We developed and optimized a screening procedure, in which zebrafish embryos were explored as a model for the evaluation of the specific embryotoxic and teratogenic potential of chemicals. A selection of known positive (retinoic acid, valproic acid, caffeine, lithium chloride) and negative (glucose, saccharin) compounds for developmental toxicity were used to evaluate this method. We exposed embryos and evaluated embryotoxicity and morphological characteristics of the embryos at 24, 48, 72 and 144 h post fertilization. After evaluation of the induced effects, concentration-response curves were created for both embryotoxicity and teratogenic effects. Values for teratogenic indices (TI) were calculated as the ratio LC(50)/EC(50). The results obtained were compared to existing data from studies with laboratory animals and humans. We demonstrated that our classification of the compounds, based on TI values, allows to distinguish teratogens from non-teratogens and supports the application of zebrafish embryos as an alternative method for developmental toxicity studies to predict effects in mammals.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2009.05.004 | DOI Listing |
Sci Adv
January 2025
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
The evolutionary origin of the vertebrate brain remains a major subject of debate, as its development from a dorsal tubular neuroepithelium is unique to chordates. To shed light on the evolutionary emergence of the vertebrate brain, we compared anterior neuroectoderm development across deuterostome species, using available single-cell datasets from sea urchin, amphioxus, and zebrafish embryos. We identified a conserved gene co-expression module, comparable to the anterior gene regulatory network (aGRN) controlling apical organ development in ambulacrarians, and spatially mapped it by multiplexed in situ hybridization to the developing retina and hypothalamus of chordates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCells
January 2025
IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa, Italy.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social skills and the presence of repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests. The social behavior of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) makes this organism a valuable tool for modeling ASD in order to explore the social impairment typical of this disorder. In addition to transgenic models, exposure of zebrafish embryos to valproic acid (VPA) has been found to produce ASD-like symptoms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTzu Chi Med J
July 2024
Department of Chemistry, Tamkang University, New Taipei, Taiwan.
Objectives: Guo Min decoction (GMD) is a Chinese traditional medicine that can regulate allergy-related symptoms. Although GMD treatment was reported to treat allergy-associated symptoms by regulating the immune response, the rationale between GMD treatment and angiogenesis has not been reported yet. Our objective is to investigate the angiogenesis-modulating activity of GMD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Pharmacol Toxicol
January 2025
Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
Background: Dermatophytes, the primary causative agents of superficial cutaneous fungal infections in humans, present a significant therapeutic challenge owing to the increasing prevalence of recurrent infections and the emergence of antifungal resistance. To address this critical gap, this study was designed to investigate the antifungal potential of 3-benzylideneindolin-2-one against dermatophytes and assess its in vivo toxicological profile using brine shrimp and zebrafish embryo models.
Methods: The antifungal activity of 3-benzylideneindolin-2-one was evaluated against 30 clinical isolates of dermatophyte species, including Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum canis, and Epidermophyton floccosum, by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) using the broth microdilution method.
N Biotechnol
January 2025
Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China. Electronic address:
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the first germline stem cells to emerge during early embryonic development and are essential for the propagation and survival of species. Genome editing creates mutagenesis possibilities in vivo, but the generation of precise mutations in PGCs is still challenging. Here, we report an optimized approach for highly efficient genome editing via introducing biallelic variations in early embryos in zebrafish.
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