Project description:The commercially available zebrafish (Danio rerio) gene expression microarray (4x44K format, Agilent G2519F-026437) was used to characterise the changes in gene expression levels in the ovary and brain of adult female zebrafish after exposure to 55, 553 and 5442 ng/L DRS for 14 days. Also, the transcriptional response in the brain of adult female zebrafish was characterised after exposure to mixtures of DRS and P4 at concentrations of 27+0.8, 277+8, 3119+123 (ng/L), respectively. This study was designed to achieve an understanding of the mode of action of DRS and steroid mixtures in zebrafish.
Project description:Dieldrin is a legacy pesticide that has multiple modes of action (MOA) that include being an estrogen receptor agonist, GABA receptor antagonist, and a chemical that disrupts mitochondrial function. There is also evidence that dieldrin exposure is significantly associated with an increased risk for neurodegeneration in humans. The objective of this thesis was to clarify the effects of dieldrin in the hypothalamus, the major neuroendocrine region of the brain, in the zebrafish (Danio rerio). Zebrafish were fed pellets containing 0.03, 0.15, or 1.8 µg/g dieldrin for 21 days and a global gene expression analysis was performed to characterize cellular processes and pathways affected by dieldrin.
Project description:The possible benefits of selenium (Se) supplementation are currently under investigation for prevention of certain cancers and treatment of neurological disorders. Little is known concerning the response of the brain to increased dietary Se under conditions of Se sufficiency, despite the majority of Se supplementation trials occurring in healthy subjects considered Se sufficient. We evaluated the transcriptional response of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) brain to supplementation with nutritionally relevant levels of dietary Se (sodium selenite) during conditions of assumed Se sufficiency. We used a microarray approach to analyze the global gene expression response of the brain to dietary Se supplementation for 14 days. The experiment used Affymetrix microarrays to compare whole brain RNA from 8 adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) fed a diet with control selenium levels (1.4ppmSe) and 8 fed a diet supplemented with sodium selenite (5.6ppmSe) for 14 days, and with an equal sex ratio within each diet.
Project description:All vertebrates have multiple genes encoding for different CASQ isoforms. Increasing interest has been focused on mammalian and human CASQ genes since mutations of both cardiac (CASQ2) and skeletal (CASQ1) isoforms cause different, and sometime severe, human pathologies Danio rerio (zebrafish) is a powerful model for studying function and mutations of human proteins. In this work expression, biochemical properties and cellular and sub-cellular localization of Danio rerio native CASQ isoforms are investigated. By quantitative PCR three mRNAs were detected in skeletal muscle and one mRNA in heart. Three zebrafish CASQs were identified by mass spectrometry and they share properties with mammalian skeletal and cardiac CASQs. Skeletal calsequestrins were found primarily, but not exclusively, at the sarcomere Z-line level where Terminal Cisternae of Sarcoplasmic reticulum are located.
Project description:In triplicate for each condition, 12 WT and acbd6 F0 crispant Danio rerio (zebrafish) embryos were incubated with 20 μM YnMyr for 24 h, either between 48-72 hpf or 96-120 hpf. After labelling, zebrafish were washed twice with fresh egg water, deyolked, flash frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80°C until further analysis.
Project description:Methylmercury (MeHg) is a potent neurotoxin and endocrine disruptor that accumulates in aquatic systems. Previous studies have shown suppression of hormone levels in both male and female fish, suggesting effects on gonadotropin regulation in the brain. We investigated the gene expression profile in adult female zebrafish whole brain induced by acute (96 hr) MeHg exposure. Fish were exposed by injection to 0 or 0.5 µg MeHg/g. Gene expression changes in the brain were examined using a two-color 22,000 feature zebrafish microarray. At a significance level of p<0.01, 79 genes were up-regulated and 76 genes were down-regulated in response to MeHg exposure. Individual genes exhibiting altered expression in response to MeHg exposure implicate effects on glutathione metabolism and GABA-A receptors in the mechanism of MeHg neurotoxicity. Gene ontology (GO) terms significantly enriched among altered genes included protein folding, cell redox homeostasis, and steroid biosynthetic process. The most affected biological functions were related to the nervous system development and function, as well as lipid metabolism and molecular transport. These results support the involvement of oxidative stress and effects on protein structure in the mechanism of action of MeHg in the female brain. Future studies will compare the gene expression profile induced in response to MeHg with that induced by other toxins and investigate responsive genes as potential biomarkers of MeHg exposure.