Zebrafish Endocrine Toxicity Assays

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are highly relevant to human and wildlife health because endocrine signaling controls many fundamental physiological processes that affect individual health, such as growth and development, stress responses, and ultimately reproduction and population development.

The structure and function of the endocrine system are highly conserved among vertebrates, even though some differences can be observed between humans and zebrafish. The hypothalamic-pituitary portal system is absent in zebrafish, where neurosecretory fibers enter the pituitary and release their hormones directly onto adenohypophysis cells. Likewise, zebrafish lack unique adrenal glands but display functionally equivalent interrenal glands. Nonetheless, the development of the steroidogenic cell lineage is well preserved. Therefore, specific chemical biomarkers can be measured in zebrafish to screen for the endocrine activity of xenobiotics. In the context of environmental risk assessment of new chemicals, research on endocrine disruption in fish has focused on estrogen, androgen, thyroid and steroidogenic pathways.

Fig. 1 Staining of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and the hypothalamic melanocortin system in zebrafish.

Our Zebrafish Endocrine Toxicity Assays

Creative Biogene can measure specific chemical biomarkers in zebrafish to screen for the endocrine activity of xenobiotics. For example, assess for yolk protein, thyroid or steroid hormones. We have developed a variety of fluorescent reporter lines for testing the endocrine activity of xenobiotics. I can screen for estrogenic activity by transgenic zebrafish lines. Likewise, different reporter lines for thyroid and glucocorticoid pathways are available. These reporter lines are rapid and cost-effective methods for detecting endocrine activity of xenobiotics for high-content and high-throughput screening of endocrine disruptors.

Our Advantages

• Rapidly identify specific target tissues and quantify responses in whole fish
• Accurately identify toxic drug candidates, allowing safer molecules to be tested in mammalian models
• Allows non-invasive examination of organ development and toxicity endpoints
• Provides a powerful option for real-time in vivo studies of toxicity mechanisms
• Easy and flexible workflow
• Wide ranges of detection technologies
• Produce a reliable and quantifiable behavioral data
• Advanced high-content screening equipment
• Excellent predictability

Our zebrafish endocrine toxicology studies in a high-throughput system can provide important insights into the underlying toxicity mechanisms. Contact us to learn more about our endocrine toxicology assessment services.

References

1. Cassar S, et al. Use of Zebrafish in Drug Discovery Toxicology. Chem Res Toxicol. 2020, 33(1):95-118.
2. Brion F, et al. Monitoring estrogenic activities of waste and surface waters using a novel in vivo zebrafish embryonic (EASZY) assay: Comparison with in vitro cell-based assays and determination of effect-based trigger values. Environ Int. 2019, 130:104896.
3. Porazzi P, et al. Thyroid gland development and function in the zebrafish model. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2009, 312(1-2):14-23.
4. Mouriec K, et al. Early regulation of brain aromatase (cyp19a1b) by estrogen receptors during zebrafish development. Dev Dyn. 2009, 238(10):2641-2651.
5. Löhr H, et al. Zebrafish in endocrine systems: recent advances and implications for human disease. Annu Rev Physiol. 2011, 73:183-211.

For research use only. Not intended for any clinical use.