PUBLICATION
Investigating Psychopharmaceutical Effects on Early Vertebrate Development Using a Zebrafish Model System
- Authors
- Zimmerman, N., Marta, A., Baker, C., Korade, Z., Mirnics, K., Shibata, A.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-250724-17
- Date
- 2025
- Source
- Journal of developmental biology 13: (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Keywords
- aripiprazole, cariprazine, cholesterol, psychopharmaceuticals, sterol synthesis, trazodone, zebrafish
- MeSH Terms
- none
- PubMed
- 40700140 Full text @ J Dev Biol
Citation
Zimmerman, N., Marta, A., Baker, C., Korade, Z., Mirnics, K., Shibata, A. (2025) Investigating Psychopharmaceutical Effects on Early Vertebrate Development Using a Zebrafish Model System. Journal of developmental biology. 13:.
Abstract
Cholesterol homeostasis is necessary for normal vertebrate development. The disruption of cholesterol homeostasis can cause abnormal body and nervous system development and lead to dysfunctional behavior and increased mortality. Commonly prescribed psychopharmaceuticals can alter cholesterol synthesis and may disrupt early vertebrate development. A high-throughput vertebrate zebrafish model system was used to test the hypothesis that exposure to psychopharmaceutical medications alters cholesterol biosynthesis and disrupts gene transcription, early whole-body and brain development, and nervous system function, resulting in abnormal behavior. Exposure to cariprazine, aripiprazole, trazodone, and AY9944 increased 7-dehydrocholesterol levels compared to vehicle-treated zebrafish. Significant differences in disease-associated gene expression, brain structure, and functional behaviors were observed in psychopharmaceutical and AY9944-treated zebrafish compared to controls. These data reveal that the high-throughput zebrafish model system can discern psychopharmaceutical effects on cholesterol synthesis, gene transcription, and key features of early vertebrate development that influences behavior.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping