Toxic effects of strychnine and strychnine N-oxide on zebrafish embryos / 中国天然药物
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.)
;
(6): 760-767, 2014.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-812203
ABSTRACT
AIM@#The application of strychnine (S) is limited due to its toxicity; strychnine N-oxide (SNO) is a derivative of strychnine. The aim was to employ zebrafish embryos to investigate and compare the developmental toxicity induced by S and SNO.@*METHODS@#The toxicity of S and SNO was examined through the hatching rate and survival rate. Morphological changes of the zebrafish were observed with a dissecting microscope. Apoptosis was detected through acridine orange (AO) staining and flow cytometry. Apoptotic genes were measured by RT-PCR.@*RESULTS@#Embryo malformation was observed in the embryos exposed to S at 200 μmol·L(-1). When SNO concentration was increased to 1 mmol·L(-1), scoliolosis, and pericardial edema could be seen in some embryos. Results from fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analysis showed that S at 200 μmol·L(-1) induced apoptosis, whereas the apoptotic rate in the SNO-treated group (200 μmol·L(-1)) was much lower than that in the S group. RT-PCR analysis showed that p53 mRNA expression and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in the S group were significantly altered compared with the control group (*P < 0.05). Moreover, Bax mRNA expression in both S and SNO group were significantly different from that in the control group (**P < 0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#These results lead to the conclusion that SNO has significantly lower toxicity than S in zebrafish embryos.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Strychnine
/
Zebrafish
/
Drugs, Chinese Herbal
/
Chemistry
/
Embryology
/
Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
/
Apoptosis
/
Oxidative Stress
/
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
/
Cyclic N-Oxides
Limits:
Animals
Language:
English
Journal:
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.)
Year:
2014
Type:
Article
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