Effect of Water and Ethanol Extracts from Solid-State Fermented Wheat Product on the Protection and Repair of Brain Cells in Zebrafish Embryos.

Extracts from can cause neural cells to produce nerve growth factor (NGF) and protect against neuron death. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ethanol and hot water extracts from solid-state fermented wheat product on the brain cells of zebrafish embryos in both pre-dosing protection mode and post-dosing repair mode. The results showed that 1% ethanol could effectively promote zebrafish embryo brain cell death.

Epibranchial and otic placodes are induced by a common Fgf signal, but their subsequent development is independent.

The epibranchial placodes are cranial, ectodermal thickenings that give rise to sensory neurons of the peripheral nervous system. Despite their importance in the developing animal, the signals responsible for their induction remain unknown. Using the placodal marker, sox3, we have shown that the same Fgf signaling required for otic vesicle development is required for the development of the epibranchial placodes.

A change in response to Bmp signalling precedes ectodermal fate choice.

Bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp) signalling plays a central role in the decision of ectoderm to adopt either neural or non-neural fates. The effects of this signalling are seen at mid-gastrulation in the activation of genes such as the Gata factors and the repression of genes such as the SoxB1 transcription factors in the non-neural regions. Using zebrafish embryos, we show that this Bmp signalling does not repress the expression of these same neural markers just 2-3 hours earlier.