Developmental neurotoxicity of reserpine exposure in zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio)

• Published in: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology 2019-09, Vol.223, p.115-123
• Main Authors: Wang, Shao, Duan, Ming, Guan, Kaiyu, Zhou, Xianyong, Zheng, Miaomiao, Shi, Xulai, Ye, Minjie, Guan, Wanchun, Kuver, Aarti, Huang, Manli, Liu, Yunbing, Dai, Kezhi, Li, Xi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biogenic Monoamines - metabolism; Dopaminergic Neurons - drug effects; Dopaminergic Neurons - pathology; Dopaminergic system; Embryo, Nonmammalian - drug effects; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - drug effects; Larva - drug effects; Larva - metabolism; Light; Locomotion - drug effects; Nerve Growth Factors - genetics; Neurotoxicity Syndromes - etiology; Reserpine; Reserpine - toxicity; Sound; Wnt-5a Protein - genetics; Wnt1 Protein - genetics; Wnt3A Protein - genetics; Zebrafish - embryology; Zebrafish - genetics; Zebrafish larvae; Zebrafish Proteins - genetics
• ISSN: 1532-0456; 1878-1659
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2019.05.008

Reserpine is widely used for treatment of hypertension and schizophrenia. As a specific inhibitor of monoamine transporters, reserpine is known to deplete monoamine neurotransmitters and cause decreased movement symptoms. However, how zebrafish larvae respond to reserpine treatment is not well studied. Here we show that swimming distance and average velocity are significantly reduced after reserpine exposure under various stimulatory conditions. Using liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer analysis, decreased levels of monoamines (e.g. dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin) were detected in reserpine-treated larvae. Moreover, reserpine treatment significantly reduced the number of dopaminergic neurons, which was identified with th (Tyrosine Hydroxylase) in situ hybridization in the preoptic area. Interestingly, dopaminergic neuron development-associated genes, such as otpa, otpb, wnt1, wnt3, wnt5 and manf, were downregulated in reserpine treated larvae. Our data indicates that 2 mg/L reserpine exposure induces dopaminergic neuron damage in the brain, demonstrating a chemical induced depression-like model in zebrafish larvae for future drug development. [Display omitted] •Zebrafish larvae locomotion decreased after reserpine treatment.•Zebrafish sensitivity to light/sound stimulation reduced by reserpine-exposed•Monoamine levels were decreased in reserpine treated groups.•2mg/L reserpine treated group lead to a reduction in prethalamic dopaminergic neurons.•And the related dopaminergic developmental genes were downregulated in 2mg/L treated group.