Visualizing Compound Distribution during Zebrafish Embryo Development: The Effects of Lipophilicity and DMSO

The predictability of the zebrafish embryo model is highly influenced by internal exposure of the embryo/larva. As compound uptake is likely to be influenced by factors such as lipophilicity, solvent use, and chorion presence, this article focuses on investigating their effects on compound distribution within the zebrafish embryo. To visualize compound uptake and distribution, zebrafish embryos were exposed for 96 hr, starting at 4 hr postfertilization, to water‐soluble dyes: Schiff's reagent (logP –4.63), Giemsa stain (logP –0.77), Van Gierson stain (logP 1.64), Cresyl fast violet (logP 3.5), Eosine Y (logP 4.8), Sudan III (logP 7.5), and Oil red O (logP 9.81), with and without 1% dimethyl‐sulfoxide (DMSO). Three additional compounds were used to analytically determine the uptake and distribution: Acyclovir (logP –1.56), Zidovudine (logP 0.05), and Metoprolol Tartrate Salt (logP 1.8). Examinations were performed every 24 hr. Both methods (visualization and specific analysis) showed that exposure to higher logP values results in higher compound uptake. Specific analysis showed that for lipophilic compounds >90% of compound is taken up by the embryo. For hydrophilic compounds, >90% of compound within the complete egg could not be associated to embryo or chorion and is probably distributed into the perivitelline space. Overall, internal exposure analyses on at least two occasions (i.e., before and after hatching) is crucial for interpretation of zebraf...
Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology - Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Tags: Research Article Source Type: research