PUBLICATION
Phenylthiourea disrupts thyroid function in developing zebrafish
- Authors
- Elsalini, O.A. and Rohr, K.B.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-030210-4
- Date
- 2003
- Source
- Development genes and evolution 212(12): 593-598 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Elsalini, Osama, Rohr, Klaus
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Antithyroid Agents/pharmacology*
- Metamorphosis, Biological
- Methimazole/pharmacology
- Mutation
- Perchlorates/pharmacology
- Phenylthiourea/pharmacology*
- Potassium Compounds/pharmacology
- Propylthiouracil/pharmacology
- Thyroid Gland/drug effects*
- Thyroid Gland/embryology
- Thyroid Gland/metabolism*
- Thyroid Hormones/pharmacology
- Zebrafish/embryology*
- Zebrafish/growth & development
- PubMed
- 12536323 Full text @ Dev. Genes Evol.
Citation
Elsalini, O.A. and Rohr, K.B. (2003) Phenylthiourea disrupts thyroid function in developing zebrafish. Development genes and evolution. 212(12):593-598.
Abstract
Thyroid hormone (T4) can be detected in thyroid follicles in wild-type zebrafish larvae from 3 days of development, when the thyroid has differentiated. In contrast, embryos or larvae treated with goitrogens ( substances such as methimazole, potassium percholorate, and 6-n-propyl-2 -thiouracil) are devoid of thyroid hormone immunoreactivity. Phenythiourea (PTurea; also commonly known as PTU) is widely used in zebrafish research to suppress pigmentation in developing embryos/fry. PTurea contains a thiocarbamide group that is responsible for goitrogenic activity in methimazole and 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil. In the present study, we show that commonly used doses of 0.003% PTurea abolish T4 immunoreactivity of the thyroid follicles of zebrafish larvae. As development of the thyroid gland is not affected, these data suggest that PTurea blocks thyroid hormone production. Like other goitrogens, PTurea causes delayed hatching, retardation and malformation of embryos or larvae with increasing doses. At doses of 0.003% PTurea, however, toxic side effects seem to be at a minimum, and the maternal contribution of the hormone might compensate for compromised thyroid function during the first days of development.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping