Derek F Burton1, Chengjin Zhang2, Oswald Boa-Amponsem3, Shanta Mackinnon2, Gregory J Cole4. 1. Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, United States; Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, United States. 2. Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, United States. 3. Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, United States; Integrated Biosciences Program, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, United States. 4. Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, United States; Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, United States. Electronic address: gcole@nccu.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Developmental exposure to ethanol is recognized to produce long-term neurobehavioral impairment in multiple animal models. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these deficits remain poorly understood. The present study was undertaken to ascertain whether two well-characterized targets of prenatal alcohol exposure, sonic hedgehog (Shh) and retinoic acid (RA), that induce the hallmark morphological phenotypes of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), are involved in the generation of behavioral alterations as a result of alcohol exposure. METHODS: Zebrafish embryos were exposed to ethanol (0%, 1%, 3%) at either 8-10 or 24-27h post-fertilization (hpf) and then evaluated during adolescence in the novel tank dive test to assess anxiety and risk-taking behavior. Overt signs of dysmorphogenesis were also scored and behavioral and morphological changes were compared for embryos treated with alcohol alone or in combination with subthreshold doses of shh or alhh1a3 morpholinos (MOs). RESULTS: Ethanol treated fish displayed altered tank diving behavior that was not exacerbated by combined MO treatment. While treatment of embryos with either shha mRNA or RA prior to ethanol exposure only ameliorated the altered tank diving response in the case of shha mRNA overexpression, dysmorphogenesis was rescued by both treatments. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the effects of ethanol exposure on changes in anxiety and risk-taking behavior in adolescent zebrafish is manifested by a blunting of Shh, but not RA, signaling during early development.
BACKGROUND: Developmental exposure to ethanol is recognized to produce long-term neurobehavioral impairment in multiple animal models. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these deficits remain poorly understood. The present study was undertaken to ascertain whether two well-characterized targets of prenatal alcohol exposure, sonic hedgehog (Shh) and retinoic acid (RA), that induce the hallmark morphological phenotypes of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), are involved in the generation of behavioral alterations as a result of alcohol exposure. METHODS:Zebrafish embryos were exposed to ethanol (0%, 1%, 3%) at either 8-10 or 24-27h post-fertilization (hpf) and then evaluated during adolescence in the novel tank dive test to assess anxiety and risk-taking behavior. Overt signs of dysmorphogenesis were also scored and behavioral and morphological changes were compared for embryos treated with alcohol alone or in combination with subthreshold doses of shh or alhh1a3 morpholinos (MOs). RESULTS:Ethanol treated fish displayed altered tank diving behavior that was not exacerbated by combined MO treatment. While treatment of embryos with either shha mRNA or RA prior to ethanol exposure only ameliorated the altered tank diving response in the case of shha mRNA overexpression, dysmorphogenesis was rescued by both treatments. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the effects of ethanol exposure on changes in anxiety and risk-taking behavior in adolescent zebrafish is manifested by a blunting of Shh, but not RA, signaling during early development.
Authors: Derek F Burton; Oswald M Boa-Amponsem; Maria S Dixon; Michael J Hopkins; Te-Andre Herbin; Shiquita Toney; Michael Tarpley; Blanca V Rodriguez; Eric W Fish; Scott E Parnell; Gregory J Cole; Kevin P Williams Journal: J Neurosci Res Date: 2022-01-11 Impact factor: 4.433
Authors: Luisa M Vera; Carolina Bello; Juan F Paredes; Greta Carmona-Antoñanzas; Francisco J Sánchez-Vázquez Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-01-02 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Olivia Weeks; Gabriel D Bossé; Isaac M Oderberg; Sebastian Akle; Yariv Houvras; Paul J Wrighton; Kyle LaBella; Isabelle Iversen; Sahar Tavakoli; Isaac Adatto; Arkadi Schwartz; Daan Kloosterman; Allison Tsomides; Michael E Charness; Randall T Peterson; Matthew L Steinhauser; Pouneh K Fazeli; Wolfram Goessling Journal: J Clin Invest Date: 2020-05-01 Impact factor: 14.808