TITLE:
Valproic Acid Decreases Cell Proliferation and Color Preference in the Zebrafish Larvae
AUTHORS:
Bongkyu Lee, Sujeong Lee, Miyoung Choi, Chang-Joong Lee
KEYWORDS:
BRDU, Valproic acid, Color preference, β-catenin, Zebrafish
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.5 No.12,
December
8,
2017
ABSTRACT: Valproic acid (VPA) is
widely used as an antiepileptic drug or mood stabilizer. In this study, we
evaluated the effects of treatment with 2 mM VPA for 3 h on cell proliferation in the telencephalic area of
zebrafish larvae using bromodeoxyuridine (BRDU) to label dividing cells. It was
demonstrated that 2 mM VPA exposure for 3 h at 2 and 3 days post-fertilization
(dpf) larvae decreased cell proliferation in the telencephalic area of 5 dpf
larvae. The reduced cell proliferation was not restored at 10 dpf larvae. The quantitative
real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) data indicated that mRNA expression levels of WNT signaling
pathway-related factors such as β-catenin,
LEF1, and gsk3β were altered in the
zebrafish larvae treated with 2 mM VPA at 2 and 3 pdf. It was also demonstrated
that 2 mM VPA exposure affected color preference of the zebrafish larvae,
reducing blue color preference at 5 dpf larvae. The altered color preference
was restored at 10 dpf larvae. These results suggest that VPA exposure may
cause molecular, cellular, and behavioral alterations in early developmental
stage of the zebrafish.