santé (LNS), Dudelange, Luxembourg
- Department of Oncology (DONC), Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Melanie Meyer
- National Center of Pathology (NCP), Laboratoire national de santé (LNS), Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - Anaïs Carpentier
- National Center of Pathology (NCP), Laboratoire national de santé (LNS), Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - Marc O Warmoes
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Christian Jäger
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Michel Mittelbronn
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
- National Center of Pathology (NCP), Laboratoire national de santé (LNS), Dudelange, Luxembourg
- Department of Oncology (DONC), Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Luxembourg Center of Neuropathology (LCNP), Dudelange, Luxembourg
- Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine (FSTM), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Department of Life Science and Medicine (DLSM), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Jens C Schwamborn
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | | | - Alexander D Crawford
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
- Institute for Orphan Drug Discovery, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Emma L Schymanski
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Carole L Linster
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
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10
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Moussavi N, van der Ent W, Diallo D, Sanogo R, Malterud KE, Esguerra CV, Wangensteen H. Inhibition of Seizure-Like Paroxysms and Toxicity Effects of Securidaca longepedunculata Extracts and Constituents in Zebrafish Danio rerio. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:617-628. [PMID: 38270158 PMCID: PMC10853935 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Plants used in traditional medicine in the management of epilepsy could potentially yield novel drug compounds with antiepileptic properties. The medicinal plant Securidaca longepedunculata is widely used in traditional medicine in the African continent, and epilepsy is among several indications. Limited knowledge is available on its toxicity and medicinal effects, such as anticonvulsant activities. This study explores the potential in vivo inhibition of seizure-like paroxysms and toxicity effects of dichloromethane (DCM) and ethanol (EtOH) extracts, as well as isolated xanthones and benzoates of S. longepedunculata. Ten phenolic compounds were isolated from the DCM extract. All of the substances were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Assays for toxicity and inhibition of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure-like paroxysms were performed in zebrafish larvae. Among the compounds assessed in the assay for maximum tolerated concentration (MTC), benzyl-2-hydroxy-6-methoxy-benzoate (MTC 12.5 μM), 4,8-dihydroxy-1,2,3,5,6-pentamethoxyxanthone (MTC 25 μM), and 1,7-dihydroxy-4-methoxyxanthone (MTC 6.25 μM) were the most toxic. The DCM extract, 1,7-dihydroxy-4-methoxyxanthone and 2-hydroxy-1,7-dimethoxyxanthone displayed the most significant inhibition of paroxysms by altering the locomotor behavior in GABAA receptor antagonist, PTZ, which induced seizures in larval zebrafish. The EtOH extract, benzyl benzoate, and benzyl-2-hydroxy-6-methoxy-benzoate unexpectedly increased locomotor activity in treated larval zebrafish and decreased locomotor activity in nontreated larval zebrafish, seemingly due to paradoxical excitation. The results reveal promising medicinal activities of this plant, contributing to our understanding of its use as an antiepileptic drug. It also shows us the presence of potentially new lead compounds for future drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nastaran Moussavi
- Section
for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068, Oslo 0316, Norway
| | - Wietske van der Ent
- NCMM,
Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway,
Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo 0349, Norway
| | - Drissa Diallo
- Department
of Traditional Medicine, National Institute
of Public Health, PB, Bamako 1746, Mali
- Faculty
of Pharmacy, University of Sciences, Techniques
and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako 1746, Mali
| | - Rokia Sanogo
- Department
of Traditional Medicine, National Institute
of Public Health, PB, Bamako 1746, Mali
- Faculty
of Pharmacy, University of Sciences, Techniques
and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako 1746, Mali
| | - Karl E. Malterud
- Section
for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068, Oslo 0316, Norway
| | - Camila V. Esguerra
- Section
for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O.
Box 1068, Oslo 0316, Norway
| | - Helle Wangensteen
- Section
for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068, Oslo 0316, Norway
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11
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Ilyin NP, Petersen EV, Kolesnikova TO, Demin KA, Khatsko SL, Apuhtin KV, Kalueff AV. Developing Peripheral Biochemical Biomarkers of Brain Disorders: Insights from Zebrafish Models. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2024; 89:377-391. [PMID: 38622104 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297924020160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
High prevalence of human brain disorders necessitates development of the reliable peripheral biomarkers as diagnostic and disease-monitoring tools. In addition to clinical studies, animal models markedly advance studying of non-brain abnormalities associated with brain pathogenesis. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is becoming increasingly popular as an animal model organism in translational neuroscience. These fish share some practical advantages over mammalian models together with high genetic homology and evolutionarily conserved biochemical and neurobehavioral phenotypes, thus enabling large-scale modeling of human brain diseases. Here, we review mounting evidence on peripheral biomarkers of brain disorders in zebrafish models, focusing on altered biochemistry (lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, and other non-signal molecules, as well as metabolic reactions and activity of enzymes). Collectively, these data strongly support the utility of zebrafish (from a systems biology standpoint) to study peripheral manifestations of brain disorders, as well as highlight potential applications of biochemical biomarkers in zebrafish models to biomarker-based drug discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita P Ilyin
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia.
| | - Elena V Petersen
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, 115184, Russia.
| | - Tatyana O Kolesnikova
- Neuroscience Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, 354340, Russia.
| | - Konstantin A Demin
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia.
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, 115184, Russia
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, 197341, Russia
- Laboratory of Preclinical Bioscreening, Granov Russian Research Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Pesochny, 197758, Russia
| | | | - Kirill V Apuhtin
- Laboratory of Biopsychiatry, Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Novosibirsk, 630117, Russia.
- Neuroscience Division, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius Federal Territory, 354340, Russia
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia.
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, 197341, Russia
- Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, 620002, Russia
- Laboratory of Biopsychiatry, Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Novosibirsk, 630117, Russia
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12
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Sui J, Zhan L, Ji S, Wu W, Chen Y, Yun F, Liang W, Wang J, Cao M, Shen D, Zhang Q. Differential inflammation responses determine the variable phenotypes of epilepsy induced by GABRG2 mutations. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14583. [PMID: 38357846 PMCID: PMC10867793 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism involved in variable phenotypes of epilepsy models induced by γ-aminobutyric acid type A γ2 subunit (GABRG2) mutations. METHODS The zebrafish carrying wild-type (WT) GABRG2, mutant GABRG2(P282S), GABRG2(F343L) and GABRG2(I107T) were established by Tol2kit transgenesis system and Gateway method. Behavioral analysis of different transgenic zebrafish was performed with the DanioVision Video-Track framework and the brain activity was analyzed by field potential recording with MD3000 Bio-signal Acquisition and Processing System. The transcriptome analysis was applied to detect the underlying mechanisms of variable phenotypes caused by different GABRG2 mutations. RESULTS The established Tg(hGABRG2P282S ) zebrafish showed hyperactivity and spontaneous seizures, which were more sensitive to chemical and physical epileptic stimulations. Traditional antiepileptic drugs, such as Clonazepam (CBZ) and valproic acid (VPA), could ameliorate the hyperactivity in Tg(hGABRG2P282S ) zebrafish. The metabolic pathway was significantly changed in the brain transcriptome of Tg(hGABRG2P282S ) zebrafish. In addition, the behavioral activity, production of pro-inflammatory factors, and activation of the IL-2 receptor signal pathway varied among the three mutant zebrafish lines. CONCLUSION We successfully established transgenic zebrafish epileptic models expressing human mutant GABRG2(P282S), in which CBZ and VPA showed antiepileptic effects. Differential inflammatory responses, especially the SOCS/JAK/STAT signaling pathway, might be related to the phenotypes of genetic epilepsy induced by GABRG2 mutations. Further study will expand the pathological mechanisms of genetic epilepsies and provide a theoretical basis for searching for effective drug treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Sui
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Department of NeurologyAffiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School, Co‐innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Longwu Zhan
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Department of NeurologyAffiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School, Co‐innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Shengtao Ji
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Department of NeurologyAffiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School, Co‐innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Wenwen Wu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Department of NeurologyAffiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School, Co‐innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Yuhan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Department of NeurologyAffiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School, Co‐innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Feng Yun
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Department of NeurologyAffiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School, Co‐innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Wenpeng Liang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Department of NeurologyAffiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School, Co‐innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Jie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Department of NeurologyAffiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School, Co‐innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Maohong Cao
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Department of NeurologyAffiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School, Co‐innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Dingding Shen
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Department of NeurologyAffiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School, Co‐innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Qi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Department of NeurologyAffiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School, Co‐innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong UniversityNantongChina
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13
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Bahl E, Chatterjee S, Mukherjee U, Elsadany M, Vanrobaeys Y, Lin LC, McDonough M, Resch J, Giese KP, Abel T, Michaelson JJ. Using deep learning to quantify neuronal activation from single-cell and spatial transcriptomic data. Nat Commun 2024; 15:779. [PMID: 38278804 PMCID: PMC10817898 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44503-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuronal activity-dependent transcription directs molecular processes that regulate synaptic plasticity, brain circuit development, behavioral adaptation, and long-term memory. Single cell RNA-sequencing technologies (scRNAseq) are rapidly developing and allow for the interrogation of activity-dependent transcription at cellular resolution. Here, we present NEUROeSTIMator, a deep learning model that integrates transcriptomic signals to estimate neuronal activation in a way that we demonstrate is associated with Patch-seq electrophysiological features and that is robust against differences in species, cell type, and brain region. We demonstrate this method's ability to accurately detect neuronal activity in previously published studies of single cell activity-induced gene expression. Further, we applied our model in a spatial transcriptomic study to identify unique patterns of learning-induced activity across different brain regions in male mice. Altogether, our findings establish NEUROeSTIMator as a powerful and broadly applicable tool for measuring neuronal activation, whether as a critical covariate or a primary readout of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan Bahl
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Snehajyoti Chatterjee
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience & Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Utsav Mukherjee
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience & Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Muhammad Elsadany
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Yann Vanrobaeys
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Li-Chun Lin
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience & Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Miriam McDonough
- Department of Neuroscience & Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Jon Resch
- Department of Neuroscience & Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - K Peter Giese
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ted Abel
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience & Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Jacob J Michaelson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
- Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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14
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Lamiré LA, Haesemeyer M, Engert F, Granato M, Randlett O. Functional and pharmacological analyses of visual habituation learning in larval zebrafish. eLife 2023; 12:RP84926. [PMID: 38108818 PMCID: PMC10727501 DOI: 10.7554/elife.84926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Habituation allows animals to learn to ignore persistent but inconsequential stimuli. Despite being the most basic form of learning, a consensus model on the underlying mechanisms has yet to emerge. To probe relevant mechanisms, we took advantage of a visual habituation paradigm in larval zebrafish, where larvae reduce their reactions to abrupt global dimming (a dark flash). We used Ca2+ imaging during repeated dark flashes and identified 12 functional classes of neurons that differ based on their rate of adaptation, stimulus response shape, and anatomical location. While most classes of neurons depressed their responses to repeated stimuli, we identified populations that did not adapt or that potentiated their response. These neurons were distributed across brain areas, consistent with a distributed learning process. Using a small-molecule screening approach, we confirmed that habituation manifests from multiple distinct molecular mechanisms, and we have implicated molecular pathways in habituation, including melatonin, oestrogen, and GABA signalling. However, by combining anatomical analyses and pharmacological manipulations with Ca2+ imaging, we failed to identify a simple relationship between pharmacology, altered activity patterns, and habituation behaviour. Collectively, our work indicates that habituation occurs via a complex and distributed plasticity processes that cannot be captured by a simple model. Therefore, untangling the mechanisms of habituation will likely require dedicated approaches aimed at sub-component mechanisms underlying this multidimensional learning process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie Anne Lamiré
- Laboratoire MeLiS, UCBL - CNRS UMR5284 - Inserm U1314, Institut NeuroMyoGène, Faculté de Médecine et de PharmacieLyonFrance
| | - Martin Haesemeyer
- The Ohio State University, Department of NeuroscienceColumbusUnited States
| | - Florian Engert
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Center for Brain Science, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Michael Granato
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Owen Randlett
- Laboratoire MeLiS, UCBL - CNRS UMR5284 - Inserm U1314, Institut NeuroMyoGène, Faculté de Médecine et de PharmacieLyonFrance
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15
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Chitolina R, Reis CG, Stahlhofer-Buss T, Linazzi A, Benvenutti R, Marcon M, Herrmann AP, Piato A. Effects of N-acetylcysteine and acetyl-L-carnitine on acute PTZ-induced seizures in larval and adult zebrafish. Pharmacol Rep 2023; 75:1544-1555. [PMID: 37814098 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-023-00536-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disease, affecting approximately 1-2% of the global population. The hallmark of epilepsy is the occurrence of epileptic seizures, which are characterized by predictable behavioral changes reflecting the underlying neural mechanisms of the disease. Unfortunately, around 30% of patients do not respond to current pharmacological treatments. Consequently, exploring alternative therapeutic options for managing this condition is crucial. Two potential candidates for attenuating seizures are N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC), as they have shown promising neuroprotective effects through the modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission. METHODS This study aimed to assess the effects of varying concentrations (0.1, 1.0, and 10 mg/L) of NAC and ALC on acute PTZ-induced seizures in zebrafish in both adult and larval stages. The evaluation of behavioral parameters such as seizure intensity and latency to the crisis can provide insights into the efficacy of these substances. RESULTS Our results indicate that both drugs at any of the tested concentrations were not able to reduce PTZ-induced epileptic seizures. On the other hand, the administration of diazepam demonstrated a notable reduction in seizure intensity and increased latencies to higher scores of epileptic seizures. CONCLUSION Consequently, we conclude that, under the conditions employed in this study, NAC and ALC do not exhibit any significant effects on acute seizures in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Chitolina
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Psicofarmacologia e Comportamento (LAPCOM), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Carlos G Reis
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Psicofarmacologia e Comportamento (LAPCOM), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Thailana Stahlhofer-Buss
- Laboratório de Psicofarmacologia e Comportamento (LAPCOM), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Amanda Linazzi
- Laboratório de Psicofarmacologia e Comportamento (LAPCOM), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Radharani Benvenutti
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Matheus Marcon
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Farmacologia e Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Ana P Herrmann
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia e Psicofarmacologia Experimental (PsychoLab), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Angelo Piato
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Psicofarmacologia e Comportamento (LAPCOM), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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16
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Costa FV, Zabegalov KN, Kolesnikova TO, de Abreu MS, Kotova MM, Petersen EV, Kalueff AV. Experimental models of human cortical malformations: from mammals to 'acortical' zebrafish. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 155:105429. [PMID: 37863278 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Human neocortex controls and integrates cognition, emotions, perception and complex behaviors. Aberrant cortical development can be triggered by multiple genetic and environmental factors, causing cortical malformations. Animal models, especially rodents, are a valuable tool to probe molecular and physiological mechanisms of cortical malformations. Complementing rodent studies, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an important model organism in biomedicine. Although the zebrafish (like other fishes) lacks neocortex, here we argue that this species can still be used to model various aspects and brain phenomena related to human cortical malformations. We also discuss novel perspectives in this field, covering both advantages and limitations of using mammalian and zebrafish models in cortical malformation research. Summarizing mounting evidence, we also highlight the importance of translationally-relevant insights into the pathogenesis of cortical malformations from animal models, and discuss future strategies of research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiano V Costa
- World-class Research Center "Center for Personalized Medicine", Almazov National Medical Research Center, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia; Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius Federal Territory, Russia
| | - Konstantin N Zabegalov
- Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius Federal Territory, Russia
| | - Tatiana O Kolesnikova
- World-class Research Center "Center for Personalized Medicine", Almazov National Medical Research Center, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia; Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius Federal Territory, Russia
| | | | - Maria M Kotova
- World-class Research Center "Center for Personalized Medicine", Almazov National Medical Research Center, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia; Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius Federal Territory, Russia
| | | | - Allan V Kalueff
- World-class Research Center "Center for Personalized Medicine", Almazov National Medical Research Center, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia; Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia; Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia; Laboratory of Preclinical Bioscreening, Granov Russian Research Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Pesochny, Russia; Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia; Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius Federal Territory, Russia.
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17
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Whyte-Fagundes P, Vance A, Carroll A, Figueroa F, Manukyan C, Baraban SC. Testing of putative antiseizure drugs in a preclinical Dravet syndrome zebrafish model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.11.566723. [PMID: 38014342 PMCID: PMC10680609 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.11.566723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Dravet syndrome (DS) is a severe genetic epilepsy primarily caused by de novo mutations in a voltage-activated sodium channel gene (SCN1A). Patients face life-threatening seizures that are largely resistant to available anti-seizure medications (ASM). Preclinical DS animal models are a valuable tool to identify candidate ASMs for these patients. Among these, scn1lab mutant zebrafish exhibiting spontaneous seizure-like activity are particularly amenable to large-scale drug screening. Prior screening in a scn1lab mutant zebrafish line generated using N-ethyl-Nnitrosourea (ENU) identified valproate, stiripentol, and fenfluramine e.g., Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs with clinical application in the DS population. Successful phenotypic screening in scn1lab mutant zebrafish consists of two stages: (i) a locomotion-based assay measuring high-velocity convulsive swim behavior and (ii) an electrophysiology-based assay, using in vivo local field potential (LFP) recordings, to quantify electrographic seizure-like events. Using this strategy more than 3000 drug candidates have been screened in scn1lab zebrafish mutants. Here, we curated a list of nine additional anti-seizure drug candidates recently identified in preclinical models: 1-EBIO, AA43279, chlorzoxazone, donepezil, lisuride, mifepristone, pargyline, soticlestat and vorinostat. First-stage locomotion-based assays in scn1lab mutant zebrafish identified only 1-EBIO, chlorzoxazone and lisuride. However, second-stage LFP recording assays did not show significant suppression of spontaneous electrographic seizure activity for any of the nine anti-seizure drug candidates. Surprisingly, soticlestat induced frank electrographic seizure-like discharges in wild-type control zebrafish. Taken together, our results failed to replicate clear anti-seizure efficacy for these drug candidates highlighting a necessity for strict scientific standards in preclinical identification of ASMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Whyte-Fagundes
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory and Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - A Vance
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory and Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - A Carroll
- Behavioral Neurosciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - F Figueroa
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory and Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - C Manukyan
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - S C Baraban
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory and Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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18
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Chitolina R, Gallas-Lopes M, Reis CG, Benvenutti R, Stahlhofer-Buss T, Calcagnotto ME, Herrmann AP, Piato A. Chemically-induced epileptic seizures in zebrafish: A systematic review. Epilepsy Res 2023; 197:107236. [PMID: 37801749 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2023.107236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
The use of zebrafish as a model organism is gaining evidence in the field of epilepsy as it may help to understand the mechanisms underlying epileptic seizures. As zebrafish assays became popular, the heterogeneity between protocols increased, making it hard to choose a standard protocol to conduct research while also impairing the comparison of results between studies. We conducted a systematic review to comprehensively profile the chemically-induced seizure models in zebrafish. Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, followed by a two-step screening process based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Qualitative data were extracted, and a sample of 100 studies was randomly selected for risk of bias assessment. Out of the 1058 studies identified after removing duplicates, 201 met the inclusion criteria. We found that the most common chemoconvulsants used in the reviewed studies were pentylenetetrazole (n = 180), kainic acid (n = 11), and pilocarpine (n = 10), which increase seizure severity in a dose-dependent manner. The main outcomes assessed were seizure scores and locomotion. Significant variability between the protocols was observed for administration route, duration of exposure, and dose/concentration. Of the studies subjected to risk of bias assessment, most were rated as low risk of bias for selective reporting (94%), baseline characteristics of the animals (67%), and blinded outcome assessment (54%). Randomization procedures and incomplete data were rated unclear in 81% and 68% of the studies, respectively. None of the studies reported the sample size calculation. Overall, these findings underscore the need for improved methodological and reporting practices to enhance the reproducibility and reliability of zebrafish models for studying epilepsy. Our study offers a comprehensive overview of the current state of chemically-induced seizure models in zebrafish, highlighting the common chemoconvulsants used and the variability in protocol parameters. This may be particularly valuable to researchers interested in understanding the underlying mechanisms of epileptic seizures and screening potential drug candidates in zebrafish models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Chitolina
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Psicofarmacologia e Comportamento (LAPCOM), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Matheus Gallas-Lopes
- Brazilian Reproducibility Initiative in Preclinical Systematic Review and meta-Analysis (BRISA) Collaboration, Brazil; Laboratório de Neurobiologia e Psicofarmacologia Experimental (PsychoLab), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Carlos G Reis
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Psicofarmacologia e Comportamento (LAPCOM), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Radharani Benvenutti
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Thailana Stahlhofer-Buss
- Laboratório de Psicofarmacologia e Comportamento (LAPCOM), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Maria Elisa Calcagnotto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Neurobiologia e Neuroquímica da Excitabilidade Neuronal e Plasticidade Sináptica (NNNESP Lab), Departamento de bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ana P Herrmann
- Brazilian Reproducibility Initiative in Preclinical Systematic Review and meta-Analysis (BRISA) Collaboration, Brazil; Laboratório de Neurobiologia e Psicofarmacologia Experimental (PsychoLab), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Angelo Piato
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Psicofarmacologia e Comportamento (LAPCOM), Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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19
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Paquette SE, Martin NR, Rodd A, Manz KE, Allen E, Camarillo M, Weller HI, Pennell K, Plavicki JS. Evaluation of Neural Regulation and Microglial Responses to Brain Injury in Larval Zebrafish Exposed to Perfluorooctane Sulfonate. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:117008. [PMID: 37966802 PMCID: PMC10650473 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are biopersistent, global pollutants. Although some in vitro and epidemiological studies have explored the neurotoxic potential of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a prevalent PFAS congener, it is unknown how developmental PFOS exposure affects neuronal signaling, microglia development, and microglial-neuron communication. OBJECTIVES We sought to determine the extent to which PFOS exposure disrupts brain health, neuronal activity, and microglia-neuron communication during development. In addition, although PFOS impairs humoral immunity, its impact on innate immune cells, including resident microglia, is unclear. As such, we investigated whether microglia are cellular targets of PFOS, and, if so, whether disrupted microglial development or function could contribute to or is influenced by PFOS-induced neural dysfunction. METHODS Zebrafish were chronically exposed to either a control solution [0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)], 7 μ M PFOS, 14 μ M PFOS, 28 μ M PFOS, or 64 μ M perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). We used in vivo imaging and gene expression analysis to assess microglial populations in the developing brain and to determine shifts in the microglia state. We functionally challenged microglia state using a brain injury model and, to assess the neuronal signaling environment, performed functional neuroimaging experiments using the photoconvertible calcium indicator calcium-modulated photoactivatable ratiometric integrator (CaMPARI). These studies were paired with optogenetic manipulations of neurons and microglia, an untargeted metabolome-wide association study (MWAS), and behavioral assays. RESULTS Developmental PFOS exposure resulted in a shift away from the homeostatic microglia state, as determined by functional and morphological differences in exposed larvae, as well as up-regulation of the microglia activation gene p2ry12. PFOS-induced effects on microglia state exacerbated microglia responses to brain injury in the absence of increased cell death or inflammation. PFOS exposure also heightened neural activity, and optogenetic silencing of neurons or microglia independently was sufficient to normalize microglial responses to injury. An untargeted MWAS of larval brains revealed PFOS-exposed larvae had neurochemical signatures of excitatory-inhibitory imbalance. Behaviorally, PFOS-exposed larvae also exhibited anxiety-like thigmotaxis. To test whether the neuronal and microglial phenotypes were specific to PFOS, we exposed embryos to PFOA, a known immunotoxic PFAS. PFOA did not alter thigmotaxis, neuronal activity, or microglial responses, further supporting a role for neuronal activity as a critical modifier of microglial function following PFOS exposure. DISCUSSION Together, this study provides, to our knowledge, the first detailed account of the effects of PFOS exposure on neural cell types in the developing brain in vivo and adds neuronal hyperactivity as an important end point to assess when studying the impact of toxicant exposures on microglia function. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12861.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon E. Paquette
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Nathan R. Martin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - April Rodd
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Katherine E. Manz
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Eden Allen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Manuel Camarillo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Hannah I. Weller
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Kurt Pennell
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Jessica S. Plavicki
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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20
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Sri Hari A, Banerji R, Liang LP, Fulton RE, Huynh CQ, Fabisiak T, McElroy PB, Roede JR, Patel M. Increasing glutathione levels by a novel posttranslational mechanism inhibits neuronal hyperexcitability. Redox Biol 2023; 67:102895. [PMID: 37769522 PMCID: PMC10539966 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutathione (GSH) depletion, and impaired redox homeostasis have been observed in experimental animal models and patients with epilepsy. Pleiotropic strategies that elevate GSH levels via transcriptional regulation have been shown to significantly decrease oxidative stress and seizure frequency, increase seizure threshold, and rescue certain cognitive deficits. Whether elevation of GSH per se alters neuronal hyperexcitability remains unanswered. We previously showed that thiols such as dimercaprol (DMP) elevate GSH via post-translational activation of glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL), the rate limiting GSH biosynthetic enzyme. Here, we asked if elevation of cellular GSH by DMP altered neuronal hyperexcitability in-vitro and in-vivo. Treatment of primary neuronal-glial cerebrocortical cultures with DMP elevated GSH and inhibited a voltage-gated potassium channel blocker (4-aminopyridine, 4AP) induced neuronal hyperexcitability. DMP increased GSH in wildtype (WT) zebrafish larvae and significantly attenuated convulsant pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced acute 'seizure-like' swim behavior. DMP treatment increased GSH and inhibited convulsive, spontaneous 'seizure-like' swim behavior in the Dravet Syndrome (DS) zebrafish larvae (scn1Lab). Furthermore, DMP treatment significantly decreased spontaneous electrographic seizures and associated seizure parameters in scn1Lab zebrafish larvae. We investigated the role of the redox-sensitive mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway due to the presence of several cysteine-rich proteins and their involvement in regulating neuronal excitability. Treatment of primary neuronal-glial cerebrocortical cultures with 4AP or l-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO), an irreversible inhibitor of GSH biosynthesis, significantly increased mTOR complex I (mTORC1) activity which was rescued by pre-treatment with DMP. Furthermore, BSO-mediated GSH depletion oxidatively modified the tuberous sclerosis protein complex (TSC) consisting of hamartin (TSC1), tuberin (TSC2), and TBC1 domain family member 7 (TBC1D7) which are critical negative regulators of mTORC1. In summary, our results suggest that DMP-mediated GSH elevation by a novel post-translational mechanism can inhibit neuronal hyperexcitability both in-vitro and in-vivo and a plausible link is the redox sensitive mTORC1 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwini Sri Hari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Rajeswari Banerji
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Li-Ping Liang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Ruth E Fulton
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Christopher Quoc Huynh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Timothy Fabisiak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Pallavi Bhuyan McElroy
- The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Greater Philadelphia Area, Horsham, PA, 19044, USA
| | - James R Roede
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Manisha Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
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21
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Couto GT, Caetano HA, da Silva GP, Rockenbach L, Silva JSD, Vianna MR, Da Silva RS. Functioning and Gene Expression of Adenosine A 1 Receptor During Zebrafish ( Danio rerio) Development. Zebrafish 2023; 20:210-220. [PMID: 37856674 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2023.0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The A1 adenosine receptor is the most widely expressed P1 receptor in vertebrates, performing inhibitory tone of the nervous system. Increased levels of adenosine are crucial to promote tissue protection in threatening situations, such as convulsion and hypoxia. Zebrafish is an established model organism for studies on health and disease. In this study, we evaluated the functionality of A1 adenosine receptor through development of zebrafish (6-7-day-, 3-, 8-, and 24-month-old), assessing: (I) the effects of the agonist N6-cyclopenthyladenosine (CPA) over locomotor parameters, (II) the anticonvulsant properties of CPA and adenosine per se in the pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure, and (III) the gene expression of adora1b through development. CPA promoted decreased distance traveled in the highest concentrations/doses tested (larvae: 75 to 500 μM; adults: 20 mg.kg-1), altered mean velocity (larvae: 50-500 μM; adults: 20 mg.kg-1) and time in the bottom zone of apparatus (adults: decrease in 20 mg.kg-1). Adenosine increased the latency of the larvae to reach stage II at 5 and 10 μM. CPA anticonvulsant effect against convulsive stage II was reached at 75 μM, although it decreased basal locomotor activity in larvae. For adults, CPA 10 mg.kg-1 was effective as anticonvulsant without locomotory effects. Adenosine had minor anticonvulsant effects in the concentration tested (larvae: 5 and 10 μM). The level of gene expression of adora1b was stable in brain from adult animals (8- and 24-month-old animals). These results suggest that zebrafish has similar responses to CPA as mammals. To avoid confounding factors, such as locomotor effects, during any brain function investigation using A1 adenosine receptor as a target, the concentration below 75 μM or below the dose of 20 mg.kg-1 of CPA is ideal for zebrafish at larval and adult stages, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Trevisan Couto
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontificia Universidade, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Higor Arruda Caetano
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontificia Universidade, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Pietro da Silva
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontificia Universidade, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Liliana Rockenbach
- Programa de Pós-Graduação me Medician e Ciências da Saúde, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Scheid da Silva
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontificia Universidade, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Monica Ryff Vianna
- Laboratório de Biologia do Desenvolvimento do Sistema Nervoso, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Rosane Souza Da Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Kozol RA, Dallman JE. Drugs prescribed for Phelan-McDermid syndrome differentially impact sensory behaviors in shank3 zebrafish models. F1000Res 2023; 12:84. [PMID: 37868296 PMCID: PMC10589628 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.127830.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Altered sensory processing is a pervasive symptom in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD); people with Phelan McDermid syndrome (PMS), in particular, show reduced responses to sensory stimuli. PMS is caused by deletions of the terminal end of chromosome 22 or point mutations in Shank3. People with PMS can present with an array of symptoms including ASD, epilepsy, gastrointestinal distress, and reduced responses to sensory stimuli. People with PMS are often medicated to manage behaviors like aggression and/or self-harm and/or epilepsy, and it remains unclear how these medications might impact perception/sensory processing. Here we test this using zebrafish mutant shank3ab PMS models that likewise show reduced sensory responses in a visual motor response (VMR) assay, in which increased locomotion is triggered by light to dark transitions. Methods: We screened three medications, risperidone, lithium chloride (LiCl), and carbamazepine (CBZ), prescribed to people with PMS and one drug, 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl) pyridine (MPEP) tested in rodent models of PMS, for their effects on a sensory-induced behavior in two zebrafish PMS models with frameshift mutations in either the N- or C- termini. To test how pharmacological treatments affect the VMR, we exposed larvae to selected drugs for 24 hours and then quantified their locomotion during four ten-minute cycles of lights on-to-off stimuli. Results: We found that risperidone normalized the VMR in shank3 models. LiCl and CBZ had no effect on the VMR in any of the three genotypes. MPEP reduced the VMR in wildtype (WT) to levels seen in shank3 models but caused no changes in either shank3 model. Finally, shank3 mutants showed resistance to the seizure-inducing drug pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), at a dosage that results in hyperactive swimming in WT zebrafish. Conclusions: Our work shows that the effects of drugs on sensory processing are varied in ways that can be highly genotype- and drug-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A. Kozol
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Fl., USA
| | - Julia E. Dallman
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA
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23
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Paz D, Reyes-Nava NG, Pinales BE, Perez I, Gil CB, Gonzales AV, Grajeda B, Estevao IL, Ellis CC, Castro VL, Quintana AM. Characterization of the zebrafish gabra1sa43718/sa43718 germline loss of function allele confirms a function for Gabra1 in motility and nervous system development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.27.525860. [PMID: 36747751 PMCID: PMC9900897 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.27.525860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Mutation of the GABRA1 gene is associated with neurodevelopmental defects and epilepsy. GABRA1 encodes for the α1 subunit of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR), which regulates the fast inhibitory impulses of the nervous system. Multiple model systems have previously been developed to understand the function of GABRA1 during development, but these models have produced complex and at times incongruent data. Thus, additional model systems are required to validate and substantiate previously published results. We investigated the behavioral swim patterns associated with a nonsense mutation of the zebrafish gabra1 (sa43718 allele) gene. The sa43718 allele causes a decrease in gabra1 mRNA expression, which is associated with light induced hypermotility, one phenotype associated with seizure like behavior in zebrafish. Mutation of gabra1 was accompanied by decreased mRNA expression of gabra2, gabra3, and gabra5, indicating a reduction in the expression of additional alpha sub-units of the GABAAR. Although multiple sub-units were decreased in total expression, larvae continued to respond to pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) indicating that a residual GABAAR exists in the sa43718 allele. Proteomics analysis demonstrated that nonsense mutation of gabra1 is associated with abnormal expression of proteins that regulate proton transport, ion homeostasis, vesicle transport, and mitochondrial protein complexes. These data support previous studies performed in a zebrafish nonsense allele created by CRISPR/Cas9 and validate that loss of function mutations in the gabra1 gene result in seizure like phenotypes with abnormal function of inhibitory synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Paz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nayeli G Reyes-Nava
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Briana E Pinales
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Isaiah Perez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Claudia B Gil
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Annalise V Gonzales
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Brian Grajeda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Igor L Estevao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Cameron C Ellis
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Victoria L Castro
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Anita M Quintana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
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24
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Kollipara R, Langille E, Tobin C, French CR. Phytocannabinoids Reduce Seizures in Larval Zebrafish and Affect Endocannabinoid Gene Expression. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1398. [PMID: 37759798 PMCID: PMC10526363 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabis has demonstrated anticonvulsant properties, and about thirty percent of epileptic patients do not have satisfactory seizure management with standard treatment and could potentially benefit from cannabis-based intervention. Here, we report the use of cannabinoids to treat pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced convulsions in a zebrafish model, their effect on gene expression, and a simple assay for assessing their uptake in zebrafish tissues. Using an optimized behavioral assay, we show that cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabinol (CBN) are effective at reducing seizures at low doses, with little evidence of sedation, and our novel HPLC assay indicates that CBC is effective with the lowest accumulation in larval tissues. All cannabinoids tested were effective at higher concentrations. Pharmacological manipulation of potential receptors demonstrates that Gpr55 partially mediates the anticonvulsant effects of CBD. Treatment of zebrafish larvae with endocannabinoids, such as 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide (AEA), altered larvae movement, and the expression of genes that regulate their metabolism was affected by phytocannabinoid treatment, highlighting the possibility that changes to endocannabinoid levels may represent one facet of the anticonvulsant effect of phytocannabinoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshni Kollipara
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1B 3V6, Canada; (R.K.); (C.T.)
| | - Evan Langille
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1B 3X7, Canada;
| | - Cameron Tobin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1B 3V6, Canada; (R.K.); (C.T.)
| | - Curtis R. French
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1B 3V6, Canada; (R.K.); (C.T.)
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Abdolrahmani M, Mirazi N, Hosseini A. Effect of Duvelisib, a Selective PI3K Inhibitor on Seizure Activity in Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Convulsions Animal Model. Neurosci Insights 2023; 18:26331055231198013. [PMID: 37720697 PMCID: PMC10503276 DOI: 10.1177/26331055231198013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases, which is caused by abnormal brain activity. A wide variety of studies have shown the importance of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway in epilepsy pathogenesis. Duvelisib (DUV) is a selective inhibitor of PI3K. The present study investigated the anticonvulsant potential of DUV in a rat model of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced convulsions. Male Wistar rats (200-250 g, 8 weeks old) were injected intraperitoneally (IP) with DUV at different doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, or vehicle 30 minutes prior to PTZ (70 mg/kg, IP) treatment. Based on Racine's scale, behavioral seizures were assessed. The results showed that pretreatment with DUV prolonged the seizure stages according to the Racine scale, significantly decreased the duration of general tonic-clonic seizure and reduced the number of myoclonic jerks (P < .05). In conclusion, we found that PI3K antagonist DUV significantly reduced PTZ-induced seizures, indicating that DUV exerts an anticonvulsant effect by inhibiting PI3K signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahnaz Abdolrahmani
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
| | - Naser Mirazi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
| | - Abdolkarim Hosseini
- Department of Animal Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
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26
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Martins TG, Soliman R, Cordero-Maldonado ML, Donato C, Ameli C, Mombaerts L, Skupin A, Peri F, Crawford AD. Seizure-induced increase in microglial cell population in the developing zebrafish brain. Epilepsy Res 2023; 195:107203. [PMID: 37572541 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2023.107203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder characterized by unprovoked and recurrent seizures, of which 60% are of unknown etiology. Recent studies implicate microglia in the pathophysiology of epilepsy. However, their role in this process, in particular following early-life seizures, remains poorly understood due in part to the lack of suitable experimental models allowing the in vivo imaging of microglial activity. Given the advantage of zebrafish larvae for minimally-invasive imaging approaches, we sought for the first time to describe the microglial responses after acute seizures in two different zebrafish larval models: a chemically-induced epileptic model by the systemic injection of kainate at 3 days post-fertilization, and the didys552 genetic epilepsy model, which carries a mutation in scn1lab that leads to spontaneous epileptiform discharges. Kainate-treated larvae exhibited transient brain damage as shown by increased numbers of apoptotic nuclei as early as one day post-injection, which was followed by an increase in the number of microglia in the brain. A similar microglial phenotype was also observed in didys552-/- mutants, suggesting that microglia numbers change in response to seizure-like activity in the brain. Interestingly, kainate-treated larvae also displayed a decreased seizure threshold towards subsequent pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures, as shown by higher locomotor and encephalographic activity in comparison with vehicle-injected larvae. These results are comparable to kainate-induced rodent seizure models and suggest the suitability of these zebrafish seizure models for future studies, in particular to elucidate the links between epileptogenesis and microglial dynamic changes after seizure induction in the developing brain, and to understand how these modulate seizure susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa G Martins
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Remon Soliman
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | | | - Cristina Donato
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Corrado Ameli
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Laurent Mombaerts
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Alexander Skupin
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; University of California, San Diego (UCSD), La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Francesca Peri
- Developmental Biology Group, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander D Crawford
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; Institute for Orphan Drug Discovery, Bremerhaven, Germany.
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27
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Miguel Sanz C, Martinez Navarro M, Caballero Diaz D, Sanchez-Elexpuru G, Di Donato V. Toward the use of novel alternative methods in epilepsy modeling and drug discovery. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1213969. [PMID: 37719765 PMCID: PMC10501616 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1213969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a chronic brain disease and, considering the amount of people affected of all ages worldwide, one of the most common neurological disorders. Over 20 novel antiseizure medications (ASMs) have been released since 1993, yet despite substantial advancements in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind epileptogenesis, over one-third of patients continue to be resistant to available therapies. This is partially explained by the fact that the majority of existing medicines only address seizure suppression rather than underlying processes. Understanding the origin of this neurological illness requires conducting human neurological and genetic studies. However, the limitation of sample sizes, ethical concerns, and the requirement for appropriate controls (many patients have already had anti-epileptic medication exposure) in human clinical trials underscore the requirement for supplemental models. So far, mammalian models of epilepsy have helped to shed light on the underlying causes of the condition, but the high costs related to breeding of the animals, low throughput, and regulatory restrictions on their research limit their usefulness in drug screening. Here, we present an overview of the state of art in epilepsy modeling describing gold standard animal models used up to date and review the possible alternatives for this research field. Our focus will be mainly on ex vivo, in vitro, and in vivo larval zebrafish models contributing to the 3R in epilepsy modeling and drug screening. We provide a description of pharmacological and genetic methods currently available but also on the possibilities offered by the continued development in gene editing methodologies, especially CRISPR/Cas9-based, for high-throughput disease modeling and anti-epileptic drugs testing.
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28
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Knap B, Nieoczym D, Kundap U, Kusio-Targonska K, Kukula-Koch W, Turski WA, Gawel K. Zebrafish as a robust preclinical platform for screening plant-derived drugs with anticonvulsant properties-a review. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1221665. [PMID: 37701853 PMCID: PMC10493295 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1221665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, selected plant sources have been explored for medicines to treat convulsions. This continues today, especially in countries with low-income rates and poor medical systems. However, in the low-income countries, plant extracts and isolated drugs are in high demand due to their good safety profiles. Preclinical studies on animal models of seizures/epilepsy have revealed the anticonvulsant and/or antiepileptogenic properties of, at least some, herb preparations or plant metabolites. Still, there is a significant number of plants known in traditional medicine that exert anticonvulsant activity but have not been evaluated on animal models. Zebrafish is recognized as a suitable in vivo model of epilepsy research and is increasingly used as a screening platform. In this review, the results of selected preclinical studies are summarized to provide credible information for the future development of effective screening methods for plant-derived antiseizure/antiepileptic therapeutics using zebrafish models. We compared zebrafish vs. rodent data to show the translational value of the former in epilepsy research. We also surveyed caveats in methodology. Finally, we proposed a pipeline for screening new anticonvulsant plant-derived drugs in zebrafish ("from tank to bedside and back again").
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz Knap
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Dorota Nieoczym
- Department of Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland
| | - Uday Kundap
- Canada East Spine Center, Saint John Regional Hospital, Horizon Health Center, Saint John, NB, Canada
| | - Kamila Kusio-Targonska
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Wirginia Kukula-Koch
- Department of Pharmacognosy with Medicinal Plants Garden, Medical University, Lublin, Poland
| | - Waldemar A. Turski
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Kinga Gawel
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
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29
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Nieoczym D, Banono NS, Stępnik K, Kaczor AA, Szybkowski P, Esguerra CV, Kukula-Koch W, Gawel K. In Silico Analysis, Anticonvulsant Activity, and Toxicity Evaluation of Schisandrin B in Zebrafish Larvae and Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12949. [PMID: 37629132 PMCID: PMC10455331 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study is to evaluate the anticonvulsant potential of schisandrin B, a main ingredient of Schisandra chinensis extracts. Schisandrin B showed anticonvulsant activity in the zebrafish larva pentylenetetrazole acute seizure assay but did not alter seizure thresholds in the intravenous pentylenetetrazole test in mice. Schisandrin B crosses the blood-brain barrier, which we confirmed in our in silico and in vivo analyses; however, the low level of its unbound fraction in the mouse brain tissue may explain the observed lack of anticonvulsant activity. Molecular docking revealed that the anticonvulsant activity of the compound in larval zebrafish might have been due to its binding to a benzodiazepine site within the GABAA receptor and/or the inhibition of the glutamate NMDA receptor. Although schisandrin B showed a beneficial anticonvulsant effect, toxicological studies revealed that it caused serious developmental impairment in zebrafish larvae, underscoring its teratogenic properties. Further detailed studies are needed to precisely identify the properties, pharmacological effects, and safety of schisandrin B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Nieoczym
- Department of Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
| | - Nancy Saana Banono
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalleen 21, Forskningsparken, 0349 Oslo, Norway; (N.S.B.); (C.V.E.)
| | - Katarzyna Stępnik
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Pl. M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 3/243, 20-031 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Agnieszka A. Kaczor
- Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances with Computer Modeling Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodzki St., 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Przemysław Szybkowski
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego St. 8b, 20-090 Lublin, Poland;
- Clinical Provincial Hospital No. 2 St. Jadwiga Krolowej in Rzeszow, Lwowska St. 60, 35-301 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Camila Vicencio Esguerra
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalleen 21, Forskningsparken, 0349 Oslo, Norway; (N.S.B.); (C.V.E.)
| | - Wirginia Kukula-Koch
- Department of Pharmacognosy with Medicinal Plants Garden, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki St. 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Kinga Gawel
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego St. 8b, 20-090 Lublin, Poland;
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30
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Hadjiabadi D, Soltesz I. From single-neuron dynamics to higher-order circuit motifs in control and pathological brain networks. J Physiol 2023; 601:3011-3024. [PMID: 35815823 PMCID: PMC10655857 DOI: 10.1113/jp282749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The convergence of advanced single-cell in vivo functional imaging techniques, computational modelling tools and graph-based network analytics has heralded new opportunities to study single-cell dynamics across large-scale networks, providing novel insights into principles of brain communication and pointing towards potential new strategies for treating neurological disorders. A major recent finding has been the identification of unusually richly connected hub cells that have capacity to synchronize networks and may also be critical in network dysfunction. While hub neurons are traditionally defined by measures that consider solely the number and strength of connections, novel higher-order graph analytics now enables the mining of massive networks for repeating subgraph patterns called motifs. As an illustration of the power offered by higher-order analysis of neuronal networks, we highlight how recent methodological advances uncovered a new functional cell type, the superhub, that is predicted to play a major role in regulating network dynamics. Finally, we discuss open questions that will be critical for assessing the importance of higher-order cellular-scale network analytics in understanding brain function in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darian Hadjiabadi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ivan Soltesz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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31
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Szep D, Dittrich B, Gorbe A, Szentpeteri JL, Aly N, Jin M, Budan F, Sik A. A comparative study to optimize experimental conditions of pentylenetetrazol and pilocarpine-induced epilepsy in zebrafish larvae. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288904. [PMID: 37506089 PMCID: PMC10381053 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A common way to investigate epilepsy and the effect of antiepileptic pharmaceuticals is to analyze the movement patterns of zebrafish larvae treated with different convulsants like pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), pilocarpine, etc. Many articles have been written on this topic, but the research methods and exact settings are not sufficiently defined in most. Here we designed and executed a series of experiments to optimize and standardize the zebrafish epilepsy model. We found that during the light and the dark trials, the zebrafish larvae moved significantly more in the light, independent of the treatment, both in PTZ and pilocarpine-treated and the control groups. As expected, zebrafish larvae treated with convulsants moved significantly more than the ones in the control group, although this difference was higher between the individuals treated with PTZ than pilocarpine. When examining the optimal observation time, we divided the half-hour period into 5-minute time intervals, and between these, the first 5 minutes were found to be the most different from the others. There were fewer significant differences in the total movement of larvae between the other time intervals. We also performed a linear regression analysis with the cumulative values of the distance moved during the time intervals that fit the straight line. In conclusion, we recommend 30 minutes of drug pretreatment followed by a 10-minute test in light conditions with a 5-minute accommodation time. Our result paves the way toward improved experimental designs using zebrafish to develop novel pharmaceutical approaches to treat epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Szep
- Institute of Transdisciplinary Discoveries, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Bianka Dittrich
- Institute of Transdisciplinary Discoveries, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Aniko Gorbe
- Institute of Transdisciplinary Discoveries, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Jozsef L Szentpeteri
- Institute of Transdisciplinary Discoveries, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Nour Aly
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Meng Jin
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Ji'nan, Shandong Province, P.R. China
| | - Ferenc Budan
- Institute of Transdisciplinary Discoveries, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Attila Sik
- Institute of Transdisciplinary Discoveries, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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32
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Benoit E, Lyons DG, Rihel J. Noradrenergic tone is not required for neuronal activity-induced rebound sleep in zebrafish. J Comp Physiol B 2023:10.1007/s00360-023-01504-6. [PMID: 37480493 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-023-01504-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Sleep pressure builds during wakefulness, but the mechanisms underlying this homeostatic process are poorly understood. One zebrafish model suggests that sleep pressure increases as a function of global neuronal activity, such as during sleep deprivation or acute exposure to drugs that induce widespread brain activation. Given that the arousal-promoting noradrenergic system is important for maintaining heightened neuronal activity during wakefulness, we hypothesised that genetic and pharmacological reduction of noradrenergic tone during drug-induced neuronal activation would dampen subsequent rebound sleep in zebrafish larvae. During stimulant drug treatment, dampening noradrenergic tone with the α2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine unexpectedly enhanced subsequent rebound sleep, whereas enhancing noradrenergic signalling with a cocktail of α1- and β-adrenoceptor agonists did not enhance rebound sleep. Similarly, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated elimination of the dopamine β-hydroxylase (dbh) gene, which encodes an enzyme required for noradrenalin synthesis, enhanced baseline sleep in larvae but did not prevent additional rebound sleep following acute induction of neuronal activity. Across all drug conditions, c-fos expression immediately after drug exposure correlated strongly with the amount of induced rebound sleep, but was inversely related to the strength of noradrenergic modulatory tone. These results are consistent with a model in which increases in neuronal activity, as reflected by brain-wide levels of c-fos induction, drive a sleep pressure signal that promotes rebound sleep independently of noradrenergic tone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Benoit
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Declan G Lyons
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Jason Rihel
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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33
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Turrini L, Roschi L, de Vito G, Pavone FS, Vanzi F. Imaging Approaches to Investigate Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Brain Disease in Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9833. [PMID: 37372981 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24129833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish has become an essential model organism in modern biomedical research. Owing to its distinctive features and high grade of genomic homology with humans, it is increasingly employed to model diverse neurological disorders, both through genetic and pharmacological intervention. The use of this vertebrate model has recently enhanced research efforts, both in the optical technology and in the bioengineering fields, aiming at developing novel tools for high spatiotemporal resolution imaging. Indeed, the ever-increasing use of imaging methods, often combined with fluorescent reporters or tags, enable a unique chance for translational neuroscience research at different levels, ranging from behavior (whole-organism) to functional aspects (whole-brain) and down to structural features (cellular and subcellular). In this work, we present a review of the imaging approaches employed to investigate pathophysiological mechanisms underlying functional, structural, and behavioral alterations of human neurological diseases modeled in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lapo Turrini
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Roschi
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe de Vito
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
- Interdepartmental Centre for the Study of Complex Dynamics, University of Florence, Via Giovanni Sansone 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Francesco Saverio Pavone
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence, Via Giovanni Sansone 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- National Institute of Optics, National Research Council, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Francesco Vanzi
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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34
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Gschwind T, Zeine A, Raikov I, Markowitz JE, Gillis WF, Felong S, Isom LL, Datta SR, Soltesz I. Hidden behavioral fingerprints in epilepsy. Neuron 2023; 111:1440-1452.e5. [PMID: 36841241 PMCID: PMC10164063 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Epilepsy is a major disorder affecting millions of people. Although modern electrophysiological and imaging approaches provide high-resolution access to the multi-scale brain circuit malfunctions in epilepsy, our understanding of how behavior changes with epilepsy has remained rudimentary. As a result, screening for new therapies for children and adults with devastating epilepsies still relies on the inherently subjective, semi-quantitative assessment of a handful of pre-selected behavioral signs of epilepsy in animal models. Here, we use machine learning-assisted 3D video analysis to reveal hidden behavioral phenotypes in mice with acquired and genetic epilepsies and track their alterations during post-insult epileptogenesis and in response to anti-epileptic drugs. These results show the persistent reconfiguration of behavioral fingerprints in epilepsy and indicate that they can be employed for rapid, automated anti-epileptic drug testing at scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tilo Gschwind
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Ayman Zeine
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ivan Raikov
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Winthrop F Gillis
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sylwia Felong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lori L Isom
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Ivan Soltesz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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35
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Hageter J, Starkey J, Horstick EJ. Thalamic regulation of a visual critical period and motor behavior. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112287. [PMID: 36952349 PMCID: PMC10514242 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
During the visual critical period (CP), sensory experience refines the structure and function of visual circuits. The basis of this plasticity was long thought to be limited to cortical circuits, but recently described thalamic plasticity challenges this dogma and demonstrates greater complexity underlying visual plasticity. Yet how visual experience modulates thalamic neurons or how the thalamus modulates CP timing is incompletely understood. Using a larval zebrafish, thalamus-centric ocular dominance model, we show functional changes in the thalamus and a role of inhibitory signaling to establish CP timing using a combination of functional imaging, optogenetics, and pharmacology. Hemisphere-specific changes in genetically defined thalamic neurons correlate with changes in visuomotor behavior, establishing a role of thalamic plasticity in modulating motor performance. Our work demonstrates that visual plasticity is broadly conserved and that visual experience leads to neuron-level functional changes in the thalamus that require inhibitory signaling to establish critical period timing.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Hageter
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Jacob Starkey
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Eric J Horstick
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA; Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
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36
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D'Amora M, Galgani A, Marchese M, Tantussi F, Faraguna U, De Angelis F, Giorgi FS. Zebrafish as an Innovative Tool for Epilepsy Modeling: State of the Art and Potential Future Directions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097702. [PMID: 37175408 PMCID: PMC10177843 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This article discusses the potential of Zebrafish (ZF) (Danio Rerio), as a model for epilepsy research. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder affecting both children and adults, and many aspects of this disease are still poorly understood. In vivo and in vitro models derived from rodents are the most widely used for studying both epilepsy pathophysiology and novel drug treatments. However, researchers have recently obtained several valuable insights into these two fields of investigation by studying ZF. Despite the relatively simple brain structure of these animals, researchers can collect large amounts of data in a much shorter period and at lower costs compared to classical rodent models. This is particularly useful when a large number of candidate antiseizure drugs need to be screened, and ethical issues are minimized. In ZF, seizures have been induced through a variety of chemoconvulsants, primarily pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), kainic acid (KA), and pilocarpine. Furthermore, ZF can be easily genetically modified to test specific aspects of monogenic forms of human epilepsy, as well as to discover potential convulsive phenotypes in monogenic mutants. The article reports on the state-of-the-art and potential new fields of application of ZF research, including its potential role in revealing epileptogenic mechanisms, rather than merely assessing iatrogenic acute seizure modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta D'Amora
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56125 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Galgani
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Marchese
- Molecular Medicine and Neurobiology-ZebraLab, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Ugo Faraguna
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Filippo Sean Giorgi
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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37
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Wiśniewski K, Antonowski T, Juranek J, Podlasz P, Wojtkiewicz J. Antiepileptic Properties of Scyllo-Inositol on Pentylenetetrazol-Induced Seizures. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087598. [PMID: 37108760 PMCID: PMC10144795 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy, with about 70 million affected people worldwide, is one of the biggest challenges of medicine today. It is estimated that about one-third of epileptic patients receive inadequate treatment. Inositols have proved effective in many disorders; hence, in the current study, we tested potential antiepileptic properties of scyllo-inositol (SCI)-one of the most common commercially available inositols-in zebrafish larvae with pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures. First, we studied the general effect of SCI on zebrafish motility, and then we tested SCI antiepileptic properties over short (1 h) and long (120 h) exposure protocols. Our results demonstrated that SCI alone does not reduce zebrafish motility regardless of the dose. We also observed that short-term exposure to SCI groups reduced PTZ-treated larva motility compared to controls (p < 0.05). In contrast, prolonged exposure did not produce similar results, likely due to the insufficient concentration of SCI given. Our results highlight the potential of SCI use in epilepsy treatment and warrant further clinical studies with inositols as potential seizure-reducing drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karol Wiśniewski
- Students' Scientific Club of Pathophysiologists, Department of Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Tomasz Antonowski
- Department of Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Judyta Juranek
- Department of Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Piotr Podlasz
- Department of Pathophysiology, Forensic Veterinary Medicine and Administration, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Joanna Wojtkiewicz
- Department of Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland
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Mohan Prakash RL, Hwang DH, Asirvatham RD, Hong IH, Kang C, Kim E. Identification of cardiorespiratory toxic components of Nemopilema nomurai jellyfish venom using sequential chromatography methods. Toxicon 2023; 229:107126. [PMID: 37054994 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Jellyfish stings pose a significant threat to humans in coastal areas worldwide, with venomous jellyfish species stinging millions of individuals annually. Nemopilema nomurai is one of the largest jellyfish species, with numerous tentacles rich in nematocysts. N. nomurai venom (NnV) is a complex mixture of proteins, peptides, and small molecules that serve as both prey-capture and defense mechanisms. Yet, the molecular identity of its cardiorespiratory and neuronal toxic components of NnV has not been clearly identified yet. Here, we isolated a cardiotoxic fraction, NnTP (Nemopilema nomurai toxic peak), from NnV using chromatographic methods. In the zebrafish model, NnTP exhibited strong cardiorespiratory and moderate neurotoxic effects. LC-MS/MS analysis identified 23 toxin homologs, including toxic proteinases, ion channel toxins, and neurotoxins. The toxins demonstrated a synergistic effect on the zebrafish, leading to altered swimming behavior, hemorrhage in the cardiorespiratory region, and histopathological changes in organs such as the heart, gill, and brain. These findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the cardiorespiratory and neurotoxic effects of NnV, which could be useful in developing therapeutic strategies for venomous jellyfish stings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Du Hyeon Hwang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, South Korea; Institute of Animal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, South Korea.
| | - Ravi Deva Asirvatham
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, South Korea.
| | - Il-Hwa Hong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, South Korea; Institute of Animal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, South Korea.
| | - Changkeun Kang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, South Korea; Institute of Animal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, South Korea.
| | - Euikyung Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, South Korea; Institute of Animal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, South Korea.
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Yang Q, Deng P, Xing D, Liu H, Shi F, Hu L, Zou X, Nie H, Zuo J, Zhuang Z, Pan M, Chen J, Li G. Developmental Neurotoxicity of Difenoconazole in Zebrafish Embryos. TOXICS 2023; 11:353. [PMID: 37112580 PMCID: PMC10142703 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11040353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Difenoconazole is a type of triazole fungicide that is widely used in the treatment of plant diseases. Triazole fungicides have been shown in several studies to impair the development of the nervous system in zebrafish embryos. There is still little known about difenoconazole-induced neurotoxicity in fish. In this study, zebrafish embryos were exposed to 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/L of difenoconazole solution until 120 h post-fertilization (hpf). The difenoconazole-exposed groups showed concentration-dependent inhibitory tendencies in heart rate and body length. Malformation rate and spontaneous movement of zebrafish embryos increased, and the locomotor activity decreased in the highest exposure group. The content of dopamine and acetylcholine was reduced significantly in difenoconazole treatment groups. The activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was also increased after treatment with difenoconazole. Furthermore, the expression of genes involved in neurodevelopment was remarkably altered, which corresponded with the alterations of neurotransmitter content and AChE activity. These results indicated that difenoconazole might affect the development of the nervous system through influencing neurotransmitter levels, enzyme activity, and the expression of neural-related genes, ultimately leading to abnormal locomotor activity in the early stages of zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Yang
- Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources & Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Ping Deng
- Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Dan Xing
- Dadu River Hydropower Development Co., Ltd., Chengdu 610016, China
| | - Haoling Liu
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Fang Shi
- Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources & Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Lian Hu
- Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources & Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Xi Zou
- Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources & Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Hongyan Nie
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Junli Zuo
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Zimeng Zhuang
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Meiqi Pan
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Juan Chen
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Changsha Xinjia Bio-Engineering Co., Ltd., Changsha 410000, China
| | - Guangyu Li
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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40
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Veenstra-VanderWeele J, O'Reilly KC, Dennis MY, Uribe-Salazar JM, Amaral DG. Translational Neuroscience Approaches to Understanding Autism. Am J Psychiatry 2023; 180:265-276. [PMID: 37002692 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
While autism spectrum disorder affects nearly 2% of children in the United States, little is known with certainty concerning the etiologies and brain systems involved. This is due, in part, to the substantial heterogeneity in the presentation of the core symptoms of autism as well as the great number of co-occurring conditions that are common in autistic individuals. Understanding the neurobiology of autism is further hampered by the limited availability of postmortem brain tissue to determine the cellular and molecular alterations that take place in the autistic brain. Animal models therefore provide great translational value in helping to define the neural systems that constitute the social brain and mediate repetitive behaviors or interests. If they are based on genetic or environmental factors that contribute to autism, organisms from flies to nonhuman primates may serve as models of the neural structure or function of the autistic brain. Ultimately, successful models can also be employed to test the safety and effectiveness of potential therapeutics. This is an overview of the major animal species that are currently used as models of autism, including an appraisal of the advantages and limitations of each.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York (Veenstra-VanderWeele, O'Reilly); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Genome Center (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar), MIND Institute (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar, Amaral), and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Amaral), University of California, Davis
| | - Kally C O'Reilly
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York (Veenstra-VanderWeele, O'Reilly); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Genome Center (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar), MIND Institute (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar, Amaral), and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Amaral), University of California, Davis
| | - Megan Y Dennis
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York (Veenstra-VanderWeele, O'Reilly); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Genome Center (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar), MIND Institute (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar, Amaral), and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Amaral), University of California, Davis
| | - José M Uribe-Salazar
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York (Veenstra-VanderWeele, O'Reilly); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Genome Center (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar), MIND Institute (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar, Amaral), and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Amaral), University of California, Davis
| | - David G Amaral
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York (Veenstra-VanderWeele, O'Reilly); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Genome Center (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar), MIND Institute (Dennis, Uribe-Salazar, Amaral), and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Amaral), University of California, Davis
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Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) causes seizure activity in larval zebrafish via antagonism of γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor α1β2γ2. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:1355-1365. [PMID: 36912926 PMCID: PMC10110628 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03475-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine, or Royal Demolition Explosive (RDX), is a major component of plastic explosives such as C-4. Acute exposures from intentional or accidental ingestion are a documented clinical concern, especially among young male U.S. service members in the armed forces. When ingested in large enough quantity, RDX causes tonic-clonic seizures. Previous in silico and in vitro experiments predict that RDX causes seizures by inhibiting α1β2γ2 γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor-mediated chloride currents. To determine whether this mechanism translates in vivo, we established a larval zebrafish model of RDX-induced seizures. After a 3 h of exposure to 300 µM RDX, larval zebrafish exhibited a significant increase in motility in comparison to vehicle controls. Researchers blinded to experimental group manually scored a 20-min segment of video starting at 3.5 h post-exposure and found significant seizure behavior that correlated with automated seizure scores. Midazolam (MDZ), an nonselective GABAAR positive allosteric modulator (PAM), and a combination of Zolpidem (α1 selective PAM) and compound 2-261 (β2/3-selective PAM) were effective in mitigating RDX-triggered behavioral and electrographic seizures. These findings confirm that RDX induces seizure activity via inhibition of the α1β2γ2 GABAAR and support the use of GABAAR-targeted anti-seizure drugs for the treatment of RDX-induced seizures.
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A solid dispersion of Citrus reticulata peel biowaste as an effective antiepileptic: Sustainable approach toward value addition and agro-industrial waste valorisation. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2023.104238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
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Liang W, Wang J, Sui J, Yun F, Shen Y, Zhou J, Wu Y, Shen D, Zhang Q. Inflammation as a target for the treatment of fever-associated epilepsy in zebrafish larvae. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 116:109802. [PMID: 36738682 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation is considered to be involved in epileptogenesis. However, the relationship between fever and inflammation as well as the mechanisms of fever in the occurrence and development of childhood epilepsy need further investigation. Here, we described an in vivo model of hyperthermia-induced seizures in zebrafish larvae with pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) exposure. Hyperthermia increased the susceptibility to seizure and the production of pro-inflammatory factors in PTZ-induced zebrafish larvae. As mutations in GABRG2 have been associated with fever-associated epilepsy, we used a Tg(hGABRG2F343L) zebrafish model expressing mutant human GABRG2(F343L) to further investigate the involvement of inflammation in fever-induced seizures. Our data indicated that hyperthermia also increased the locomotor activity in Tg(hGABRG2F343L) zebrafish larvae. Although the production of pro-inflammatory factors was upregulated by GABRG2 mutation, hyperthermia did not change the production of pro-inflammatory factors significantly. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation was sufficient to increase the locomotor activity in zebrafish larvae, suggesting that inflammation contributed to fever-associated epilepsy. The expression of GABRG2 was increased with PTZ induction, especially at a higher temperature. Moreover, inhibition of inflammation by dexamethasone (DEX) reduced the excitability of zebrafish larvae, especially at a higher temperature. Finally, in vitro experiments proved that LPS stimulation increased the production of IL-1β and IL-6 in GABRG2(F343L) transfected cells. Collectively, our study demonstrated that neuroinflammation was induced in febrile seizures, and the increased expression of IL-1β and IL-6 might be responsible for epileptogenesis. The vicious cycle between fever and inflammation might induce seizure onset, and anti-inflammatory strategies might be a potential treatment for fever-associated epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenpeng Liang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jiahui Sui
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Feng Yun
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yuntian Shen
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Youjia Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Dingding Shen
- Department of Neurology & Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong University, Nantong, China.
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44
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Sun S, Wang H. Clocking Epilepsies: A Chronomodulated Strategy-Based Therapy for Rhythmic Seizures. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044223. [PMID: 36835631 PMCID: PMC9962262 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by hypersynchronous recurrent neuronal activities and seizures, as well as loss of muscular control and sometimes awareness. Clinically, seizures have been reported to display daily variations. Conversely, circadian misalignment and circadian clock gene variants contribute to epileptic pathogenesis. Elucidation of the genetic bases of epilepsy is of great importance because the genetic variability of the patients affects the efficacies of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). For this narrative review, we compiled 661 epilepsy-related genes from the PHGKB and OMIM databases and classified them into 3 groups: driver genes, passenger genes, and undetermined genes. We discuss the potential roles of some epilepsy driver genes based on GO and KEGG analyses, the circadian rhythmicity of human and animal epilepsies, and the mutual effects between epilepsy and sleep. We review the advantages and challenges of rodents and zebrafish as animal models for epileptic studies. Finally, we posit chronomodulated strategy-based chronotherapy for rhythmic epilepsies, integrating several lines of investigation for unraveling circadian mechanisms underpinning epileptogenesis, chronopharmacokinetic and chronopharmacodynamic examinations of AEDs, as well as mathematical/computational modeling to help develop time-of-day-specific AED dosing schedules for rhythmic epilepsy patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Sun
- Center for Circadian Clocks, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Han Wang
- Center for Circadian Clocks, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +86-186-0512-8971
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Bertoncello KT, Bonan CD. The Effect of Adenosine Signaling on Memory Impairment Induced by Pentylenetetrazole in Zebrafish. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:1889-1899. [PMID: 36729312 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-023-03867-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Epilepsy is characterized by the manifestation of spontaneous and recurrent seizures. The high prevalence of comorbidities associated with epilepsy, such as cognitive dysfunction, affects the patients quality of life. Adenosine signaling modulation might be an effective alternative to control seizures and epilepsy-associated comorbidities. This study aimed to verify the role of adenosine modulation on the seizure development and cognitive impairment induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in zebrafish. At first, animals were submitted to a training session in the inhibitory avoidance test and, after 10 min, they received an intraperitoneal injection of valproate, adenosine A1 receptor agonist cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), adenosine A1 receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX), adenosine A2A receptor antagonist ZM 241385, adenosine deaminase inhibitor erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nony1)-adenine hydrochloride (EHNA) or the nucleoside transporter inhibitor dipyridamole. Thirty min after the intraperitoneal injection, the animals were exposed to 7.5 mM PTZ for 10 min, where they were evaluated for latency to reach the seizure stages (I, II, and III). Finally, 24 h after the training session, the animals were submitted to the inhibitory avoidance test to verify their cognitive performance during the test session. Valproate, CPA, and EHNA showed antiseizure effects and prevented the memory impairment induced by PTZ exposure. DPCPX, ZM 241385, and dipyridamole pretreatments caused no changes in seizure development; however, these drugs prevented memory impairment without altering locomotion. Our results reinforce the antiseizure effects of adenosine signaling and support the idea that the involvement of adenosine in memory processes may be a target for preventive strategies against cognitive impairment associated with epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanandra Taisa Bertoncello
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Carla Denise Bonan
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. .,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Üstündağ FD, Ünal İ, Üstündağ ÜV, Cansız D, Beler M, Alturfan AA, Tiber PM, Emekli-Alturfan E. Morphine ameliorates pentylenetetrazole-induced locomotor pattern in zebrafish embryos; mechanism involving regulation of opioid receptors, suppression of oxidative stress, and inflammation in epileptogenesis. Toxicol Mech Methods 2023; 33:151-160. [PMID: 35866229 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2022.2105182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is becoming an increasingly important model in epilepsy research. Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) is a convulsant agent that induces epileptic seizure-like state in zebrafish and zebrafish embryos and is most commonly used in antiepileptic drug discovery research to evaluate seizure mechanisms. Classical antiepileptic drugs, such as valproic acid (VPA) reduce PTZ-induced epileptiform activities. Opioid system has been suggested to play a role in epileptogenesis. The aim of our study is to determine the effects of morphine in PTZ-induced epilepsy model in zebrafish embryos by evaluating locomotor activity and parameters related to oxidant-antioxidant status, inflammation, and cholinergic system as well as markers of neuronal activity c-fos, bdnf, and opioid receptors. Zebrafish embryos at 72 hpf were exposed to PTZ (20 mM), VPA (1 mM), and Morphine (MOR) (100 µM). MOR and VPA pretreated groups were treated with either MOR (MOR + PTZ) or VPA (VPA + PTZ) for 20 min before PTZ expoure. Locomotor activity was quantified as total distance moved (mm), average speed (mm/sec) and exploration rate (%) and analyzed using ToxTrac tracking programme. Oxidant-antioxidant system parameters, acetylcholinesterase activity, and sialic acid leves were evaluated using spectrophotometric methods. The expression of c-fos, bdnf, oprm1, and oprd1 were evaluated by RT-PCR. MOR pretreatment ameliorated PTZ-induced locomotor pattern as evidenced by improved average speed, exploration rate and distance traveled. We report the restoration of inflammatory and oxidant-antioxidant system parameters, c-fos, bdnf, and opioid receptor oprm1 as the possible mechanisms involved in the ameliorative effect of MOR against PTZ-induced epileptogenic process in zebrafish embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fümet Duygu Üstündağ
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Health Sciences, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - İsmail Ünal
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Health Sciences, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ünsal Veli Üstündağ
- Faculty of Medicine, Medical Biochemistry, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Derya Cansız
- Faculty of Medicine, Medical Biochemistry, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Merih Beler
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Health Sciences, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - A Ata Alturfan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Pınar Mega Tiber
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ebru Emekli-Alturfan
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Skiba A, Kozioł E, Luca SV, Budzyńska B, Podlasz P, Van Der Ent W, Shojaeinia E, Esguerra CV, Nour M, Marcourt L, Wolfender JL, Skalicka-Woźniak K. Evaluation of the Antiseizure Activity of Endemic Plant Halfordia kendack Guillaumin and Its Main Constituent, Halfordin, on a Zebrafish Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-Induced Seizure Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032598. [PMID: 36768918 PMCID: PMC9916433 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a neurological disease that burdens over 50 million people worldwide. Despite the considerable number of available antiseizure medications, it is estimated that around 30% of patients still do not respond to available treatment. Herbal medicines represent a promising source of new antiseizure drugs. This study aimed to identify new drug lead candidates with antiseizure activity from endemic plants of New Caledonia. The crude methanolic leaf extract of Halfordia kendack Guillaumin (Rutaceae) significantly decreased (75 μg/mL and 100 μg/mL) seizure-like behaviour compared to sodium valproate in a zebrafish pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced acute seizure model. The main coumarin compound, halfordin, was subsequently isolated by liquid-liquid chromatography and subjected to locomotor, local field potential (LFP), and gene expression assays. Halfordin (20 μM) significantly decreased convulsive-like behaviour in the locomotor and LFP analysis (by 41.4% and 60%, respectively) and significantly modulated galn, and penka gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianna Skiba
- Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (K.S.-W.); Tel.: +48-81448-7093 (A.S.); +48-81448-7089 (K.S.-W.)
| | - Ewelina Kozioł
- Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Simon Vlad Luca
- Biothermodynamics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Barbara Budzyńska
- Independent Laboratory of Behavioral Studies, Medical University, Chodzki 4a, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Piotr Podlasz
- Department of Pathophysiology, Forensic Veterinary and Administration, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Wietske Van Der Ent
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), University of Oslo, Forskningsparken, Gaustadalleén 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Elham Shojaeinia
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), University of Oslo, Forskningsparken, Gaustadalleén 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Camila V. Esguerra
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), University of Oslo, Forskningsparken, Gaustadalleén 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Pharmacy, Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Blindern, P.O. Box 1068, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Mohammed Nour
- Institut des Sciences Exactes et Appliquées (ISEA)-EA 4243, France University of New Caledonia, 98851 Nouméa, New Caledonia, France
| | - Laurence Marcourt
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Luc Wolfender
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Krystyna Skalicka-Woźniak
- Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (K.S.-W.); Tel.: +48-81448-7093 (A.S.); +48-81448-7089 (K.S.-W.)
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Mrinalini R, Tamilanban T, Naveen Kumar V, Manasa K. Zebrafish - The Neurobehavioural Model in Trend. Neuroscience 2022; 520:95-118. [PMID: 36549602 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is currently in vogue as a prevalently used experimental model for studies concerning neurobehavioural disorders and associated fields. Since the 1960s, this model has succeeded in breaking most barriers faced in the hunt for an experimental model. From its appearance to its high parity with human beings genetically, this model renders itself as an advantageous experimental lab animal. Neurobehavioural disorders have always posed an arduous task in terms of their detection as well as in determining their exact etiology. They are still, in most cases, diseases of interest for inventing or discovering novel pharmacological interventions. Thus, the need for a harbinger experimental model for studying neurobehaviours is escalating. Ensuring the same model is used for studying several neuro-studies conserves the results from inter-species variations. For this, we need a model that satisfies all the pre-requisite conditions to be made the final choice of model for neurobehavioural studies. This review recapitulates the progress of zebrafish as an experimental model with its most up-to-the-minute advances in the area. Various tests, assays, and responses employed using zebrafish in screening neuroactive drugs have been tabulated effectively. The tools, techniques, protocols, and apparatuses that bolster zebrafish studies are discussed. The probable research that can be done using zebrafish has also been briefly outlined. The various breeding and maintenance methods employed, along with the information on various strains available and most commonly used, are also elaborated upon, supplementing Zebrafish's use in neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Mrinalini
- Department of Pharmacology, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRMIST, Kattankulathur, India - 603203
| | - T Tamilanban
- Department of Pharmacology, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRMIST, Kattankulathur, India - 603203
| | - V Naveen Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRMIST, Kattankulathur, India - 603203.
| | - K Manasa
- Department of Pharmacology, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRMIST, Kattankulathur, India - 603203
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Burton EA, Burgess HA. A Critical Review of Zebrafish Neurological Disease Models-2. Application: Functional and Neuroanatomical Phenotyping Strategies and Chemical Screens. OXFORD OPEN NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 2:kvac019. [PMID: 37637775 PMCID: PMC10455049 DOI: 10.1093/oons/kvac019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Extensive phylogenetic conservation of molecular pathways and neuroanatomical structures, associated with efficient methods for genetic modification, have been exploited increasingly to generate zebrafish models of human disease. A range of powerful approaches can be deployed to analyze these models with the ultimate goal of elucidating pathogenic mechanisms and accelerating efforts to find effective treatments. Unbiased neurobehavioral assays can provide readouts that parallel clinical abnormalities found in patients, although some of the most useful assays quantify responses that are not routinely evaluated clinically, and differences between zebrafish and human brains preclude expression of the full range of neurobehavioral abnormalities seen in disease. Imaging approaches that use fluorescent reporters and standardized brain atlases coupled with quantitative measurements of brain structure offer an unbiased means to link experimental manipulations to changes in neural architecture. Together, quantitative structural and functional analyses allow dissection of the cellular and physiological basis underlying neurological phenotypes. These approaches can be used as outputs in chemical modifier screens, which provide a major opportunity to exploit zebrafish models to identify small molecule modulators of pathophysiology that may be informative for understanding disease mechanisms and possible therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward A Burton
- Pittsburgh Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA
| | - Harold A Burgess
- Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Barker-Haliski M, Pitsch J, Galanopoulou AS, Köhling R. A companion to the preclinical common data elements for phenotyping seizures and epilepsy in rodent models. A report of the TASK3-WG1C: Phenotyping working group of the ILAE/AES joint translational task force. Epilepsia Open 2022. [PMID: 36461665 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by spontaneous seizures and behavioral comorbidities. The underlying mechanisms of seizures and epilepsy across various syndromes lead to diverse clinical presentation and features. Similarly, animal models of epilepsy arise from numerous dissimilar inciting events. Preclinical seizure and epilepsy models can be evoked through many different protocols, leaving the phenotypic reporting subject to diverse interpretations. Serendipity can also play an outsized role in uncovering novel drivers of seizures or epilepsy, with some investigators even stumbling into epilepsy research because of a new genetic cross or unintentional drug effect. The heightened emphasis on rigor and reproducibility in preclinical research, including that which is conducted for epilepsy, underscores the need for standardized phenotyping strategies. To address this goal as part of the TASK3-WG1C Working Group of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE)/American Epilepsy Society (AES) Joint Translational Task Force, we developed a case report form (CRF) to describe the common data elements (CDEs) necessary for the phenotyping of seizure-like behaviors in rodents. This companion manuscript describes the use of the proposed CDEs and CRF for the visual, behavioral phenotyping of seizure-like behaviors. These phenotyping CDEs and accompanying CRF can be used in parallel with video-electroencephalography (EEG) studies or as a first visual screen to determine whether a model manifests seizure-like behaviors before utilizing more specialized diagnostic tests, like video-EEG. Systematic logging of seizure-like behaviors may help identify models that could benefit from more specialized diagnostic tests to determine whether these are epileptic seizures, such as video-EEG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Barker-Haliski
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Julika Pitsch
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Aristea S Galanopoulou
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Isabelle Rapin Division of Child Neurology, Laboratory of Developmental Epilepsy, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
- Dominick P Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Isabelle Rapin Division of Child Neurology, Laboratory of Developmental Epilepsy, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Rüdiger Köhling
- Oscar-Langendorff-Institut für Physiologie, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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