Juan Zhou1, Yi-Qiao Xu2, Sheng-Ya Guo2, Chun-Qi Li3. 1. Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, PR China; Hunter Biotechnology, Inc., Transfarland, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 311231, PR China. 2. Hunter Biotechnology, Inc., Transfarland, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 311231, PR China. 3. Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, PR China; Institute of Watershed Science and Environmental Ecology, Wenzhou Medical, College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, PR China; Hunter Biotechnology, Inc., Transfarland, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 311231, PR China. Electronic address: chunqili@wzmc.edu.cn.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Hyperlipidemia is the most common form of dyslipidemia, which is the key risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. The development of effective and safe drug treatments for hyperlipidemia has been proven challenging. METHODS: In this study, taking advantage of the transparency of larval zebrafish, we developed a zebrafish hyperlipidemia model for drug screening and efficacy assessment. Zebrafish at 5 d.p.f (days post fertilization) were fed with 0.1% egg yolk for 48 h (hours), followed by drug treatment for 24h or 48 h. Tested drugs were administered into the zebrafish by direct soaking. Drug effect was evaluated based on quantitative analysis of Oil Red O (ORO) in zebrafish vena caudalis. RESULTS: All 5 human hypolipidemic drugs (simvastatin, lovastatin, ezetimibe, bezafibrate and hyodesoxycholic acid) showed significant hypolipidemic effects (p<0.01) in a dose-dependent manner in the zebrafish hyperlipidemia model. 'We also found a well-known Chinese tea Pu-erh tea significantly reduced lipids in this model (p<0.001 and p<0.01). DISCUSSION: Our results demonstrate that the zebrafish hyperlipidemia model developed and validated in this study could be used for in vivo hyperlipidemia studies and drug screening and for assessing hypolipidemic drugs with different mechanisms.
INTRODUCTION:Hyperlipidemia is the most common form of dyslipidemia, which is the key risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. The development of effective and safe drug treatments for hyperlipidemia has been proven challenging. METHODS: In this study, taking advantage of the transparency of larval zebrafish, we developed a zebrafishhyperlipidemia model for drug screening and efficacy assessment. Zebrafish at 5 d.p.f (days post fertilization) were fed with 0.1% egg yolk for 48 h (hours), followed by drug treatment for 24h or 48 h. Tested drugs were administered into the zebrafish by direct soaking. Drug effect was evaluated based on quantitative analysis of Oil Red O (ORO) in zebrafish vena caudalis. RESULTS: All 5 human hypolipidemic drugs (simvastatin, lovastatin, ezetimibe, bezafibrate and hyodesoxycholic acid) showed significant hypolipidemic effects (p<0.01) in a dose-dependent manner in the zebrafishhyperlipidemia model. 'We also found a well-known Chinese tea Pu-erh tea significantly reduced lipids in this model (p<0.001 and p<0.01). DISCUSSION: Our results demonstrate that the zebrafishhyperlipidemia model developed and validated in this study could be used for in vivo hyperlipidemia studies and drug screening and for assessing hypolipidemic drugs with different mechanisms.