Rederivation of a mutant line (prop 1) of zebrafish Danio rerio infected with Pseudoloma neurophilia using in vitro fertilization with eggs from pathogen-free wild-type (AB) females and sperm from prop 1 males

Along with the growing number of laboratories that work with zebrafish (Danio rerio), it is necessary to have animals with good sanitary quality. Specific pathogens can interfere with the experimental results and in the life quality of the animals. Pseudoloma neurophilia is a parasite with high potential for interference in behavioural, morphology, toxicological and genetic research, and is very common in zebrafish facilities. With that, we implemented a protocol for the pathogen elimination in a genetically modified lineage (prop 1) using eggs from specific pathogen-free (SPF) wild-type fish (AB line) for in vitro fertilization, along with water recirculation equipment disinfection, appropriate PCR screening and back crossing protocols. This resulted in SPF prop 1 heterozygotes, which allowed us to move forward with subsequent crossings to develop homozygote prop 1 mutants for our research. Hence, this demonstrates a useful strategy for an individual research laboratory to rederive a specific mutant free line that is not available from other SPF laboratories.     

Effect of age on the mercury sensitivity of zebrafish (Danio rerio) sperm

The effect of age on the sensitivity of zebrafish sperm against mercury exposure was investigated in the present study. Although results of the use of sperm from mature individuals for toxicity tests have been published, there is no information about the exact age of the fish in some cases, which can affect the results. During the experiments, pooled sperm was stripped from males of 7, 12, or 18 months of age, divided into 5 sub-groups, diluted with different concentrations of Hg (0, 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 mg/L Hg), and incubated for 240 min. The motility parameters of sperm (progressive motility (%), curvilinear velocity (VCL)) were measured by a computer-assisted sperm analysis system, at 30, 120, and 240 min of exposure. Regarding the age, significant differences were found in PMOT (p?=?0.0267) as well as in VCL (p?=?0.0004) among the three different age groups. The different concentrations of Hg also caused significant differences. The most significant differences in PMOT were between the 7- and 18-month-old groups; these differences were observed at 0.5, 1 and 2.5 mg/L Hg at 30 min, at 0.5 and 1 mg/L at 120 min, as well as at 0.5 mg/L at 240 min. In VCL the most significant differences were found between the 7- and 12-month-old groups; significant differences were found at each tested concentration at 30 min as well as at 0.5 and 2.5 mg/L at 240 min. According to the results, the age of zebrafish negatively influences the sensitivity of its sperm. This may concern not only toxicology tests but many techniques in fish breeding where the sperm is treated before use (cryopreservation, pressure shock, etc.).

     

Ontogeny of sexual differentiation in different strains of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The zebrafish (ZF) undergoes juvenile hermaphroditism, where in all fish, the gonad first develops as an ovary-like structure, before the sex is fixed and the gonad then differentiates into either a testis or an ovary. Sexual differentiation is being adopted as an endpoint for assessing endocrine disrupting chemicals, yet there is only very limited information on the timing and variability in sexual differentiation process both within and between strains of ZF. In this study, using gonad histology, the ontogeny of sexual differentiation was studied in two strains of ZF, one with a high level of heterozygocity (WIK strain) and another that had been in-bred for several generations. There was a high variability in the timing of sex differentiation between individuals within a specific strain (with no obvious relationship with body mass), but there were no differences between the two strains. Transformation of the immature gonad into testes in males started in week 5 post fertilization (pf) and completion of sexual differentiation for all fish in both study populations occurred by week 11–12 pf. The size of the fish containing transforming gonads in the WIK strain and in-bred strain were similar (ranging from 12 to 23 mm, and from 13 to 22 mm total length, respectively).     

Effects of nutritional status and diet composition on fatty acid transporters expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This study investigated the expression of zebrafish (Danio rerio) fatty acid transporters, such as scavenger receptor CD36, plasma membrane fatty acid‐binding protein (FABPpm), and fatty acid transport protein family (FATPs), in responses to nutritional status and diet composition. For diet composition study, three isonitrogenous (43% crude protein) purified diets were formulated to contain 6%, 12% and 18% crude lipid levels. Meanwhile five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic purified diets were formulated to contain different lipid sources including fish oil (FO; rich in n‐3 HUFA), palmitic acid (PA; rich in C16:0), olive oil (OO; rich in C18:1n‐9), sunflower oil (SO; rich in C18:2n‐6) or perilla oil (PO; rich in C18:3n‐3) as the sole lipid source. Results showed that liver CD36, FABPpm‐a, FABPpm‐b, FATP1‐a and FATP6, intestine CD36, FABPpm‐a and FABPpm‐b, and muscle CD36 and FATP1‐b were significantly increased during postprandial period. During starvation, liver CD36, FABPpm‐a, FABPpm‐b and FATP1‐a, intestine FABPpm‐a, FABPpm‐b, FATP4 and FATP6, and muscle FATP1‐b, FATP4 and FATP6 were significantly increased. The expression of some fatty acid transporters (including liver CD36 and FABPpm‐b, intestine FABPpm‐a, and muscle CD36, FABPpm‐a, FATP1‐a, FATP2 and FATP4) was up‐regulated by refeeding, while the expression of other fatty acid transporters (liver FABPpm‐a and intestine FATP1‐a, FATP4 and FATP6) was down‐regulated by refeeding. The expression of several fatty acid transporters (liver FATP2 and FATP4, and intestine CD36, FATP2 and FATP4) was significantly increased by high‐lipid diet, whereas CD36, FATP1‐b, FATP2 and FATP4 expression in the muscle were reduced by increasing dietary lipid level. Compared with FO group, the muscle of fish fed the diet with OO had a higher CD36 mRNA abundance, while the muscle of fish fed the diet with OO and PO had a higher FATP1‐b expression. Compared with the FO group, the hepatic FATP2 mRNA was significantly increased in the PA group, while the intestine FATP2 mRNA was significantly increased in the SO and PO groups. In addition, intestine FATP4 expression in the PA and OO groups was lower compared with the FO group. The results indicate that zebrafish fatty acid transporters play a central role in coordinating the mobilization of fuel substrates in responses to nutritional status and diet composition.     

Limitations for prolonged chilled storage of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

Chilled storage of zebrafish embryos is possible for up to 33 h at 8 °C without a loss in viability. In the present study, higher chilling temperatures in the range of 10–16 °C were tested to extend the storage periods to 65 h. It was also investigated whether prevention of microbiological growth with antibiotics and iodine, and stabilization of the quality of the storage solution by regular changes and constant aeration had an effect on the embryo and larvae viability. At incubation temperatures of 10 and 12 °C, the embryo development was completely arrested; at 14 and 16 °C, it proceeded slowly. At 10 °C, the percentage of embryos developing to the long‐pec stage was significantly lower than those at 12, 14 and 16 °C and in the control. At 10 and 12 °C, the percentage of embryos developing to the long‐pec stage decreased with increasing chilling period, while it remained constant at 14 and 16 °C. All chilling treatments resulted in low hatching rates <25% and many larvae showed malformations. Supplementation of storage solutions with antibiotics and iodine had no effect on the embryo and larvae viability, similar to regular solution changes and constant aeration.     

硝基苯对斑马鱼细胞DNA的损伤

硝基苯是重要的人造化工原料,人类的生产和生活使其可能成为水体和环境的污染源。为了解硝基苯对水产动物可能的致毒作用,采用单细胞凝胶电泳（SCGE）方法检测了不同浓度硝基苯染毒后的斑马鱼肝胰脏、肾脏、鳍条表皮和精子细胞DNA的损伤情况。当硝基苯的处理剂量在国家地表水环境质量标准（GB3838-2002）时（0.017 mg/L）,对斑马鱼肝胰脏、肾脏和精子细胞DNA的损伤不明显,分别为30%、33%和44%,与对照组相比差异不显著（P>0.05）;在同样浓度下,鳍条表皮细胞DNA受损率则高达69%。当硝基苯的浓度高于国家地表水环境质量标准时,可引起斑马鱼肝胰脏、肾脏、鳍条表皮和精子细胞DNA的严重损伤。处理剂量为0.106 mg/L时,其受损率分别为48%、62%、61%、82%;0.213 mg/L时分别为42%、87%、76%、56%;在0.425 mg/L时分别为52%、87%、75%、75%;在0.850 mg/L时分别为58%、95%、93%、85%;在1.700 mg/L时分别为62%、90%、99%、83%,以上各处理组与空白对照相比差异显著（P<0.05）。实验结果表明,当水环境中硝基苯的浓度低于国家地表水环境质量标准时,对斑马鱼的体细胞及精子细胞没有明显的毒性作用;硝基苯的浓度高于国家地表水环境质量标准时,对斑马鱼体细胞和精子细胞具有较强的毒害作用,且细胞DNA的受损率随着硝基苯剂量的增加而增加,并呈现一定的剂量损伤效应。因此,渔业水质标准中硝基苯的浓度不应高于国家地表水环境质量标准。     

双酚A和壬基酚长期暴露对斑马鱼繁殖的影响

内分泌干扰物的研究目前正逐渐成为国际研究新的热点，但长期暴露条件下对生殖情况的研究目前较少。本文研究了环境类雌激素双酚A（BPA）以及和壬基酚（NP）联合的作用，对暴露一个世代的斑马鱼（F1）（Danio rerio）的生殖情况、子代质量的影响。将健康的受精卵48h后暴露于200，500，1000μg·L^-1 BPA以及三个浓度与30μg·L^-1 NP的联合，同时设置空白对照和30μg·L^-1 NP对照。130dph将成鱼置于清水喂养20d，统计每天的产卵量、产卵次数、畸形率、孵化率、卵径、破膜时间以及耐饥时间。以此为终点评估暴露后斑马鱼的生殖能力和子代质量。与对照相比NP，BPA可以抑制斑马鱼的生殖，两种类雌激素联合作用可以极显著地抑制斑马鱼的生殖（P〈0．01）；BPA各浓度组导致F1代畸形率上升（P〈0．05）；高浓度BPA抑制产卵量（P〈0．05）；BPA200，500μg·L^-1会延长F1代的破膜时间和耐饥时间（P〈0．01），而BPA1000μg·L^-1则产生相反的效果（P〈0．05）。双酚A对斑马鱼的生殖有明显的抑制作用，双酚A和壬基酚有协同效应。长时间暴露于双酚A会影响斑马鱼的生殖能力和子代质量。     

双酚A和壬基酚长期暴露对斑马鱼繁殖的影响

内分泌干扰物的研究目前正逐渐成为国际研究新的热点,但长期暴露条件下对生殖情况的研究目前较少.本文研究了环境类雌激素双酚A(BPA)以及和壬基酚(NP)联合的作用,对暴露一个世代的斑马鱼(F1)(Danio rerio)的生殖情况、子代质量的影响.将健康的受精卵48 h后暴露于200,500,1 000 μg·L-1 BPA以及三个浓度与30 μg·L-1 NP的联合,同时设置空白对照和30 μg·L-1 NP对照.130 dph将成鱼置于清水喂养20 d,统计每天的产卵量、产卵次数、畸形率、孵化率、卵径、破膜时间以及耐饥时间.以此为终点评估暴露后斑马鱼的生殖能力和子代质量.与对照相比NP,BPA可以抑制斑马鱼的生殖,两种类雌激素联合作用可以极显著地抑制斑马鱼的生殖(P＜0.01);BPA各浓度组导致F1代畸形率上升(P＜0.05);高浓度BPA抑制产卵量(P＜0.05);BPA200,500 μg·L-1会延长F1代的破膜时间和耐饥时间(P＜0.01),而BPA1 000 μg·L-1则产生相反的效果(P＜0.05).双酚A对斑马鱼的生殖有明显的抑制作用,双酚A和壬基酚有协同效应.长时间暴露于双酚A会影响斑马鱼的生殖能力和子代质量.     

Effects of the wood extractive betulinol and 17beta-oestradiol on reproduction in zebrafish, Danio rerio (Hamilton)--complications due to a bacterial infection

Zebrafish were exposed to the wood extractive betulinol (5 microg L(-1)) and to 17beta-oestradiol (E2, 0.27 microg L(-1)) for 8 weeks in an attempt to study the possible endocrine-disrupting activity of betulinol. Females exposed to betulinol showed increased spawning intensity, while males exposed to betulinol and E2 had increased incidences of structural alterations in the testes. However, histological examination of the fish revealed that they were infected by acid-fast bacteria suspected to be Mycobacterium sp. despite a careful examination of their health state prior to the onset of the experiment. Fish exposed to betulinol and E2 showed more serious consequences of the bacterial infection than control fish indicating that the test chemicals had weakened the immune defence of the fish. When the exposure was repeated with healthy fish, an increase in the proportion of spermatogonia was seen in the testes of betulinol-treated males. A similar alteration, although not statistically significant, was also seen in the first experiment. However, no increase in the incidences of structural alterations in the testes was seen in betulinol- and E2-treated fish in the second experiment. Our study indicates that betulinol might have an endocrine-disrupting effect in zebrafish, but the increase in incidences of structural alterations in the testes might have been caused by a synergistic action between the test compounds and the bacterial infection. Our study stresses the importance of carefully checking the health of experimental fish, not only prior to the onset of an experiment but also upon termination of the experiment, in order to avoid misinterpretation of the results.     

Husbandry stress exacerbates mycobacterial infections in adult zebrafish, Danio rerio (Hamilton)

Mycobacteria are significant pathogens of laboratory zebrafish, Danio rerio (Hamilton). Stress is often implicated in clinical disease and morbidity associated with mycobacterial infections but has yet to be examined with zebrafish. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of husbandry stressors on zebrafish infected with mycobacteria. Adult zebrafish were exposed to Mycobacterium marinum or Mycobacterium chelonae , two species that have been associated with disease in zebrafish. Infected fish and controls were then subjected to chronic crowding and handling stressors and examined over an 8-week period. Whole-body cortisol was significantly elevated in stressed fish compared to non-stressed fish. Fish infected with M. marinum ATCC 927 and subjected to husbandry stressors had 14% cumulative mortality while no mortality occurred among infected fish not subjected to husbandry stressors. Stressed fish, infected with M. chelonae H1E2 from zebrafish, were 15-fold more likely to be infected than non-stressed fish at week 8 post-injection. Sub-acute, diffuse infections were more common among stressed fish infected with M. marinum or M. chelonae than non-stressed fish. This is the first study to demonstrate an effect of stress and elevated cortisol on the morbidity, prevalence, clinical disease and histological presentation associated with mycobacterial infections in zebrafish. Minimizing husbandry stress may be effective at reducing the severity of outbreaks of clinical mycobacteriosis in zebrafish facilities.     

Effects of prebiotic mannan oligosaccharide on the growth,survival, and anxiety-like behaviors of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

A study was designed to investigate the possible positive prebiotic effects of mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) on growth and reduction of anxiety behaviors in zebrafish (Danio rerio). The experimental diets were supplemented with 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 g MOS kg^?1 and were fed to juvenile fish (0.47 ± 0.017 g) in triplicates for six weeks. Significant differences were found in the final body weight, body weight intake, percent body weight intake, and specific growth rate among treatments. The regression analyses showed that the optimum MOS level was 4–4.1 g MOS kg^?1 diet. Fish fed 4 g MOS kg^?1 feed showed higher survival than the other treatments. Also, using the novel tank test, fish fed with 4 g MOS kg^?1 diet showed lower anxiety by swimming in the upper portion of the tank. The other behavior parameters remained unaffected by the prebiotic. The results indicated the beneficial effect of the prebiotic MOS on growth and partly on welfare of zebrafish juveniles.     

The effects of the dietary biotin on zebrafish Danio rerio reproduction

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary biotin on zebrafish Danio rerio reproduction. Biotin and avidin (biotin antagonist) were added to two isonitrogenous and isocaloric purified diets to provide molar avidin:biotin ratios of 0:1 (biotin‐sufficient diet) and 120:0 (biotin‐unsufficient diet). Each diet was fed to a group of males mean initial mass 0.262 g) and a group of females (mean initial mass 0.285 g) for 99 days. Following this feeding period, males fed biotin‐sufficient diet exhibited higher gonado‐somatic index, sperm density, sperm motility and sperm viability than those fed biotin‐unsufficient diet (P < 0.05). In the presence of biotin‐sufficient males, biotin‐sufficient females spawned more eggs (222.2 eggs) than biotin‐deficient females (18.8 eggs) (P < 0.05). The same pattern was observed with biotin‐deficient males (7.6 vs. 1.8 eggs) (P < 0.05). Biotin‐sufficient males generated a higher percentage of fertilized eggs (90% vs. 42%), hatching rate (62% vs. 27%), larvae survival (98% vs. 37%) and larvae length at 7 days post fertilization (4.4 mm vs. 4.2 mm) than biotin‐deficient males (P < 0.05) . Biotin status of the male is of high consideration for successful breeding in zebrafish, because it significantly impacts the reproductive performances of the female.     

斑马鱼雄核发育技术研究

为探索人工诱导斑马鱼雄核发育二倍体克隆鱼的途径和方法,运用紫外线照射卵子使其遗传物质失活,利用斑马鱼体表花纹形态作为遗传标记,使用热休克技术阻止受精卵的第一次卵裂加倍染色体。试验结果表明总辐射剂量为120mJ cm2紫外线照射斑马鱼卵可以使雌核遗传物质完全失活;体表花纹为豹斑花纹被证实是由纯合隐性基因控制的性状,可以作为雄核发育遗传标记;遗传失活卵受精后经2min,(41 5±0 5)℃的热休克后出现两个染色体加倍的高峰期,分别为受精后的11min和23min,且后一时期效果优于前一时期,最高二倍体诱导率达46 15%;经遗传分析,共获得正常存活的雄核发育二倍体克隆鱼19尾,说明经过优化的紫外线结合热休克等染色体操作技术,可以成为诱导雄核发育二倍体克隆鱼的有效手段。