PUBLICATION

Effects of streptozotocin on pancreatic islet β-cell apoptosis and glucose metabolism in zebrafish larvae

Authors
Wang, X., Yang, X.L., Liu, K.C., Sheng, W.L., Xia, Q., Wang, R.C., Chen, X.Q., Zhang, Y.
ID
ZDB-PUB-200130-8
Date
2020
Source
Fish physiology and biochemistry   46(3): 1025-1038 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
Apoptosis, Pancreas, Streptozotocin, Type 1 diabetes, Zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animal Fins/drug effects
  • Animal Fins/physiology
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis/drug effects
  • Blood Glucose/drug effects
  • Female
  • Glucose/metabolism*
  • Hyperglycemia/chemically induced
  • Hyperglycemia/metabolism
  • Insulin/metabolism
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells/drug effects*
  • Larva
  • Male
  • Regeneration/drug effects
  • Streptozocin/pharmacology*
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
31993854 Full text @ Fish Physiol. Biochem.
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by an increase in blood glucose levels resulting from damage to β cells in pancreatic islets and the consequent absolute insufficiency of insulin. Animal models of type 1 diabetes were usually established using drugs toxic to β cells, such as streptozotocin (STZ). To assess the application of zebrafish larvae in diabetes research, we explore the effects of STZ on pancreatic islets and glucose metabolism in zebrafish larvae. STZ was microinjected into the pericardial cavity of zebrafish larvae on alternate days for three times. At 2 days after the whole series of STZ injection (12 dpf), free-glucose level in larvae tissue shows a significant increase, and the fluorescence signal in immunohistochemistry, which indicates the insulin expression, was significantly weaker compared with the solution-injected control. Obvious apoptosis signals were also observed in the location of pancreatic islet, and insulin content decreased to be undetectable in STZ-injected larvae. Gene expression level of ins decreased to half of the solution injection control and that of casp3a was upregulated by 2.20-fold. Expression level of glut2 and gck decreased to 0.312-fold and 0.093-fold, respectively. pck1 was upregulated by 2.533-fold in STZ-injected larvae. By tracking detection, we found the free-glucose level in STZ-injected larvae gradually approached the level of the solution injection control and the insulin content recovered at 6 days post-STZ injection (16 dpf). Consistent with the change of the glucose level, the regeneration rate of the caudal fin in the STZ-injected group decreased initially, but recovered and accelerated gradually finally at 8 days post-amputation (20 dpf). These results indicate the generation of a transient hyperglycemia model due to β-cell apoptosis caused by STZ, which is abated by the vigorous regeneration ability of β cells in zebrafish larvae.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping