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  1. Article ; Online: PCB and TCDD derived embryonic cardiac defects result from a novel AhR pathway.

    Singleman, Corinna / Holtzman, Nathalia G

    Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

    2021  Volume 233, Page(s) 105794

    Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) are environmental contaminants known to impact cardiac development, a key step in the embryonic development of most animals. To date, little is understood of the molecular ... ...

    Abstract Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) are environmental contaminants known to impact cardiac development, a key step in the embryonic development of most animals. To date, little is understood of the molecular mechanism driving the observed cardiac defects in exposed fishes. The literature shows PCB & TCDD derived cardiac defects are concurrent with, but not caused by, expression of cyp1A, due to activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) gene activation pathway. However, in this study, detailed visualization of fish hearts exposed to PCBs and TCDD show that, in addition to a failure of cardiac looping in early heart development, the inner endocardial lining of the heart fails to maintain proper cell adhesion and tissue integrity. The resulting gap between the endocardium and myocardium in both zebrafish and Atlantic sturgeon suggested functional faults in endothelial adherens junction formation. Thus, we explored the molecular mechanism triggering cardiac defects using immunohistochemistry to identify the location and phosphorylation state of key regulatory and adhesion molecules. We hypothesized that PCB and TCDD activates AhR, phosphorylating Src, which then phosphorylates the endothelial adherens junction protein, VEcadherin. When phosphorylated, VEcadherin dimers, found in the endocardium and vasculature, separate, reducing tissue integrity. In zebrafish, treatment with PCB and TCDD contaminants leads to higher phosphorylation of VEcadherin in cardiac tissue suggesting that these cells have reduced connectivity. Small molecule inhibition of Src phosphorylation prevents contaminant stimulated phosphorylation of VEcadherin and rescues both cardiac function and gross morphology. Atlantic sturgeon hearts show parallels to contaminant exposed zebrafish cardiac phenotype at the tissue level. These data suggest that the mechanism for PCB and TCDD action in the heart is, in part, distinct from the canonical mechanism described in the literature and that cardiac defects are impacted by this nongenomic mechanism.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Drug Synergism ; Embryo, Nonmammalian/abnormalities ; Embryo, Nonmammalian/drug effects ; Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism ; Embryonic Development/drug effects ; Heart/drug effects ; Heart/embryology ; Myocardium/metabolism ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls/toxicity ; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins/toxicity ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/metabolism ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity ; Zebrafish/growth & development ; Zebrafish/metabolism
    Chemical Substances Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls (DFC2HB4I0K) ; 3,4,5,3',4'-pentachlorobiphenyl (TSH69IA9XF)
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-02-25
    Publishing country Netherlands
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 782699-0
    ISSN 1879-1514 ; 0166-445X
    ISSN (online) 1879-1514
    ISSN 0166-445X
    DOI 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105794
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  2. Article: PCB and TCDD derived embryonic cardiac defects result from a novel AhR pathway

    Singleman, Corinna / Holtzman, Nathalia G

    Aquatic toxicology. 2021 Apr., v. 233

    2021  

    Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) are environmental contaminants known to impact cardiac development, a key step in the embryonic development of most animals. To date, little is understood of the molecular ... ...

    Abstract Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) are environmental contaminants known to impact cardiac development, a key step in the embryonic development of most animals. To date, little is understood of the molecular mechanism driving the observed cardiac defects in exposed fishes. The literature shows PCB & TCDD derived cardiac defects are concurrent with, but not caused by, expression of cyp1A, due to activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) gene activation pathway. However, in this study, detailed visualization of fish hearts exposed to PCBs and TCDD show that, in addition to a failure of cardiac looping in early heart development, the inner endocardial lining of the heart fails to maintain proper cell adhesion and tissue integrity. The resulting gap between the endocardium and myocardium in both zebrafish and Atlantic sturgeon suggested functional faults in endothelial adherens junction formation. Thus, we explored the molecular mechanism triggering cardiac defects using immunohistochemistry to identify the location and phosphorylation state of key regulatory and adhesion molecules. We hypothesized that PCB and TCDD activates AhR, phosphorylating Src, which then phosphorylates the endothelial adherens junction protein, VEcadherin. When phosphorylated, VEcadherin dimers, found in the endocardium and vasculature, separate, reducing tissue integrity. In zebrafish, treatment with PCB and TCDD contaminants leads to higher phosphorylation of VEcadherin in cardiac tissue suggesting that these cells have reduced connectivity. Small molecule inhibition of Src phosphorylation prevents contaminant stimulated phosphorylation of VEcadherin and rescues both cardiac function and gross morphology. Atlantic sturgeon hearts show parallels to contaminant exposed zebrafish cardiac phenotype at the tissue level. These data suggest that the mechanism for PCB and TCDD action in the heart is, in part, distinct from the canonical mechanism described in the literature and that cardiac defects are impacted by this nongenomic mechanism.
    Keywords Acipenser oxyrinchus ; Danio rerio ; adhesion ; aryl hydrocarbon receptors ; cardiac output ; cell adhesion ; embryogenesis ; fish ; gene activation ; immunohistochemistry ; myocardium ; phenotype ; phosphorylation ; pollution ; polychlorinated biphenyls ; tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin ; toxicology
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2021-04
    Publishing place Elsevier B.V.
    Document type Article
    Note NAL-AP-2-clean
    ZDB-ID 782699-0
    ISSN 1879-1514 ; 0166-445X
    ISSN (online) 1879-1514
    ISSN 0166-445X
    DOI 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105794
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  3. Article: Toxic Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Congeners and Aroclors on Embryonic Growth and Development

    Singleman, Corinna / Zimmerman, Alison / Harrison, Elise / Roy, Nirmal K / Wirgin, Isaac / Holtzman, Nathalia G

    Environmental toxicology and chemistry. 2021 Jan., v. 40, no. 1

    2021  

    Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) cause significant health and reproductive problems in many vertebrates. Exposure during embryogenesis likely leads to defects in organ development, compromising survival and growth through adulthood. The present study ... ...

    Abstract Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) cause significant health and reproductive problems in many vertebrates. Exposure during embryogenesis likely leads to defects in organ development, compromising survival and growth through adulthood. The present study identifies the impact of PCBs on the embryonic development of key organs and resulting consequences on survival and growth. Zebrafish embryos were treated with individual PCB congeners (126 or 104) or one of 4 Aroclor mixtures (1016, 1242, 1254, or 1260) and analyzed for changes in gross embryonic morphology. Specific organs were assessed for defects during embryonic development, using a variety of transgenic zebrafish to improve organ visualization. Resulting larvae were grown to adulthood while survival and growth were assayed. Embryonic gross development on PCB treatment was abnormal, with defects presenting in a concentration‐dependent manner in the liver, pancreas, heart, and blood vessel organization. Polychlorinated biphenyl 126 treatment resulted in the most consistently severe and fatal phenotypes, whereas treatments with PCB 104 and Aroclors resulted in a range of more subtle organ defects. Survival of fish was highly variable although the growth rates of surviving fish were relatively normal, suggesting that maturing PCB‐treated fish that survive develop compensatory strategies needed to reach adulthood. Life span analyses of fish from embryogenesis through adulthood, as in the present study, are scarce but important for the field because they help identify foci for further studies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:187–201. © 2020 SETAC
    Keywords Danio rerio ; adulthood ; aroclors ; blood vessels ; chemistry ; ecotoxicology ; embryogenesis ; fish ; genetically modified organisms ; heart ; liver ; longevity ; pancreas ; toxicity
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2021-01
    Size p. 187-201.
    Publishing place John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
    Document type Article
    Note NAL-AP-2-clean ; JOURNAL ARTICLE
    ZDB-ID 46234-2
    ISSN 1552-8618 ; 0730-7268
    ISSN (online) 1552-8618
    ISSN 0730-7268
    DOI 10.1002/etc.4908
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  4. Article ; Online: Toxic Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Congeners and Aroclors on Embryonic Growth and Development.

    Singleman, Corinna / Zimmerman, Alison / Harrison, Elise / Roy, Nirmal K / Wirgin, Isaac / Holtzman, Nathalia G

    Environmental toxicology and chemistry

    2020  Volume 40, Issue 1, Page(s) 187–201

    Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) cause significant health and reproductive problems in many vertebrates. Exposure during embryogenesis likely leads to defects in organ development, compromising survival and growth through adulthood. The present study ... ...

    Abstract Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) cause significant health and reproductive problems in many vertebrates. Exposure during embryogenesis likely leads to defects in organ development, compromising survival and growth through adulthood. The present study identifies the impact of PCBs on the embryonic development of key organs and resulting consequences on survival and growth. Zebrafish embryos were treated with individual PCB congeners (126 or 104) or one of 4 Aroclor mixtures (1016, 1242, 1254, or 1260) and analyzed for changes in gross embryonic morphology. Specific organs were assessed for defects during embryonic development, using a variety of transgenic zebrafish to improve organ visualization. Resulting larvae were grown to adulthood while survival and growth were assayed. Embryonic gross development on PCB treatment was abnormal, with defects presenting in a concentration-dependent manner in the liver, pancreas, heart, and blood vessel organization. Polychlorinated biphenyl 126 treatment resulted in the most consistently severe and fatal phenotypes, whereas treatments with PCB 104 and Aroclors resulted in a range of more subtle organ defects. Survival of fish was highly variable although the growth rates of surviving fish were relatively normal, suggesting that maturing PCB-treated fish that survive develop compensatory strategies needed to reach adulthood. Life span analyses of fish from embryogenesis through adulthood, as in the present study, are scarce but important for the field because they help identify foci for further studies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:187-201. © 2020 SETAC.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Aroclors/toxicity ; Growth and Development ; Liver ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls/toxicity ; Zebrafish
    Chemical Substances Aroclors ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls (DFC2HB4I0K)
    Language English
    Publishing date 2020-12-07
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article ; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
    ZDB-ID 46234-2
    ISSN 1552-8618 ; 0730-7268
    ISSN (online) 1552-8618
    ISSN 0730-7268
    DOI 10.1002/etc.4908
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  5. Article ; Online: Growth and maturation in the zebrafish, Danio rerio: a staging tool for teaching and research.

    Singleman, Corinna / Holtzman, Nathalia G

    Zebrafish

    2014  Volume 11, Issue 4, Page(s) 396–406

    Abstract: Zebrafish have been increasingly used as a teaching tool to enhance the learning of many biological concepts from genetics, development, and behavior to the understanding of the local watershed. Traditionally, in both research and teaching, zebrafish ... ...

    Abstract Zebrafish have been increasingly used as a teaching tool to enhance the learning of many biological concepts from genetics, development, and behavior to the understanding of the local watershed. Traditionally, in both research and teaching, zebrafish work has focused on embryonic stages; however, later stages, from larval through adulthood, are increasingly being examined. Defining developmental stages based on age is a problematic way to assess maturity, because many environmental factors, such as temperature, population density, and water quality, impact growth and maturation. Fish length and characterization of key external morphological traits are considered better markers for maturation state. While a number of staging series exist for zebrafish, here we present a simplified normalization table of post-embryonic maturation well suited to both educational and research use. Specifically, we utilize fish size and four easily identified external morphological traits (pigment pattern, tail fin, anal fin, and dorsal fin morphology) to describe three larval stages, a juvenile stage, and an adult stage. These simplified maturation standards will be a useful tool for both educational and research protocols.
    MeSH term(s) Animal Fins/anatomy & histology ; Animal Fins/growth & development ; Animals ; Environmental Health/education ; Pigmentation ; Research/trends ; Zebrafish/anatomy & histology ; Zebrafish/growth & development ; Zebrafish/physiology
    Language English
    Publishing date 2014-06-30
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article ; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
    ZDB-ID 2156020-1
    ISSN 1557-8542 ; 1545-8547
    ISSN (online) 1557-8542
    ISSN 1545-8547
    DOI 10.1089/zeb.2014.0976
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  6. Article ; Online: Analysis of postembryonic heart development and maturation in the zebrafish, Danio rerio.

    Singleman, Corinna / Holtzman, Nathalia G

    Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists

    2012  Volume 241, Issue 12, Page(s) 1993–2004

    Abstract: Background: Cardiac maturation is vital for animal survival and must occur throughout the animal's life. Zebrafish are increasingly used to model cardiac disease; however, little is known about how the cardiovascular system matures. We conducted a ... ...

    Abstract Background: Cardiac maturation is vital for animal survival and must occur throughout the animal's life. Zebrafish are increasingly used to model cardiac disease; however, little is known about how the cardiovascular system matures. We conducted a systematic analysis of cardiac maturation from larvae through to adulthood and assessed cardiac features influenced by genetic and environmental factors.
    Results: We identified a novel step in cardiac maturation, termed cardiac rotation, where the larval heart rotates into its final orientation within the thoracic cavity with the atrium placed behind the ventricle. This rotation is followed by linear ventricle growth and an increase in the angle between bulbous arteriosus and the ventricle. The ventricle transitions from a rectangle, to a triangle and ultimately a sphere that is significantly enveloped by the atrium. In addition, trabeculae are similarly patterned in the zebrafish and humans, both with muscular fingerlike projections and muscle bands that span the cardiac chamber. Of interest, partial loss of atrial contraction in myosin heavy chain 6 (myh6/wea(hu423/+)) mutants result in the adult maintaining a larval cardiac form.
    Conclusions: These findings serve as a foundation for the study of defects in cardiovascular development from both genetic and environmental factors.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Heart Atria/embryology ; Heart Defects, Congenital/embryology ; Heart Defects, Congenital/etiology ; Heart Defects, Congenital/genetics ; Heart Ventricles/cytology ; Heart Ventricles/embryology ; Mutation ; Myocardium/cytology ; Myocardium/metabolism ; Myosin Heavy Chains/genetics ; Myosin Heavy Chains/metabolism ; Zebrafish/embryology ; Zebrafish/genetics ; Zebrafish Proteins/genetics ; Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
    Chemical Substances Zebrafish Proteins ; myh6 protein, zebrafish ; Myosin Heavy Chains (EC 3.6.4.1)
    Language English
    Publishing date 2012-11-05
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article ; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
    ZDB-ID 1102541-4
    ISSN 1097-0177 ; 1058-8388
    ISSN (online) 1097-0177
    ISSN 1058-8388
    DOI 10.1002/dvdy.23882
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  7. Article ; Online: Learning to Fish with Genetics: A Primer on the Vertebrate Model Danio rerio.

    Holtzman, Nathalia G / Iovine, M Kathryn / Liang, Jennifer O / Morris, Jacqueline

    Genetics

    2016  Volume 203, Issue 3, Page(s) 1069–1089

    Abstract: In the last 30 years, the zebrafish has become a widely used model organism for research on vertebrate development and disease. Through a powerful combination of genetics and experimental embryology, significant inroads have been made into the regulation ...

    Abstract In the last 30 years, the zebrafish has become a widely used model organism for research on vertebrate development and disease. Through a powerful combination of genetics and experimental embryology, significant inroads have been made into the regulation of embryonic axis formation, organogenesis, and the development of neural networks. Research with this model has also expanded into other areas, including the genetic regulation of aging, regeneration, and animal behavior. Zebrafish are a popular model because of the ease with which they can be maintained, their small size and low cost, the ability to obtain hundreds of embryos on a daily basis, and the accessibility, translucency, and rapidity of early developmental stages. This primer describes the swift progress of genetic approaches in zebrafish and highlights recent advances that have led to new insights into vertebrate biology.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Models, Animal ; Organogenesis/genetics ; Regeneration/genetics ; Zebrafish/embryology ; Zebrafish/genetics ; Zebrafish/growth & development
    Language English
    Publishing date 2016-07
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article ; Review
    ZDB-ID 2167-2
    ISSN 1943-2631 ; 0016-6731
    ISSN (online) 1943-2631
    ISSN 0016-6731
    DOI 10.1534/genetics.116.190843
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  8. Article ; Online: Heart dissection in larval, juvenile and adult zebrafish, Danio rerio.

    Singleman, Corinna / Holtzman, Nathalia G

    Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE

    2011  , Issue 55

    Abstract: Zebrafish have become a beneficial and practical model organism for the study of embryonic heart development, however, work examining post-embryonic through adult cardiac development has been limited. Examining the changing morphology of the maturing and ...

    Abstract Zebrafish have become a beneficial and practical model organism for the study of embryonic heart development, however, work examining post-embryonic through adult cardiac development has been limited. Examining the changing morphology of the maturing and aging heart are restricted by the lack of techniques available for staging and isolating juvenile and adult hearts. In order to analyze heart development over the fish's lifespan, we dissect zebrafish hearts at numerous stages and photograph them for further analysis. The morphological features of the heart can easily be quantified and individual hearts can be further analyzed by a host of standard methods. Zebrafish grow at variable rates and maturation correlates better with fish size than age, thus, post-fixation, we photograph and measure fish length as a gauge of fish maturation. This protocol explains two distinct, size dependent dissection techniques for zebrafish, ranging from larvae 3.5 mm standard length (SL) with hearts of 100 μm ventricle length (VL), to adults, with SL of 30 mm and VL 1mm or larger. Larval and adult fish have quite distinct body and organ morphology. Larvae are not only significantly smaller, they have less pigment and each organ is visually very difficult to identify. For this reason, we use distinct dissection techniques. We used pre-dissection fixation procedures, as we discovered that hearts dissected directly after euthanization have a more variable morphology, with very loose and balloon like atria compared with hearts removed following fixation. The fish fixed prior to dissection, retain in vivo morphology and chamber position (data not shown). In addition, for demonstration purposes, we take advantage of the heart (myocardial) specific GFP transgenic Tg(myl7:GFP)(twu34), which allows us to visualize the entire heart and is particularly useful at early stages in development when the cardiac morphology is less distinct from surrounding tissues. Dissection of the heart makes further analysis of the cell and molecular biology underlying heart development and maturation using in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, RNA extraction or other analytical methods easier in post-embryonic zebrafish. This protocol will provide a valuable technique for the study of cardiac development maturation and aging.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures/methods ; Dissection/methods ; Female ; Heart/anatomy & histology ; Heart/growth & development ; Male ; Zebrafish/anatomy & histology ; Zebrafish/embryology ; Zebrafish/growth & development ; Zebrafish/surgery
    Language English
    Publishing date 2011-09-30
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article ; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Video-Audio Media
    ZDB-ID 2259946-0
    ISSN 1940-087X ; 1940-087X
    ISSN (online) 1940-087X
    ISSN 1940-087X
    DOI 10.3791/3165
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  9. Article ; Online: Integration of nodal and BMP signals in the heart requires FoxH1 to create left-right differences in cell migration rates that direct cardiac asymmetry.

    Lenhart, Kari F / Holtzman, Nathalia G / Williams, Jessica R / Burdine, Rebecca D

    PLoS genetics

    2013  Volume 9, Issue 1, Page(s) e1003109

    Abstract: Failure to properly establish the left-right (L/R) axis is a major cause of congenital heart defects in humans, but how L/R patterning of the embryo leads to asymmetric cardiac morphogenesis is still unclear. We find that asymmetric Nodal signaling on ... ...

    Abstract Failure to properly establish the left-right (L/R) axis is a major cause of congenital heart defects in humans, but how L/R patterning of the embryo leads to asymmetric cardiac morphogenesis is still unclear. We find that asymmetric Nodal signaling on the left and Bmp signaling act in parallel to establish zebrafish cardiac laterality by modulating cell migration velocities across the L/R axis. Moreover, we demonstrate that Nodal plays the crucial role in generating asymmetry in the heart and that Bmp signaling via Bmp4 is dispensable in the presence of asymmetric Nodal signaling. In addition, we identify a previously unappreciated role for the Nodal-transcription factor FoxH1 in mediating cell responsiveness to Bmp, further linking the control of these two pathways in the heart. The interplay between these TGFβ pathways is complex, with Nodal signaling potentially acting to limit the response to Bmp pathway activation and the dosage of Bmp signals being critical to limit migration rates. These findings have implications for understanding the complex genetic interactions that lead to congenital heart disease in humans.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Body Patterning/genetics ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4/genetics ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4/metabolism ; Cell Movement ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Heart/growth & development ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heterotaxy Syndrome ; Humans ; Left-Right Determination Factors ; Nodal Signaling Ligands/genetics ; Nodal Signaling Ligands/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Zebrafish/genetics ; Zebrafish/metabolism ; Zebrafish Proteins/genetics ; Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
    Chemical Substances Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; Left-Right Determination Factors ; Nodal Signaling Ligands ; Zebrafish Proteins ; bmp4 protein, zebrafish ; foxh1 protein, zebrafish
    Language English
    Publishing date 2013-01-24
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article ; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
    ZDB-ID 2186725-2
    ISSN 1553-7404 ; 1553-7390
    ISSN (online) 1553-7404
    ISSN 1553-7390
    DOI 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003109
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  10. Article: Heart dissection in larval, juvenile and adult zebrafish, Danio rerio

    Singleman, Corinna / Holtzman, Nathalia G

    Journal of visualized experiments. 2011 Sept. 30, , no. 55

    2011  

    Abstract: Zebrafish have become a beneficial and practical model organism for the study of embryonic heart development (see recent reviews1-6), however, work examining post-embryonic through adult cardiac development has been limited7-10. Examining the changing ... ...

    Abstract Zebrafish have become a beneficial and practical model organism for the study of embryonic heart development (see recent reviews1-6), however, work examining post-embryonic through adult cardiac development has been limited7-10. Examining the changing morphology of the maturing and aging heart are restricted by the lack of techniques available for staging and isolating juvenile and adult hearts. In order to analyze heart development over the fish's lifespan, we dissect zebrafish hearts at numerous stages and photograph them for further analysis11. The morphological features of the heart can easily be quantified and individual hearts can be further analyzed by a host of standard methods. Zebrafish grow at variable rates and maturation correlates better with fish size than age, thus, post-fixation, we photograph and measure fish length as a gauge of fish maturation. This protocol explains two distinct, size dependent dissection techniques for zebrafish, ranging from larvae 3.5mm standard length (SL) with hearts of 100μm ventricle length (VL), to adults, with SL of 30mm and VL 1mm or larger. Larval and adult fish have quite distinct body and organ morphology. Larvae are not only significantly smaller, they have less pigment and each organ is visually very difficult to identify. For this reason, we use distinct dissection techniques. We used pre-dissection fixation procedures, as we discovered that hearts dissected directly after euthanization have a more variable morphology, with very loose and balloon like atria compared with hearts removed following fixation. The fish fixed prior to dissection, retain in vivo morphology and chamber position (data not shown). In addition, for demonstration purposes, we take advantage of the heart (myocardial) specific GFP transgenic Tg(myl7:GFP)twu34 (12), which allows us to visualize the entire heart and is particularly useful at early stages in development when the cardiac morphology is less distinct from surrounding tissues. Dissection of the heart makes further analysis of the cell and molecular biology underlying heart development and maturation using in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, RNA extraction or other analytical methods easier in post-embryonic zebrafish. This protocol will provide a valuable technique for the study of cardiac development maturation and aging.
    Keywords Danio rerio ; RNA ; adults ; analytical methods ; fish ; genetically modified organisms ; heart ; immunohistochemistry ; in situ hybridization ; juveniles ; larvae ; longevity ; models ; molecular biology ; photographs ; tissues
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2011-0930
    Size p. e3165.
    Publishing place Journal of Visualized Experiments
    Document type Article
    ZDB-ID 2259946-0
    ISSN 1940-087X
    ISSN 1940-087X
    DOI 10.3791/3165
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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