Rapid analysis of hypolipidemic drugs in a live zebrafish assay.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Hyperlipidemia is the most common form of dyslipidemia, which is the key risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. The development of effective and safe drug treatments for hyperlipidemia has been proven challenging.

METHODS:

In this study, taking advantage of the transparency of larval zebrafish, we developed a zebrafish hyperlipidemia model for drug screening and efficacy assessment. Zebrafish at 5 d.p.f (days post fertilization) were fed with 0.1% egg yolk for 48 h (hours), followed by drug treatment for 24h or 48 h. Tested drugs were administered into the zebrafish by direct soaking. Drug effect was evaluated based on quantitative analysis of Oil Red O (ORO) in zebrafish vena caudalis.

RESULTS:

All 5 human hypolipidemic drugs (simvastatin, lovastatin, ezetimibe, bezafibrate and hyodesoxycholic acid) showed significant hypolipidemic effects (p<0.01) in a dose-dependent manner in the zebrafish hyperlipidemia model. 'We also found a well-known Chinese tea Pu-erh tea significantly reduced lipids in this model (p<0.001 and p<0.01).

DISCUSSION:

Our results demonstrate that the zebrafish hyperlipidemia model developed and validated in this study could be used for in vivo hyperlipidemia studies and drug screening and for assessing hypolipidemic drugs with different mechanisms.

• Authors: Juan Zhou, Yi-Qiao Xu, Sheng-Ya Guo, Chun-Qi Li
• Journal: Journal of pharmacological and toxicological methods (J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods) 2015 Mar-Apr Vol. 72 Pg. 47-52 ISSN: 1873-488X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25497901 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Chemical References

• Azo Compounds
• Coloring Agents
• Hypolipidemic Agents
• oil red O

Topics

• Animals
• Azo Compounds
• Beverages
• Biological Assay (methods)
• Coloring Agents
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Hypolipidemic Agents (pharmacology)
• Larva (drug effects)
• Medicine, Chinese Traditional
• Staining and Labeling
• Time
• Zebrafish