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Embryonic exposure to diclofenac disturbs actin organization and leads to myofibril misalignment

Ying-Hsin Chen1, Chao-Yuan Chang, Yun-Hsin Wang

  • 1Institute of Medical Sciences, Buddhist Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.

Birth Defects Research. Part B, Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology
|March 19, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Diclofenac exposure caused developmental defects in zebrafish embryos, including body axis twisting and muscle abnormalities. Higher doses disrupted actin organization and muscle fiber alignment, leading to malformed somites.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental toxicology
  • Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like diclofenac are widely used.
  • Potential environmental and developmental risks of NSAIDs require investigation.
  • Zebrafish embryos are a valuable model for studying drug embryotoxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the embryotoxic effects of diclofenac on zebrafish embryos.
  • To determine dose-dependent and time-dependent toxicity.
  • To investigate the impact on embryonic development and muscle formation.

Main Methods:

  • Zebrafish embryos at 12 hours post-fertilization (hpf) were exposed to varying diclofenac concentrations (0-2,000 ppm).
  • Exposure durations ranged from 12 to 72 hours.
  • Morphological assessments and staining with F59 and phalloidin antibodies were performed.

Main Results:

  • Low diclofenac doses (1 ppm) showed no significant impact on survival or morphology.
  • Higher doses (5-10 ppm) induced defective phenotypes: malformed somite boundaries, twisted body axis, and reduced body length.
  • Diclofenac treatment significantly decreased spontaneous in-chorion contractions and disturbed actin organization and muscle fiber alignment.

Conclusions:

  • Diclofenac exhibits dose-dependent embryotoxicity in zebrafish.
  • The drug disrupts crucial developmental processes, including muscle development and organization.
  • These findings highlight the potential risks of diclofenac exposure during embryonic development.

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