Project description:Acute exposure to acrylamide (ACR), a type-2 alkene, may lead to a ataxia, skeletal muscles weakness and numbness of the extremities in exposed human and laboratory animals. Recently, a zebrafish model for ACR neurotoxicity mimicking most of the pathophysiological processes described in mammalian models, was generated in 8 days post-fertilization larvae. In order to better understand the predictive value of the zebrafish larvae model of acute ACR neurotoxicity, in the present manuscript the ACR acute neurotoxicity has been characterized in the brain of adult zebrafish, and the results compared with those obtained with the whole-larvae. Although qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data shows important differences in the ACR effects between the adult brain and the whole-larvae, the overall effects of ACR in adult zebrafish, including a significant decrease in locomotor activity, altered expression of transcriptional markers of proteins involved in synaptic vesicle cycle, presence of ACR-adducts on cysteine residues of some synaptic proteins, and changes in the profile of some neurotransmitter systems, are similar to those described in the larvae. Thus, these results support the suitability of the zebrafish ACR acute neurotoxicity recently developed in larvae for screening of molecules with therapeutic value to treat this toxic neuropathy.
Project description:Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Many carcinogens induce inflammation and cirrhosis, and eventually develop into liver cancer. Fucoidan is sulfated polysaccharide that is mainly found in brown seaweeds. In this study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of low molecular weight fucoidan (i.e. oligo-fucoidan) preventing hepatocarcinogenesis using HBx,Src, and HBx,Src,p53-/+ transgenic zebrafish liver cancer model. Using an oligo-fucoidan oral gavage in adult transgenic zebrafish, we then used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression after fucoidan treatment and identified distinct classes of up- and down-regulated genes during this process.
Project description:Oligo-fucoidan (OF), a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed, exhibits anti-inflammation and antitumor effects, however, knowledge concerning the detailed mechanism of oligo-fucoidan on liver cells is obscure. In this study, we investigate the effect of oligo-fucoidan in normal hepatocytes using transcriptomic analysis. Using an oligo-fucoidan oral gavage in adult wild-type zebrafish, we then used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression after fucoidan treatment and identified distinct classes of up- and down-regulated genes during this process.
Project description:In zebrafish, there are interactions between black pigment cells (melanophores) and yellow pigment cells (xanthophores) for pigment-pattern formation. However, the detailed molecular mechanism of these interactions remains largely unknown. We used microarray for identifying the molecular basis of these interactions by comparing gene expression between melanophores and xanthophores. Zebrafish pigment cells were collected from adult-fish fins by centrifugal separation or using cell sorter. melanophores vs. xanthophores
