The effects of folic acid deficiency on the axial development of zebrafish
- VernacularTitle:叶酸缺乏对斑马鱼体轴发育的影响
- Author:
Shuna SUN
;
Yonghao GUI
;
Qiu JIANG
;
Linxi QIAN
;
Houyan SONG
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
folic acid;
dihydrofolate reductase;
axis;
Nodal pathway
- From:
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences
2009;36(6):663-669
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To construct a folic acid deficient model in zebrafish and to observe the axial development in folic acid deficient embryos, so as to probe the mechanism by which folic acid deficiency induces abnormal development of axis. Methods We constructed the folic acid deficient zebrafish model by both using the antagonism of dihydrofolate reductase (MTX) and knocking-down dihydrofolate reductase gene. Then we observed the axial excursion of folic acid deficient embryos at 17 hpf under microscope. We labeled and observed the positions of liver, spleen and heart by using whole-mount in situ hybridization with specific antisense RNA probes. The expressions of some genes, which are down stream factors of Nodal signal pathway and important for axial development, were detected by whole-mount in situ hybridization and Real-time PCR. Results Parts of folic acid deficient embryos had axial excursion and abnormal positions of liver, spleen and heart. The expressing intensities of ntl and gsc appeared normal in folic acid deficient embryos, but the expressing spatial patterns were abnormal, which revealed the malformation of axial mesoderm. Conclusions Folic acid deficiency induced the abnormal development of axis and the malformation of axial mesoderm. Folic acid deficiency had no obviouse effect on Nodal pathway.
