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Ni A, Fang L, Xi M, Li J, Qian Q, Wang Z, Wang X, Wang H, Yan J. Neurotoxic effects of 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate exposure on zebrafish larvae: Insight into inflammation-driven changes in early motor behavior. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 915:170131. [PMID: 38246379 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170131] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The extensive utilization and potential adverse impacts of the replacement flame-retardant 2-Ethylhexyl Diphenyl Phosphate (EHDPP) have raised concerns. Currently, there is limited knowledge regarding the developmental, neurological, and immunotoxic consequences of EHDPP exposure, as well as its potential behavioral outcomes. In this study, we undertook a comprehensive examination and characterization of the toxic effects over the EHDPP concentration range of 14-1400 nM. Our findings unveiled that EHDPP, even at an environmentally relevant concentration of 14 nM, exhibited excitatory neurotoxicity, eliciting a 13.5 % increase in the swimming speed of zebrafish larvae. This effect might be attributed to the potential influence of EHDPP on the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which, in turn, mediated anxiety-like behavior in the zebrafish larvae. Conversely, sublethal dose EHDPP (1400 nM) exposure significantly suppressed the swimming vigor of zebrafish larvae, accompanied by morphological changes, abnormal behaviors, and alterations in intracerebral molecules. Transcriptomics revealed the underlying mechanism. The utilization of pathway inhibitors reshaped the inflammatory homeostasis and alleviated the toxicity induced by EHDPP exposure, anchoring the pivotal role played by the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in EHDPP-induced adverse changes in zebrafish behavior and neurophysiology. This study observed the detrimental effects of EHDPP on fish sustainability at environmentally relevant concentrations, highlighting the practical significance for EHDPP risk management. Elucidating the toxic mechanisms of EHDPP will contribute to a deeper comprehension of how environmental pollutants can intricately influence human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anyu Ni
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Lu Fang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Miaocui Xi
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Jinyun Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Qiuhui Qian
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Zejun Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Xuedong Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Huili Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China.
| | - Jin Yan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China.
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2
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Lopez Soriano V, Dueñas Rey A, Mukherjee R, Coppieters F, Bauwens M, Willaert A, De Baere E. Multi-omics analysis in human retina uncovers ultraconserved cis-regulatory elements at rare eye disease loci. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1600. [PMID: 38383453 PMCID: PMC10881467 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45381-1] [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: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Cross-species genome comparisons have revealed a substantial number of ultraconserved non-coding elements (UCNEs). Several of these elements have proved to be essential tissue- and cell type-specific cis-regulators of developmental gene expression. Here, we characterize a set of UCNEs as candidate CREs (cCREs) during retinal development and evaluate the contribution of their genomic variation to rare eye diseases, for which pathogenic non-coding variants are emerging. Integration of bulk and single-cell retinal multi-omics data reveals 594 genes under potential cis-regulatory control of UCNEs, of which 45 are implicated in rare eye disease. Mining of candidate cis-regulatory UCNEs in WGS data derived from the rare eye disease cohort of Genomics England reveals 178 ultrarare variants within 84 UCNEs associated with 29 disease genes. Overall, we provide a comprehensive annotation of ultraconserved non-coding regions acting as cCREs during retinal development which can be targets of non-coding variation underlying rare eye diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Lopez Soriano
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alfredo Dueñas Rey
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Frauke Coppieters
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Miriam Bauwens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Andy Willaert
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elfride De Baere
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
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3
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Lee HS, Jang S, Eom Y, Kim KT. Comparing Ocular Toxicity of Legacy and Alternative Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Zebrafish Larvae. TOXICS 2023; 11:1021. [PMID: 38133422 PMCID: PMC10747198 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11121021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Studies comparing the ocular toxicity potential between legacy and alternative PFAS are lacking. To address this research gap, zebrafish larvae were exposed to both legacy PFAS (i.e., perfluorooctanesulfonic acid [PFOS] and perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA]) and their corresponding alternatives (i.e., perfluorobutanesulfonic acid [PFBS] and perfluorobutanoic acid [PFBA]). Alterations in their visual behaviors, such as phototactic and optomotor responses (OMR), were assessed at sublethal concentrations. Gene expression variations in visual function-associated pathways were also measured. Visual behavioral assessment revealed that PFOS exposure resulted in concentration-dependent reductions in phototactic responses at 10-1000 μg/L, with PFOA exerting reduction effects only at 100 mg/L. However, their two alternatives had no effect at all tested concentrations. Following an improved contrast-OMR (C-OMR) assessment, PFOS decreased the OMR to a water flow stimulus at 10, 100, and 1000 μg/L. The gene expression analysis revealed that PFOS exposure markedly downregulated most genes involved in the opsins in the photoreceptor and phototransduction cascade, which explains the observed visual behavior changes well. Our findings indicate that PFOS is the most likely PFAS to cause visual toxicity, with PFOA present but less likely, and their substitutes, PFBS and PFBA, cannot be classified as visually toxic to zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-seul Lee
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea
| | - Soogyeong Jang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngsub Eom
- Zebrafish Translational Medical Research Center, Korea University, Ansan 15355, Republic of Korea
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan 15355, Republic of Korea
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki-Tae Kim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea
- Department of Environmental Energy Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea
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4
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von Hellfeld R, Gade C, Baumann L, Leist M, Braunbeck T. The sensitivity of the zebrafish embryo coiling assay for the detection of neurotoxicity by compounds with diverse modes of action. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27662-2. [PMID: 37213015 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27662-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
In the aim to determine neurotoxicity, new methods are being validated, including tests and test batteries comprising in vitro and in vivo approaches. Alternative test models such as the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo have received increasing attention, with minor modifications of the fish embryo toxicity test (FET; OECD TG 236) as a tool to assess behavioral endpoints related to neurotoxicity during early developmental stages. The spontaneous tail movement assay, also known as coiling assay, assesses the development of random movement into complex behavioral patterns and has proven sensitive to acetylcholine esterase inhibitors at sublethal concentrations. The present study explored the sensitivity of the assay to neurotoxicants with other modes of action (MoAs). Here, five compounds with diverse MoAs were tested at sublethal concentrations: acrylamide, carbaryl, hexachlorophene, ibuprofen, and rotenone. While carbaryl, hexachlorophene, and rotenone consistently induced severe behavioral alterations by ~ 30 h post fertilization (hpf), acrylamide and ibuprofen expressed time- and/or concentration-dependent effects. At 37-38 hpf, additional observations revealed behavioral changes during dark phases with a strict concentration-dependency. The study documented the applicability of the coiling assay to MoA-dependent behavioral alterations at sublethal concentrations, underlining its potential as a component of a neurotoxicity test battery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca von Hellfeld
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UK, UK.
- National Decommissioning Centre, Main Street, Ellon, AB41 6AA, UK.
- Aquatic Ecology and Toxicology, Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 504, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Christoph Gade
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UK, UK
- National Decommissioning Centre, Main Street, Ellon, AB41 6AA, UK
- Aquatic Ecology and Toxicology, Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 504, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lisa Baumann
- Aquatic Ecology and Toxicology, Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 504, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Science, Environmental Health & Toxicology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amersterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marcel Leist
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Department Inaugurated By the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Foundation, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464, Constance, Germany
| | - Thomas Braunbeck
- Aquatic Ecology and Toxicology, Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 504, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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5
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Qiu T, Chen X, Xiao P, Wang L, Li W. Effects of embryonic exposure to fluxapyroxad on zebrafish (Danio rerio) ocular development. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 181:105018. [PMID: 35082041 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2021.105018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Fluxapyroxad (FLU) is a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor that protects crops from fungal diseases, however, it has been identified as toxicants to aquatic organisms. The objective of this study is to investigate the potential toxicity and underlying mechanisms of FLU on aquatic organisms. Herein, by using zebrafish embryos as a model organism, we demonstrated that FLU can cause microphthalmia in zebrafish embryos. The cell density in ganglion cell layer (GCL) is increased after exposure. Compared with the control, differentiation of the cells in ganglion cell layer, inner nuclear layer (INL), and outer nuclear layer (ONL) were severely disrupted in response to FLU treatment. The data show clear evidence that FLU exhibits development toxicity to zebrafish embryos by inducing retinal cell apoptosis, which causes microphthalmia. Our study provides comprehensive understanding to the underlying mechanism of FLU toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantong Qiu
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular Medicine of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Fujian Molecular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Xiamen Marine and Gene Drugs, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis of Fujian Universities, School of Biomedical Sciences, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, PR China
| | - Xin Chen
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular Medicine of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Fujian Molecular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Xiamen Marine and Gene Drugs, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis of Fujian Universities, School of Biomedical Sciences, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, PR China
| | - Peng Xiao
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Liqiang Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular Medicine of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Fujian Molecular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Xiamen Marine and Gene Drugs, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis of Fujian Universities, School of Biomedical Sciences, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, PR China.
| | - Wenhua Li
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular Medicine of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Fujian Molecular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Xiamen Marine and Gene Drugs, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis of Fujian Universities, School of Biomedical Sciences, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, PR China.
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6
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Xiao P, Li W, Lu J, Liu Y, Luo Q, Zhang H. Effects of embryonic exposure to bixafen on zebrafish (Danio rerio) retinal development. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 228:113007. [PMID: 34808508 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.113007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Bixafen, a pyrazole-carboxamide fungicide, is a potent toxicant that may elicit multiple adverse effects in non-target organisms. However, knowledge of the mechanisms involved in developmental defects caused by bixafen in aquatic organisms remains limited. In this study, the effects of bixafen on retinal development were evaluated in embryo-larval zebrafish. We exposed zebrafish embryos to 0, 0.1, and 0.3 μM bixafen. Exposure of zebrafish embryos to bixafen caused severe retinal defects, including extreme microphthalmia and a significantly increased cell density of the ganglion cell layer (GCL). Compared with the controls, the expression levels of rod and cone photoreceptor marker genes (rho, opn1sw2, opn1mw1, opn1lw1, and opn1sw1) in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) were significantly downregulated after bixafen exposure. Furthermore, bixafen caused significantly increased expression levels in the GCL marker ath5 and decreased expression levels in the inner nuclear layer (INL) markers prox1a, vsx1, and sox2. Accordingly, we observed a significantly increased rate of cell apoptosis in the retina after bixafen exposure. Taken together, our data demonstrate that bixafen exhibits retinal developmental toxicity to zebrafish embryos/larvae, and thus, it may pose a significant environmental threat to aquatic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Xiao
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Ecological Treatment Technology for Urban Water Pollution of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, PR China
| | - Wenhua Li
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, PR China.
| | - Jinfang Lu
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Sanitary Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, PR China
| | - Yang Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, PR China
| | - Qiulan Luo
- School of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou 521041, PR China
| | - He Zhang
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Ecological Treatment Technology for Urban Water Pollution of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, PR China
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7
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Ganzen L, Ko MJ, Zhang M, Xie R, Chen Y, Zhang L, James R, Mumm J, van Rijn RM, Zhong W, Pang CP, Zhang M, Tsujikawa M, Leung YF. Drug screening with zebrafish visual behavior identifies carvedilol as a potential treatment for an autosomal dominant form of retinitis pigmentosa. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11432. [PMID: 34075074 PMCID: PMC8169685 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89482-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a mostly incurable inherited retinal degeneration affecting approximately 1 in 4000 individuals globally. The goal of this work was to identify drugs that can help patients suffering from the disease. To accomplish this, we screened drugs on a zebrafish autosomal dominant RP model. This model expresses a truncated human rhodopsin transgene (Q344X) causing significant rod degeneration by 7 days post-fertilization (dpf). Consequently, the larvae displayed a deficit in visual motor response (VMR) under scotopic condition. The diminished VMR was leveraged to screen an ENZO SCREEN-WELL REDOX library since oxidative stress is postulated to play a role in RP progression. Our screening identified a beta-blocker, carvedilol, that ameliorated the deficient VMR of the RP larvae and increased their rod number. Carvedilol may directly on rods as it affected the adrenergic pathway in the photoreceptor-like human Y79 cell line. Since carvedilol is an FDA-approved drug, our findings suggest that carvedilol can potentially be repurposed to treat autosomal dominant RP patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan Ganzen
- grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue University Life Sciences Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Mee Jung Ko
- grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue University Life Sciences Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Mengrui Zhang
- grid.213876.90000 0004 1936 738XDepartment of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Rui Xie
- grid.170430.10000 0001 2159 2859Department of Statistics and Data Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816 USA
| | - Yongkai Chen
- grid.213876.90000 0004 1936 738XDepartment of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Liyun Zhang
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Wilmer Eye Institute, John Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Rebecca James
- grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Jeff Mumm
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Wilmer Eye Institute, John Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Richard M. van Rijn
- grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue University Life Sciences Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Wenxuan Zhong
- grid.213876.90000 0004 1936 738XDepartment of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Chi Pui Pang
- grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China ,grid.263451.70000 0000 9927 110XJoint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - Mingzhi Zhang
- grid.263451.70000 0000 9927 110XJoint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - Motokazu Tsujikawa
- grid.136593.b0000 0004 0373 3971Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan ,grid.136593.b0000 0004 0373 3971Department of Clinical Laboratory and Biomedical Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuk Fai Leung
- grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.257413.60000 0001 2287 3919Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine Lafayette, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
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8
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Venkatraman P, Mills-Henry I, Padmanabhan KR, Pascuzzi P, Hassan M, Zhang J, Zhang X, Ma P, Pang CP, Dowling JE, Zhang M, Leung YF. Rods Contribute to Visual Behavior in Larval Zebrafish. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 61:11. [PMID: 33049059 PMCID: PMC7571310 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.12.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Although zebrafish rods begin to develop as early as 2 days postfertilization (dpf), they are not deemed anatomically mature and functional until 15 to 21 dpf. A recent study detected a small electroretinogram (ERG) from rods in a cone mutant called no optokinetic response f (nof) at 5 dpf, suggesting that young rods are functional. Whether they can mediate behavioral responses in larvae is unknown. Methods We first confirmed rod function by measuring nof ERGs under photopic and scotopic illumination at 6 dpf. We evaluated the role of rods in visual behaviors using two different assays: the visual-motor response (VMR) and optokinetic response (OKR). We measured responses from wild-type (WT) larvae and nof mutants under photopic and scotopic illuminations at 6 dpf. Results Nof mutants lacked a photopic ERG. However, after prolonged dark adaptation, they displayed scotopic ERGs. Compared with WT larvae, the nof mutants displayed reduced VMRs. The VMR difference during light onset gradually diminished with decreased illumination and became nearly identical at lower light intensities. Additionally, light-adapted nof mutants did not display an OKR, whereas dark-adapted nof mutants displayed scotopic OKRs. Conclusions Because the nof mutants lacked a photopic ERG but displayed scotopic ERGs after dark adaptation, the mutants clearly had functional rods. WT larvae and the nof mutants displayed comparable scotopic light-On VMRs and scotopic OKRs after dark adaptation, suggesting that these responses were driven primarily by rods. Together, these observations indicate that rods contribute to zebrafish visual behaviors as early as 6 dpf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prahatha Venkatraman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
| | - Ishara Mills-Henry
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | | | - Pete Pascuzzi
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States.,Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States.,Purdue University Libraries, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
| | - Menna Hassan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
| | - Jingyi Zhang
- Center for Statistical Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinlian Zhang
- Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States
| | - Ping Ma
- Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States
| | - Chi Pui Pang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Joint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - John E Dowling
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Mingzhi Zhang
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - Yuk Fai Leung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine Lafayette, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States.,Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States.,Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
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9
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Piedade WP, Titialii-Torres K, Morris AC, Famulski JK. Proteasome-Mediated Regulation of Cdhr1a by Siah1 Modulates Photoreceptor Development and Survival in Zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:594290. [PMID: 33330480 PMCID: PMC7719784 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.594290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital retinal dystrophies are a major cause of unpreventable and incurable blindness worldwide. Mutations in CDHR1, a retina specific cadherin, are associated with cone-rod dystrophy. The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is responsible for mediating orderly and precise targeting of protein degradation to maintain biological homeostasis and coordinate proper development, including retinal development. Recently, our lab uncovered that the seven in absentia (Siah) family of E3 ubiquitin ligases play a role in optic fissure fusion and identified Cdhr1a as a potential target of Siah. Using two-color whole mount in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, we detected siah1 and cdhr1a co-expression as well as protein localization in the retinal outer nuclear layer (ONL), and more precisely in the connecting cilium of rods and cones between 3-5 days post fertilization (dpf). We confirmed that Siah1 targets Cdhr1a for proteasomal degradation by co-transfection and co-immunoprecipitation in cell culture. To analyze the functional importance of this interaction, we created two transgenic zebrafish lines that express siah1 or an inactive siah1 (siah1ΔRING) under the control of the heat shock promoter to modulate Siah activity during photoreceptor development. Overexpression of siah1, but not siah1ΔRING, resulted in a decrease in the number of rods and cones at 72 h post fertilization (hpf). The number of retinal ganglion cells, amacrine and bipolar cells was not affected by Siah1 overexpression, and there was no significant reduction of proliferating cells in the Siah1 overexpressing retina. We did, however, detect increased cell death, confirmed by an increase in the number of TUNEL + cells in the ONL, which was proteasome-dependent, as proteasome inhibition rescued the cell death phenotype. Furthermore, reduction in rods and cones resulting from increased Siah1 expression was rescued by injection of cdhr1a mRNA, and to an even greater extent by injection of a Siah1-insensitive cdhr1a variant mRNA. Lastly, CRISPR induced loss of Cdhr1a function phenocopied Siah1 overexpression resulting in a significant reduction of rods and cones. Taken together, our work provides the first evidence that Cdhr1a plays a role during early photoreceptor development and that Cdhr1a is regulated by Siah1 via the UPS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jakub K. Famulski
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
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10
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Method Standardization for Conducting Innate Color Preference Studies in Different Zebrafish Strains. Biomedicines 2020; 8:biomedicines8080271. [PMID: 32756400 PMCID: PMC7459758 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8080271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish has a tetrachromatic vision that is able to distinguish ultraviolet (UV) and visible wavelengths. Recently, zebrafish color preferences have gained much attention because of the easy setup of the instrument and its usefulness to screen behavior-linked stimuli. However, several published papers dealing with zebrafish color preferences have contradicting results that underscore the importance of method standardization in this field. Different laboratories may report different results because of variations in light source, color intensity, and other parameters such as age, gender, container size, and strain of fish. In this study, we aim to standardize the color preference test in zebrafish by measuring light source position, light intensity, gender, age, animal size to space ratio, and animal strain. Our results showed that color preferences for zebrafish are affected by light position, age, strain, and social interaction of the fish, but not affected by fish gender. We validated that ethanol can significantly induce color preference alteration in zebrafish which may be related to anxiety and depression. We also explored the potential use of the optimized method to examine color preference ranking and index differences in various zebrafish strains and species, such as the tiger barb and glass catfish. In conclusion, zebrafish color preference screening is a powerful tool for high-throughput neuropharmacological applications and the standardized protocol established in this study provides a useful reference for the zebrafish research community.
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11
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Visuomotor deficiency in panx1a knockout zebrafish is linked to dopaminergic signaling. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9538. [PMID: 32533080 PMCID: PMC7293225 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66378-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pannexin 1 (Panx1) forms ATP-permeable membrane channels that play roles in the nervous system. The analysis of roles in both standard and pathological conditions benefits from a model organism with rapid development and early onset of behaviors. Such a model was developed by ablating the zebrafish panx1a gene using TALEN technology. Here, RNA-seq analysis of 6 days post fertilization larvae were confirmed by Real-Time PCR and paired with testing visual-motor behavior and in vivo electrophysiology. Results demonstrated that loss of panx1a specifically affected the expression of gene classes representing the development of the visual system and visual processing. Abnormal swimming behavior in the dark and the expression regulation of pre-and postsynaptic biomarkers suggested changes in dopaminergic signaling. Indeed, altered visuomotor behavior in the absence of functional Panx1a was evoked through D1/D2-like receptor agonist treatment and rescued with the D2-like receptor antagonist Haloperidol. Local field potentials recorded from superficial areas of the optic tectum receiving input from the retina confirmed abnormal responses to visual stimuli, which resembled treatments with a dopamine receptor agonist or pharmacological blocking of Panx1a. We conclude that Panx1a functions are relevant at a time point when neuronal networks supporting visual-motor functions undergo modifications preparing for complex behaviors of freely swimming fish.
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12
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Zhang T, Peterson RT. Modeling Lysosomal Storage Diseases in the Zebrafish. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:82. [PMID: 32435656 PMCID: PMC7218095 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are a family of 70 metabolic disorders characterized by mutations in lysosomal proteins that lead to storage material accumulation, multiple-organ pathologies that often involve neurodegeneration, and early mortality in a significant number of patients. Along with the necessity for more effective therapies, there exists an unmet need for further understanding of disease etiology, which could uncover novel pathways and drug targets. Over the past few decades, the growth in knowledge of disease-associated pathways has been facilitated by studies in model organisms, as advancements in mutagenesis techniques markedly improved the efficiency of model generation in mammalian and non-mammalian systems. In this review we highlight non-mammalian models of LSDs, focusing specifically on the zebrafish, a vertebrate model organism that shares remarkable genetic and metabolic similarities with mammals while also conferring unique advantages such as optical transparency and amenability toward high-throughput applications. We examine published zebrafish LSD models and their reported phenotypes, address organism-specific advantages and limitations, and discuss recent technological innovations that could provide potential solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - R T Peterson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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13
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Franke K, Maia Chagas A, Zhao Z, Zimmermann MJ, Bartel P, Qiu Y, Szatko KP, Baden T, Euler T. An arbitrary-spectrum spatial visual stimulator for vision research. eLife 2019; 8:48779. [PMID: 31545172 PMCID: PMC6783264 DOI: 10.7554/elife.48779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Visual neuroscientists require accurate control of visual stimulation. However, few stimulator solutions simultaneously offer high spatio-temporal resolution and free control over the spectra of the light sources, because they rely on off-the-shelf technology developed for human trichromatic vision. Importantly, consumer displays fail to drive UV-shifted short wavelength-sensitive photoreceptors, which strongly contribute to visual behaviour in many animals, including mice, zebrafish and fruit flies. Moreover, many non-mammalian species feature more than three spectral photoreceptor types. Here, we present a flexible, spatial visual stimulator with up to six arbitrary spectrum chromatic channels. It combines a standard digital light processing engine with open source hard- and software that can be easily adapted to the experimentalist’s needs. We demonstrate the capability of this general visual stimulator experimentally in the in vitro mouse retinal whole-mount and the in vivo zebrafish. With this work, we intend to start a community effort of sharing and developing a common stimulator design for vision research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Franke
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - André Maia Chagas
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, United Kingdom
| | - Zhijian Zhao
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Maxime Jy Zimmermann
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, United Kingdom
| | - Philipp Bartel
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, United Kingdom
| | - Yongrong Qiu
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Klaudia P Szatko
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tom Baden
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Euler
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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14
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Meier A, Nelson R, Connaughton VP. Color Processing in Zebrafish Retina. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:327. [PMID: 30337857 PMCID: PMC6178926 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a model organism for vertebrate developmental processes and, through a variety of mutant and transgenic lines, various diseases and their complications. Some of these diseases relate to proper function of the visual system. In the US, the National Eye Institute indicates >140 million people over the age of 40 have some form of visual impairment. The causes of the impairments range from refractive error to cataract, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, plus heritable diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and color vision deficits. Most impairments directly affect the retina, the nervous tissue at the back of the eye. Zebrafish with long or short-wavelength color blindness, altered retinal anatomy due to hyperglycemia, high intraocular pressure, and reduced pigment epithelium are all used, and directly applicable, to study how these symptoms affect visual function. However, many published reports describe only molecular/anatomical/structural changes or behavioral deficits. Recent work in zebrafish has documented physiological responses of the different cell types to colored (spectral) light stimuli, indicating a complex level of information processing and color vision in this species. The purpose of this review article is to consolidate published morphological and physiological data from different cells to describe how zebrafish retina is capable of complex visual processing. This information is compared to findings in other vertebrates and relevance to disorders affecting color processing is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- April Meier
- Zebrafish Ecotoxicology, Neuropharmacology, and Vision Lab, Department of Biology, and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Ralph Nelson
- Neural Circuits Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Victoria P Connaughton
- Zebrafish Ecotoxicology, Neuropharmacology, and Vision Lab, Department of Biology, and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC, United States
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15
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Messchaert M, Dona M, Broekman S, Peters TA, Corral-Serrano JC, Slijkerman RWN, van Wijk E, Collin RWJ. Eyes shut homolog is important for the maintenance of photoreceptor morphology and visual function in zebrafish. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200789. [PMID: 30052645 PMCID: PMC6063403 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in eyes shut homolog (EYS), a gene predominantly expressed in the photoreceptor cells of the retina, are among the most frequent causes of autosomal recessive (ar) retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a progressive retinal disorder. Due to the absence of EYS in several rodent species and its retina-specific expression, still little is known about the exact function of EYS and the pathogenic mechanism underlying EYS-associated RP. We characterized eys in zebrafish, by RT-PCR analysis on zebrafish eye-derived RNA, which led to the identification of a 8,715 nucleotide coding sequence that is divided over 46 exons. The transcript is predicted to encode a 2,905-aa protein that contains 39 EGF-like domains and five laminin A G-like domains, which overall shows 33% identity with human EYS. To study the function of EYS, we generated a stable eysrmc101/rmc101 mutant zebrafish model using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The introduced lesion is predicted to result in premature termination of protein synthesis and lead to loss of Eys function. Immunohistochemistry on retinal sections revealed that Eys localizes at the region of the connecting cilium and that both rhodopsin and cone transducin are mislocalized in the absence of Eys. Electroretinogram recordings showed diminished b-wave amplitudes in eysrmc101/rmc101 zebrafish (5 dpf) compared to age- and strain-matched wild-type larvae. In addition, decreased locomotor activity in response to light stimuli was observed in eys mutant larvae. Altogether, our study shows that absence of Eys leads to a disorganized retinal architecture and causes visual dysfunction in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muriël Messchaert
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Margo Dona
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne Broekman
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Theo A. Peters
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Julio C. Corral-Serrano
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ralph W. N. Slijkerman
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Erwin van Wijk
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rob W. J. Collin
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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16
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C2orf71a/pcare1 is important for photoreceptor outer segment morphogenesis and visual function in zebrafish. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9675. [PMID: 29946172 PMCID: PMC6018674 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27928-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in C2orf71 are causative for autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa and occasionally cone-rod dystrophy. We have recently discovered that the protein encoded by this gene is important for modulation of the ciliary membrane through the recruitment of an actin assembly module, and have therefore renamed the gene to PCARE (photoreceptor cilium actin regulator). Here, we report on the identification of two copies of the c2orf71/pcare gene in zebrafish, pcare1 and pcare2. To study the role of the gene most similar to human PCARE, pcare1, we have generated a stable pcare1 mutant zebrafish model (designated pcare1rmc100/rmc100) in which the coding sequence was disrupted using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Retinas of both embryonic (5 dpf) and adult (6 mpf) pcare1rmc100/rmc100 zebrafish display a clear disorganization of photoreceptor outer segments, resembling the phenotype observed in Pcare−/− mice. Optokinetic response and visual motor response measurements indicated visual impairment in pcare1rmc100/rmc100 zebrafish larvae at 5 dpf. In addition, electroretinogram measurements showed decreased b-wave amplitudes in pcare1rmc100/rmc100 zebrafish as compared to age- and strain-matched wild-type larvae, indicating a defect in the transretinal current. Altogether, our data show that lack of pcare1 causes a retinal phenotype in zebrafish and indicate that the function of the PCARE gene is conserved across species.
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17
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Sun C, Galicia C, Stenkamp DL. Transcripts within rod photoreceptors of the Zebrafish retina. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:127. [PMID: 29422031 PMCID: PMC5806438 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4499-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The purpose of this study was to identify transcripts of retinal rod photoreceptors of the zebrafish. The zebrafish is an important animal model for vision science due to rapid and tractable development, persistent neurogenesis of rods throughout the lifespan, and capacity for functional retinal regeneration. Results Zebrafish rods, and non-rod retinal cells of the xops:eGFP transgenic line, were separated by cell dissociation and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), followed by RNA-seq. At a false discovery rate of < 0.01, 597 transcripts were upregulated (“enriched”) in rods vs. other retinal cells, and 1032 were downregulated (“depleted”). Thirteen thousand three hundred twenty four total transcripts were detected in rods, including many not previously known to be expressed by rods. Forty five transcripts were validated by qPCR in FACS-sorted rods vs. other retinal cells. Transcripts enriched in rods from adult retinas were also enriched in rods from larval and juvenile retinas, and were also enriched in rods sorted from retinas subjected to a neurotoxic lesion and allowed to regenerate. Many transcripts enriched in rods were upregulated in retinas of wildtype retinas vs. those of a zebrafish model for rod degeneration. Conclusions We report the generation and validation of an RNA-seq dataset describing the rod transcriptome of the zebrafish, which is now available as a resource for further studies of rod photoreceptor biology and comparative transcriptomics. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-4499-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Sun
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, MS 3051, Moscow, ID, 83844-3051, USA
| | - Carlos Galicia
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, MS 3051, Moscow, ID, 83844-3051, USA
| | - Deborah L Stenkamp
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, MS 3051, Moscow, ID, 83844-3051, USA.
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18
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Sawant O, Horton AM, Shukla M, Rayborn ME, Peachey NS, Hollyfield JG, Rao S. Light-Regulated Thyroid Hormone Signaling Is Required for Rod Photoreceptor Development in the Mouse Retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2016; 56:8248-57. [PMID: 26720479 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.15-17743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Ambient light is both a stimulus for visual function and a regulator of photoreceptor physiology. However, it is not known if light can regulate any aspect of photoreceptor development. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether ambient light is required for the development of mouse rod photoreceptors. METHODS Newborn mouse pups (C57BL/6) were reared in either cyclic light (LD) or constant dark (DD). Pups were collected at postnatal day (P)5, P10, P17, or P24. We performed retinal morphometric and cell death analysis at P5, P10, and P17. Rhodopsin expression was assessed using immunofluorescence, Western blot, and quantitative RT-PCR analysis. Electroretinograms were performed at P17 and P24. Radioimmunoassay and ELISA were used to follow changes in thyroid hormone levels in the serum and vitreous. RESULTS In the DD pups, the outer nuclear layer was significantly thinner at P10 and there were higher numbers of apoptotic cells at P5 compared to the LD pups. Rhodopsin expression was lower at P10 and P17 in DD pups. Electroretinogram a-waves were reduced in amplitude at P17 in the DD pups. The DD animals had lower levels of circulating thyroid hormones at P10. Light-mediated changes in thyroid hormones occur as early as P5, as we detected lower levels of total triiodothyronine in the vitreous from the DD animals. Drug-induced developmental hypothyroidism resulted in lower rhodopsin expression at P10. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that light exposure during postnatal development is required for rod photoreceptor development and that this effect could be mediated by thyroid hormone signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onkar Sawant
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
| | - Amanda M Horton
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
| | - Meenal Shukla
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
| | - Mary E Rayborn
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
| | - Neal S Peachey
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States 2Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States 3Louis Sto
| | - Joe G Hollyfield
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States 2Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
| | - Sujata Rao
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States 2Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
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19
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Sotolongo-Lopez M, Alvarez-Delfin K, Saade CJ, Vera DL, Fadool JM. Genetic Dissection of Dual Roles for the Transcription Factor six7 in Photoreceptor Development and Patterning in Zebrafish. PLoS Genet 2016; 12:e1005968. [PMID: 27058886 PMCID: PMC4825938 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The visual system of a particular species is highly adapted to convey detailed ecological and behavioral information essential for survival. The consequences of structural mutations of opsins upon spectral sensitivity and environmental adaptation have been studied in great detail, but lacking is knowledge of the potential influence of alterations in gene regulatory networks upon the diversity of cone subtypes and the variation in the ratio of rods and cones observed in numerous diurnal and nocturnal species. Exploiting photoreceptor patterning in cone-dominated zebrafish, we uncovered two independent mechanisms by which the sine oculis homeobox homolog 7 (six7) regulates photoreceptor development. In a genetic screen, we isolated the lots-of-rods-junior (ljrp23ahub) mutation that resulted in an increased number and uniform distribution of rods in otherwise normal appearing larvae. Sequence analysis, genome editing using TALENs and knockdown strategies confirm ljrp23ahub as a hypomorphic allele of six7, a teleost orthologue of six3, with known roles in forebrain patterning and expression of opsins. Based on the lack of predicted protein-coding changes and a deletion of a conserved element upstream of the transcription start site, a cis-regulatory mutation is proposed as the basis of the reduced expression of six7 in ljrp23ahub. Comparison of the phenotypes of the hypomorphic and knock-out alleles provides evidence of two independent roles in photoreceptor development. EdU and PH3 labeling show that the increase in rod number is associated with extended mitosis of photoreceptor progenitors, and TUNEL suggests that the lack of green-sensitive cones is the result of cell death of the cone precursor. These data add six7 to the small but growing list of essential genes for specification and patterning of photoreceptors in non-mammalian vertebrates, and highlight alterations in transcriptional regulation as a potential source of photoreceptor variation across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mailin Sotolongo-Lopez
- Department of Biological Science, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
| | - Karen Alvarez-Delfin
- Department of Biological Science, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
| | - Carole J. Saade
- Department of Biological Science, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
- Program in Neuroscience, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
| | - Daniel L. Vera
- Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
| | - James M. Fadool
- Department of Biological Science, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
- Program in Neuroscience, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
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20
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Scheidecker S, Etard C, Haren L, Stoetzel C, Hull S, Arno G, Plagnol V, Drunat S, Passemard S, Toutain A, Obringer C, Koob M, Geoffroy V, Marion V, Strähle U, Ostergaard P, Verloes A, Merdes A, Moore A, Dollfus H. Mutations in TUBGCP4 alter microtubule organization via the γ-tubulin ring complex in autosomal-recessive microcephaly with chorioretinopathy. Am J Hum Genet 2015; 96:666-74. [PMID: 25817018 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2015.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We have identified TUBGCP4 variants in individuals with autosomal-recessive microcephaly and chorioretinopathy. Whole-exome sequencing performed on one family with two affected siblings and independently on another family with one affected child revealed compound-heterozygous mutations in TUBGCP4. Subsequent Sanger sequencing was performed on a panel of individuals from 12 French families affected by microcephaly and ophthalmic manifestations, and one other individual was identified with compound-heterozygous mutations in TUBGCP4. One synonymous variant was common to all three families and was shown to induce exon skipping; the other mutations were frameshift mutations and a deletion. TUBGCP4 encodes γ-tubulin complex protein 4, a component belonging to the γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC) and known to regulate the nucleation and organization of microtubules. Functional analysis of individual fibroblasts disclosed reduced levels of the γ-TuRC, altered nucleation and organization of microtubules, abnormal nuclear shape, and aneuploidy. Moreover, zebrafish treated with morpholinos against tubgcp4 were found to have reduced head volume and eye developmental anomalies with chorioretinal dysplasia. In summary, the identification of TUBGCP4 mutations in individuals with microcephaly and a spectrum of anomalies in eye development, particularly photoreceptor anomalies, provides evidence of an important role for the γ-TuRC in brain and eye development.
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21
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The interaction of innate and imposed colour perception: a behavioural approach. J ETHOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-014-0407-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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22
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Huang L, Zuo Z, Zhang Y, Wu M, Lin JJ, Wang C. Use of toxicogenomics to predict the potential toxic effect of Benzo(a)pyrene on zebrafish embryos: ocular developmental toxicity. CHEMOSPHERE 2014; 108:55-61. [PMID: 24875912 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.02.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2013] [Revised: 02/12/2014] [Accepted: 02/22/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), which is ubiquitous in the environment. The toxic effects of BaP on fish embryos have been described in detail, but some potentially toxic effects of BaP might have been neglected owing to the limitations of traditional techniques. In the present research, global transcriptional patterns were used to study the potentially toxic effects of BaP, as well as its underlying toxicological mechanisms. The expression levels of multiple genes were significantly changed by BaP exposure. The results of ontology assignments and cluster analysis showed that BaP could affect the processes of photoreceptor maintenance and phototransduction. We also conducted an experiment on phototactic response and found that larvae exposed to BaP displayed a decreasing response to light. In addition, BaP exposure decreased the cellular density of the ganglion cell layer (GCL) significantly. These results suggested that BaP exposure induced visual system developmental defects and dysfunction by perturbation of photoreceptor development related genes. Our results were helpful for an understanding of the toxicity of BaP. This study also indicated that microarray analysis was effective for predicting the potential toxicity of chemicals with high sensitivity and accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China
| | - Zhenghong Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China
| | - Youyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China
| | - Meifang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China
| | | | - Chonggang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China.
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Laranjeiro R, Whitmore D. Transcription factors involved in retinogenesis are co-opted by the circadian clock following photoreceptor differentiation. Development 2014; 141:2644-56. [PMID: 24924194 PMCID: PMC4146392 DOI: 10.1242/dev.104380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The circadian clock is known to regulate a wide range of physiological and cellular processes, yet remarkably little is known about its role during embryo development. Zebrafish offer a unique opportunity to explore this issue, not only because a great deal is known about key developmental events in this species, but also because the clock starts on the very first day of development. In this study, we identified numerous rhythmic genes in zebrafish larvae, including the key transcriptional regulators neurod and cdx1b, which are involved in neuronal and intestinal differentiation, respectively. Rhythmic expression of neurod and several additional transcription factors was only observed in the developing retina. Surprisingly, these rhythms in expression commenced at a stage of development after these transcription factors are known to have played their essential role in photoreceptor differentiation. Furthermore, this circadian regulation was maintained in adult retina. Thus, once mature photoreceptors are formed, multiple retinal transcription factors fall under circadian clock control, at which point they appear to play a new and important role in regulating rhythmic elements in the phototransduction pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Laranjeiro
- Centre for Cell and Molecular Dynamics, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6DE, UK
| | - David Whitmore
- Centre for Cell and Molecular Dynamics, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6DE, UK
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Huang L, Wang C, Zhang Y, Wu M, Zuo Z. Phenanthrene causes ocular developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos and the possible mechanisms involved. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2013; 261:172-180. [PMID: 23921180 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2013] [Revised: 07/11/2013] [Accepted: 07/13/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies show that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may be a candidate cause of developmental defects of the retina, but the mechanism is still unclear. We evaluated the mechanism(s) underlying PAH-induced retinal development defects due to exposure to environmental concentrations of Phenanthrene (Phe) in zebrafish. We found that exposure to environmental concentrations of Phe caused obvious morphological changes, developmental retardation, apoptosis, and reduction of cell proliferation in the retina. Our results indicated that Phe could cause visual system developmental defects. Phe exposure up-regulated aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (Mtif) expression, and down-regulated zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (Zeb1) and paired box 6 (Pax6). Moreover, we demonstrated that AhR was a repressor of Zeb1. We propose that Phe's ocular toxicity is mediated by up-regulating AhR, which then down-regulates Zeb1, in turn inducing Mitf expression while inhibiting Pax6 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
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25
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Chen L, Huang Y, Huang C, Hu B, Hu C, Zhou B. Acute exposure to DE-71 causes alterations in visual behavior in zebrafish larvae. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2013; 32:1370-1375. [PMID: 23400899 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2012] [Revised: 11/28/2012] [Accepted: 01/03/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) cause neurobehavioral toxicity, but their effects on visual behavior remain unknown. In the present study, the impact of PBDEs on visual behavior was examined using optokinetic responses and phototaxis in zebrafish larvae. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to pentabrominated diphenyl ethers mixture (DE-71) at concentrations of 0, 0.32, 3.58, and 31.0 µg/L until 15 d postfertilization. The authors then assessed photoreceptor opsin expression, retinal histology, and visual behavior of the larvae. The results showed that the transcriptions of the opsin genes, zfrho and zfgr1, were significantly upregulated. Western blotting further demonstrated a significant increase in rhodopsin protein expression after exposure of the larvae to DE-71. Histological examination revealed the following morphological alterations in the retina: increased area of inner nuclear layer, decreased area of inner plexiform layer, and decreased density of ganglion cells. Tests of optokinetic and phototactic behavior showed hyperactive responses on exposure to DE-71, including increased saccadic eye movements and phototactic response. The present study is the first to demonstrate that the acute exposure of zebrafish larvae to DE-71 causes biochemical and structural changes in the eye that lead to behavioral alterations. Analysis of these visual behavioral paradigms may be useful in predicting the adverse effects of toxicants on visual function in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianguo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
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26
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Abstract
Nonvisual photosensation enables animals to sense light without sight. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of nonvisual photobehaviors are poorly understood, especially in vertebrate animals. Here, we describe the photomotor response (PMR), a robust and reproducible series of motor behaviors in zebrafish that is elicited by visual wavelengths of light but does not require the eyes, pineal gland, or other canonical deep-brain photoreceptive organs. Unlike the relatively slow effects of canonical nonvisual pathways, motor circuits are strongly and quickly (seconds) recruited during the PMR behavior. We find that the hindbrain is both necessary and sufficient to drive these behaviors. Using in vivo calcium imaging, we identify a discrete set of neurons within the hindbrain whose responses to light mirror the PMR behavior. Pharmacological inhibition of the visual cycle blocks PMR behaviors, suggesting that opsin-based photoreceptors control this behavior. These data represent the first known light-sensing circuit in the vertebrate hindbrain.
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27
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de Esch C, Slieker R, Wolterbeek A, Woutersen R, de Groot D. Zebrafish as potential model for developmental neurotoxicity testing. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2012; 34:545-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2012.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2011] [Revised: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 08/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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28
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Magnoli D, Zichichi R, Laurà R, Guerrera MC, Campo S, de Carlos F, Suárez AÁ, Abbate F, Ciriaco E, Vega JA, Germanà A. Rhodopsin expression in the zebrafish pineal gland from larval to adult stage. Brain Res 2012; 1442:9-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2011] [Revised: 12/08/2011] [Accepted: 01/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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29
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Morris AC. The genetics of ocular disorders: insights from the zebrafish. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 93:215-28. [PMID: 21932431 DOI: 10.1002/bdrc.20211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Proper formation of the vertebrate eye requires a precisely coordinated sequence of morphogenetic events that integrate the developmental contributions of the skin ectoderm, neuroectoderm, and head mesenchyme. Disruptions in this process result in ocular malformations or retinal degeneration and can cause significant visual impairment. The zebrafish is an excellent vertebrate model for the study of eye development and disease due to the transparency of the embryo, its ex utero development, and its amenability to forward genetic screens. This review will present an overview of the genetic methodologies utilized in the zebrafish, a description of several zebrafish models of congenital ocular diseases, and a discussion of the utility of the zebrafish for assessing the pathogenicity of candidate disease alleles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann C Morris
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
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30
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Phillips JB, Blanco-Sanchez B, Lentz JJ, Tallafuss A, Khanobdee K, Sampath S, Jacobs ZG, Han PF, Mishra M, Titus TA, Williams DS, Keats BJ, Washbourne P, Westerfield M. Harmonin (Ush1c) is required in zebrafish Müller glial cells for photoreceptor synaptic development and function. Dis Model Mech 2011; 4:786-800. [PMID: 21757509 PMCID: PMC3209648 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.006429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Usher syndrome is the most prevalent cause of hereditary deaf-blindness, characterized by congenital sensorineural hearing impairment and progressive photoreceptor degeneration beginning in childhood or adolescence. Diagnosis and management of this disease are complex, and the molecular changes underlying sensory cell impairment remain poorly understood. Here we characterize two zebrafish models for a severe form of Usher syndrome, Usher syndrome type 1C (USH1C): one model is a mutant with a newly identified ush1c nonsense mutation, and the other is a morpholino knockdown of ush1c. Both have defects in hearing, balance and visual function from the first week of life. Histological analyses reveal specific defects in sensory cell structure that are consistent with these behavioral phenotypes and could implicate Müller glia in the retinal pathology of Usher syndrome. This study shows that visual defects associated with loss of ush1c function in zebrafish can be detected from the onset of vision, and thus could be applicable to early diagnosis for USH1C patients.
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31
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McCollum CW, Ducharme NA, Bondesson M, Gustafsson JA. Developmental toxicity screening in zebrafish. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 93:67-114. [DOI: 10.1002/bdrc.20210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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32
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Morris AC, Forbes-Osborne MA, Pillai LS, Fadool JM. Microarray analysis of XOPS-mCFP zebrafish retina identifies genes associated with rod photoreceptor degeneration and regeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2011; 52:2255-66. [PMID: 21217106 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.10-6022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE XOPS-mCFP transgenic zebrafish experience a continual cycle of rod photoreceptor development and degeneration throughout life, making them a useful model for investigating the molecular determinants of rod photoreceptor regeneration. The purpose of this study was to compare the gene expression profiles of wild-type and XOPS-mCFP retinas and identify genes that may contribute to the regeneration of the rods. METHODS Adult wild-type and XOPS-mCFP retinal mRNA was subjected to microarray analysis. Pathway analysis was used to identify biologically relevant processes that were significantly represented in the dataset. Expression changes were verified by RT-PCR. Selected genes were further examined during retinal development and in adult retinas by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry and in a transgenic fluorescent reporter line. RESULTS More than 600 genes displayed significant expression changes in XOPS-mCFP retinas compared with expression in wild-type controls. Many of the downregulated genes were associated with phototransduction, whereas upregulated genes were associated with several biological functions, including cell cycle, DNA replication and repair, and cell development and death. RT-PCR analysis of a subset of these genes confirmed the microarray RESULTS Three transcription factors (sox11b, insm1a, and c-myb), displaying increased expression in XOPS-mCFP retinas, were also expressed throughout retinal development and in the persistently neurogenic ciliary marginal zone. CONCLUSIONS This study identified numerous gene expression changes in response to rod degeneration in zebrafish and further suggests a role for the transcriptional regulators sox11b, insm1a, and c-myb in both retinal development and rod photoreceptor regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann C Morris
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.
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33
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Perkins BD, Fadool JM. Photoreceptor structure and development analyses using GFP transgenes. Methods Cell Biol 2011; 100:205-18. [PMID: 21111218 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-384892-5.00007-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, studies of zebrafish rod and cone photoreceptors have yielded novel insights into the differentiation of distinct photoreceptor cell types and the mechanisms guiding photoreceptor regeneration following cell death, and they have provided models of human retinal degeneration. These studies were facilitated by the use of transgenic zebrafish expressing fluorescent reporter genes under the control of various cell-specific promoters. Improvements in transgenesis techniques (e.g., Tol2 transposition), the availability of numerous fluorescent reporter genes with different localization properties, and the ability to generate transgenes via recombineering (e.g., Gateway technology) have enabled researchers to quickly develop transgenic lines that improve our understanding of the causes of human blindness and ways to mitigate its effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Perkins
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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34
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Chen LM, Zhao J, Musa-Aziz R, Pelletier MF, Drummond IA, Boron WF. Cloning and characterization of a zebrafish homologue of human AQP1: a bifunctional water and gas channel. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2010; 299:R1163-74. [PMID: 20739606 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00319.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian aquaporins AQP1, AQP4, and AQP5 have been shown to function not only as water channels but also as gas channels. Zebrafish have two genes encoding an AQP1 homologue, aqp1a and aqp1b. In the present study, we cloned the cDNA that encodes the zebrafish protein Aqp1a from the 72-h postfertilization (hpf) embryo of Danio rerio, as well as from the swim bladder of the adult. The deduced amino-acid sequence of aqp1a consists of 260 amino acids and is 59% identical to human AQP1. By analyzing the genomic DNA sequence, we identified four exons in the aqp1a gene. By in situ hybridization, aqp1a is expressed transiently in the developing vasculature and in erythrocytes from 16 to 48 h of development. Later, at 72 hpf, aqp1a is expressed in dermal ionocytes and in the swim bladder. Western blot analysis of adult tissues reveals that Aqp1a is most highly expressed in the eye and swim bladder. Xenopus oocytes expressing aqp1a have a channel-dependent (*) osmotic water permeability (P(f)(*)) that is indistinguishable from that of human AQP1. On the basis of the magnitude of the transient change in surface pH (ΔpH(S)) that were recorded as the oocytes were exposed to either CO(2) or NH(3), we conclude that zebrafish Aqp1a is permeable to both CO(2) and NH(3). The ratio (ΔpH(S)(*))((CO)2)/P(f)(*) is about half that of human AQP1, and the ratio (ΔpH(S)(*))(NH3)/P(f)(*) is about one-quarter that of human AQP1. Thus, compared with human AQP1, zebrafish Aqp1a has about twice the selectivity for CO(2) over NH(3).
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ming Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Huazhong University of Science & Technology School of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
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35
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Tbx2b is required for ultraviolet photoreceptor cell specification during zebrafish retinal development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009; 106:2023-8. [PMID: 19179291 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0809439106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate rod and cone photoreceptors are highly specialized sensory neurons that transduce light into the chemical and electrical signals of the nervous system. Although the physiological properties of cones and rods are well known, only a handful of genes have been identified that regulate the specification of photoreceptor subtypes. Taking advantage of the mosaic organization of photoreceptors in zebrafish, we report the isolation of a mutation resulting in a unique change in photoreceptor cell fate. Mutation of the lots-of-rods (lor) locus results in a near one-for-one transformation of UV-cone precursors into rods. The transformed cells exhibit morphological characteristics and a gene-expression pattern typical of rods, but differentiate in a temporal and spatial pattern consistent with UV-cone development. In mutant larvae and adults, the highly ordered photoreceptor mosaic is maintained and degeneration is not observed, suggesting that lor functions after the specification of the other photoreceptor subtypes. In genetic chimeras, lor functions cell-autonomously in the specification of photoreceptor cell fate. Linkage analysis and genetic-complementation testing indicate that lor is an allele of tbx2b/fby (from beyond). fby was identified by a pineal complex phenotype, and carries a nonsense mutation in the T-box domain of the tbx2b transcription factor. Homozygous fby mutant larvae and lor/fby transheterozygotes also display the lots-of-rods phenotype. Based upon these data, we propose a previously undescribed function for tbx2b in photoreceptor cell precursors, to promote the UV cone fate by repressing the rod differentiation pathway.
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36
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Liu IH, Zhang C, Kim MJ, Cole GJ. Retina development in zebrafish requires the heparan sulfate proteoglycan agrin. Dev Neurobiol 2008; 68:877-98. [PMID: 18327763 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.20625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies from our laboratory have begun to elucidate the role of agrin in zebrafish development. One agrin morphant phenotype that results from agrin knockdown is microphthalmia (reduced eye size). To begin to understand the mechanisms underlying the role of agrin in eye development, we have analyzed retina development in agrin morphants. Retinal differentiation is impaired in agrin morphants, with retinal lamination being disrupted following agrin morpholino treatment. Pax 6.1 and Mbx1 gene expression, markers of eye development, are markedly reduced in agrin morphants. Formation of the optic fiber layer of the zebrafish retina is also impaired, exhibited as both reduced size of the optic fiber layer, and disruption of retinal ganglion cell axon growth to the optic tectum. The retinotectal topographic projection to the optic tectum is perturbed in agrin morphants in association with a marked loss of heparan sulfate expression in the retinotectal pathway, with this phenotype resembling retinotectal phenotypes observed in mutant zebrafish lacking enzymes for heparan sulfate synthesis. Treatment of agrin morphants with a fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) receptor inhibitor, rescue of the retinal lamination phenotype by transplantation of Fgf8-coated beads, and disruption of both the expression of Fgf-dependent genes and activation of ERK in agrin morphants provides evidence that agrin modulation of Fgf function contributes to retina development. Collectively, these agrin morphant phenotypes provide support for a crucial role of agrin in retina development and formation of an ordered retinotectal topographic map in the optic tectum of zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- I-Hsuan Liu
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Durham, North Carolina 27707, USA
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37
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Gross JM, Perkins BD. Zebrafish mutants as models for congenital ocular disorders in humans. Mol Reprod Dev 2008; 75:547-55. [PMID: 18058918 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Gross
- Section of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
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38
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Morris AC, Scholz T, Fadool JM. Rod progenitor cells in the mature zebrafish retina. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2008; 613:361-8. [PMID: 18188965 DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-74904-4_42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The zebrafish is an excellent model organism in which to study the retina's response to photoreceptor degeneration and/or acute injury. While much has been learned about the retinal stem and progenitor cells that mediate the damage response, several questions remain that cannot be addressed by acute models of injury. The development of genetic models, such as the XOPS-mCFP transgenic line, should further efforts to understand the nature of the signals that promote rod progenitor proliferation and differentiation following photoreceptor loss. This in turn may help to refine future approaches in higher vertebrates aimed at enhancing retinal progenitor cell activity for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann C Morris
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA.
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39
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Abstract
Over the last decade, the use of the zebrafish as a genetic model has moved beyond the proof-of-concept for the analysis of vertebrate embryonic development to demonstrated utility as a mainstream model organism for the understanding of human disease. The initial identification of a variety of zebrafish mutations affecting the eye and retina, and the subsequent cloning of mutated genes have revealed cellular, molecular and physiological processes fundamental to visual system development. With the increasing development of genetic manipulations, sophisticated techniques for phenotypic characterization, behavioral approaches and screening strategies, the identification of novel genes or novel gene functions will have important implications for our understanding of human eye diseases, pathogenesis, and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Fadool
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32312, USA.
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40
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Krock BL, Bilotta J, Perkins BD. Noncell-autonomous photoreceptor degeneration in a zebrafish model of choroideremia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007; 104:4600-5. [PMID: 17360570 PMCID: PMC1810335 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0605818104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Choroideremia is an X-linked hereditary retinal degeneration resulting from mutations in the Rab escort protein-1 (REP1). The Rep1 protein facilitates posttranslational modification of Rab proteins, which regulate intracellular trafficking in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors and are likely involved in the removal of outer segment disk membranes by the RPE. A critical question for potential treatment of choroideremia is whether photoreceptor degeneration results from autonomous defects in opsin transport within the photoreceptor or as a nonautonomous and secondary consequence of RPE degeneration. To address this question, we have characterized the retinal pathology in zebrafish rep1 mutants, which carry a recessive nonsense mutation in the REP1 gene. Zebrafish rep1 mutants exhibit degeneration of the RPE and photoreceptors and complete loss of visual function as measured by electroretinograms. In the mutant RPE, photoreceptor outer segment material was not effectively eliminated, and large vacuoles were observed. However, opsin trafficking in photoreceptors occurred normally. Mosaic analysis revealed that photoreceptor degeneration was nonautonomous and required contact with the mutant RPE as mutant photoreceptors were rescued in wild-type hosts and wild-type photoreceptors degenerated in mutant hosts. We conclude that mutations in REP1 disrupt cellular processes in the RPE, which causes photoreceptor death as a secondary consequence. These results suggest that therapies that correct the RPE may successfully rescue photoreceptor loss in choroideremia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan L. Krock
- *Department of Biology, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX 77843; and
| | - Joseph Bilotta
- Department of Psychology and Biotechnology Center, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101
| | - Brian D. Perkins
- *Department of Biology, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX 77843; and
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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41
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Berry JP, Gantar M, Gibbs PDL, Schmale MC. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo as a model system for identification and characterization of developmental toxins from marine and freshwater microalgae. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2007; 145:61-72. [PMID: 17020820 PMCID: PMC2573033 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2006.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2006] [Revised: 07/08/2006] [Accepted: 07/10/2006] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo has emerged as an important model of vertebrate development. As such, this model system is finding utility in the investigation of toxic agents that inhibit, or otherwise interfere with, developmental processes (i.e. developmental toxins), including compounds that have potential relevance to both human and environmental health, as well as biomedicine. Recently, this system has been applied increasingly to the study of microbial toxins, and more specifically, as an aquatic animal model, has been employed to investigate toxins from marine and freshwater microalgae, including those classified among the so-called "harmful algal blooms" (HABs). We have developed this system for identification and characterization of toxins from cyanobacteria (i.e. "blue-green algae") isolated from the Florida Everglades and other freshwater sources in South and Central Florida. Here we review the use of this system as it has been applied generally to the investigation of toxins from marine and freshwater microalgae, and illustrate this utility as we have applied it to the detection, bioassay-guided fractionation and subsequent characterization of developmental toxins from freshwater cyanobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Berry
- Marine Biology and Fisheries, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
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42
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Franz-Odendaal TA, Ryan K, Hall BK. Developmental and morphological variation in the teleost craniofacial skeleton reveals an unusual mode of ossification. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2007; 308:709-21. [PMID: 17577202 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.21185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the morphology and development of the scleral ossicles within the eyes of three species from three basal teleost orders, namely, the alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus; Clupeiformes), the surface morph of the Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus; Characiformes) and zebrafish (Danio rerio; Cypriniformes). Two morphologies, circular and elongated, and one variation, fused elements, were identified. Zebrafish have small circular ossicles, whereas the alewife and the Mexican tetra have elongated ossicles. Surprisingly in the Mexican tetra these elements fuse at one end forming a continuous element with an antero-ventral opening; this may be typical for the Order Characiformes. Regardless of morphology, the ossicles develop via unilateral perichondral ossification of the scleral cartilage from two centers opposite one another in the eye. This unilateral type of ossification, in which only the perichondrium furthest from the retina contributes to the ossicles, has not previously been reported in any vertebrate. Because either the perichondrium and/or an extension of the perichondrium can transform into the scleral ossicle, we refer to the transitional tissue as periskeletal. Although the functional significance of the different shaped ossicles is unclear, skeletal muscle attaches directly to these bones, implying voluntary control. The morphological and developmental variation of teleost scleral ossicles makes them an ideal system for determining the genetic basis underlying phenotypic variation as well as for studying mechanisms underlying osteogenic and chondrogenic processes in teleosts. These data support our previous finding that scleral ossicles in teleosts may not be homologous to those in other vertebrates, such as reptiles.
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Matsui JI, Egana AL, Sponholtz TR, Adolph AR, Dowling JE. Effects of ethanol on photoreceptors and visual function in developing zebrafish. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2006; 47:4589-97. [PMID: 17003456 PMCID: PMC2408731 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.05-0971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Children born to mothers who have consumed alcohol during pregnancy have an array of retinal abnormalities and visual dysfunctions. In the past, rodent systems have been used to study the teratogenic effects of ethanol on vertebrate embryonic development. The exact developmental windows in which ethanol causes specific developmental defects have been difficult to determine because rodents and other mammals develop in utero. In this study, we characterized how ethanol affects the function and development of the visual system in an ex utero embryonic system, the zebrafish. METHODS Zebrafish embryos were raised in fish water containing various concentrations of ethanol from 2 to 5 days after fertilization. The effects of ethanol on retinal morphology were assessed by histologic and immunohistochemical analyses and those on retinal function were analyzed by optokinetic response (OKR) and electroretinography (ERG). RESULTS Zebrafish embryos exposed to moderate and high levels of ethanol during early embryonic development had morphological abnormalities of the eye characterized by hypoplasia of the optic nerve and inhibition of photoreceptor outer segment growth. Ethanol treatment also caused an increased visual threshold as measured by the OKR. Analysis with the ERG indicated that there was a severe reduction of both the a- and b-waves, suggesting that ethanol affects the function of the photoreceptors. Indeed, low levels of ethanol that did not cause obvious morphologic changes in either the body or retina did affect both the OKR visual threshold and the a- and b-wave amplitudes. CONCLUSIONS Ethanol affects photoreceptor function at low concentrations that do not disturb retinal morphology. Higher levels of ethanol inhibit photoreceptor development and cause hypoplasia of the optic nerve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan I Matsui
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
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