Parkinson's disease model in zebrafish using intraperitoneal MPTP injection

Abstract

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease that severely affects the quality of life of patients and their family members. Exposure to 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) has been shown to reflect behavioral, molecular, and proteomic features of PD. This study aimed to assess the protocol for inducing PD following MPTP injection in adult zebrafish.

Methods: Fish were injected with 100 μg/g of MPTP intraperitoneally once or twice and then assessed on days 1 to 30 post-injection.

Results: Between one-time and two-time injections, there was no significant difference in most locomotor parameters, expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase-2 (th2) and dopamine transporter (dat) genes, and dopaminergic neurons (tyrosine hydroxylase positive, TH+ cells) counts. However, caspase-3 levels significantly differed between one- and two-time injections on the day 1 assessment.

Discussion: Over a 30-day period, the parameters showed significant differences in swimming speed, total distance traveled, tyrosine hydroxylase-1 (th1) and dat gene expressions, caspase-3 and glutathione protein levels, and TH+ cell counts. Days 3 and 5 showed the most changes compared to the control. In conclusion, a one-time injection of MPTP with delayed assessment on days 3 to 5 is a good PD model for animal studies.

Keywords: Danio rerio; dopaminergic neuron; neurodegenerative disease; neurotoxin; tyrosine hydroxylase.

Figure 1

Grouping of experimental animals. Fish were divided into control, vehicle, and MPTP groups. The MPTP1 group received one injection and was further divided based on assessment day, namely 24 h post-injection (MPTP1.1), 72 h post-injection (MPTP1.3), day 5 assessment (MPTP1.5), day 10 assessment (MPTP1.10) and day 30 assessment (MPTP1.30). MPTP2 group received the second dose 24 h after the first dose and was assessed either at 24 h post-second injection (MPTP2.1) or 72 h post-second injection (MPTP2.3). Assessment on all intervals includes a neuro-behavioral assessment from locomotor activity, gene expression, protein level, and histochemical analysis.

Figure 2

The locomotor assessment of the zebrafish models. (A,B) Total distance traveled and speed of the zebrafish between one- and two-times injection groups. (C,D) Total distance traveled and speed of one-time injection groups from day 1 to 30 post-MPTP injection. The deepest dip in speed and distance can be appreciated at day 3 post-injection, which is then plateaued until day 10. There is no difference in speed and distance traveled between day 3 to 10 groups. (E) Tracking of the swimming pattern in the control. (F) Tracking for group MPTP1.3. The exploration of the top tank is more substantial in the control group. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Asterisks (*) indicate a significant difference between vehicle and treated fish at *p < 0.01 or **p < 0.05.

Figure 3

The relative gene expression in the zebrafish model across the group. th1 gene was significantly down-regulated in MPTP1.3, MPTP1.5, MPTP2.1, and MPTP2.3. th2 gene expression was down-regulated initially however was not statistically significant. However, at MPTP1.10, there is a spike in th2 gene expression which eventually down-regulated in MPTP1.30. dat gene was down-regulated, especially in MPTP1.3 and MPTP2.3 then steadily increased afterward; however, these changes were not statistically significant. (A) The relative gene expression between one- and two-time injections. (B) The relative gene expression among MPTP days 1 to 30. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Asterisks (*) indicate a significant difference between vehicle and treated fish at *p < 0.01 or **p < 0.05.

Figure 4

ELISA test for CASP3, GST and DA. CASP3 levels fluctuated across the group, with MPTP1.1 and MPTP1.5 significantly elevated. The GST protein was assessed and showed a sudden drop in MPTP1.1, albeit statistically insignificant. Henceforth, the level significantly increased in the day 10 and day 30 groups. DA levels were equivocal except for MPTP2.1 where it is significantly elevated. (A,C,E) ELISA results between one- and two-time injection. (B,D,F) Result between days of assessment from day 1 to 30. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Asterisks (*) indicate a significant difference between vehicle and treated fish at *p < 0.01 or **p < 0.05.

Figure 5

TH+ cells count in different regions of the brain. MPTP in this study has been shown to affect a few areas of dopaminergic neurons, sparing the OB, SP and PR areas. VT and PO area has been seen to be affected the earliest, as early as day 1. Subsequently, other areas were affected. The pattern is similar to other markers tested before, where the lowest counts were noted in MPTP1.3 and MPTP1.5. Day 10 assessment has shown recovery of the cell counts, which mostly return to the same counts as in control on day 10. Although cell counts did not reduce in pretectum following MPTP insult, it is noted that on day 30, the PR cell counts were significantly increased. (A) TH+ cell between one- and two-times injection. (B) TH+ cells between days of assessment from day 1 to 30. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Asterisks (*) indicate a significant difference between vehicle and treated fish at *p < 0.01 or **p < 0.05.

Figure 6

Coronal section of ventral thalamus. The TH+ cells were marked by a deep chromogenic stain. The cell number can be seen declining from day one and peaked around days 3 and 5. Day 10 and Day 30 sections showed re-emerging of positive TH+ cell stain. (A) Control, (B) Vehicle, (C) MPTP1.1, (D) MPTP2.1, (E) MPTP1.3, (F) MPTP2.3, (G) MPTP1.5, (H) MPTP1.10, (I) MPTP 1.30.

Figure 7

Coronal section of TPp and PVO. Compared to VT, the drop in TH+ cell counts were more evident starting from day 3, for both one- and two-time MPTP injections. This finding persisted on day 5 of the assessment. Day 10 tissue section showed a slight improvement in TH+ cell count, which progressed eventually during the day 30 assessment. (A) Control, (B) Vehicle, (C) MPTP1.1, (D) MPTP2.1, (E) MPTP1.3, (F) MPTP2.3, (G) MPTP1.5; (H) MPTP1.10, (I) MPTP 1.30.