Model establishment of lipoprotein accumulation observation in vivo in zebrafish

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in worldwide. Atherosclerotic lesions in humans develop preferentially at certain sites such as the curves, bifurcations and the straitness sites of arteries. Nevertheless, it has been well documented that early event leading to the genesis of atherosclerosis is the accumulation of cholesterol and other lipids within the intima. But it is few to investigate the relations between the lipoprotein accumulation and atherogenesis in vivo. We consider that the zebrafish is a wonderful model to investigate the lipoprotein accumulation and atherogenesis. The transgenic zebrafish (Flk1:mCherryRas) was used in this research. Injecting lipoprotein with green fluorescence into optically transparent zebrafish embryos (Day2, n60). By using confocal microscopy , the distribution of green fluorescent lipoprotein was observed immediately, and then the lipoprotein accumulation was observed every night (Day 2-Day 5). There was no fluorescent granule flowing in the vessel luminal in control group, meanwhile, the green fluorescent lipoprotein was flowing in the vessel luminal of the injection group (57/60) from the movies. Furthermore, the lipoprotein accumulation occurred after injection. Interestingly, the accumulation of lipoprotein was only uptake by the vein in zebrafish embryo. These results suggest that it is viable to inject fluorescent lipoprotein into zebrafish to study important characteristics of lipoprotein in the early atherogenesis. Therefore, zebrafish is a proper model to investigate the lipoprotein accumulation and atherogenesis.