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Updated: May 9, 2026
Adult Zebrafish Injury Models to Study the Effects of Prednisolone in Regenerating Bone Tissue
Published on: October 18, 2018
Prednisolone induces osteoporosis-like phenotype in regenerating zebrafish scales
E de Vrieze1, M A H J van Kessel, H M Peters
1Department of Organismal Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525, AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, e.devrieze@science.ru.nl.
Unlabelled:
We demonstrate that glucocorticoids induce an osteoporotic phenotype in regenerating scales of zebrafish. Exposure to prednisolone results in altered mineral content, enhanced matrix breakdown, and an osteoporotic gene-expression profile in osteoblasts and osteoclasts. This highlights that the zebrafish scale provides a powerful tool for preclinical osteoporosis research.
Introduction:
This study aims to evaluate whether glucocorticoid (prednisolone) treatment of zebrafish induces an osteoporotic phenotype in regenerating scales. Scales, a readily accessible dermal bone tissue, may provide a tool to study direct osteogenesis and its disturbance by glucocorticoids.
Methods:
In adult zebrafish, treated with 25 μM prednisolone phosphate via the water, scales were removed and allowed to regenerate. During regeneration scale morphology and the molar calcium/phosphorus ratio in scales were assessed and osteoblast and osteoclast activities were monitored by time profiling of cell-specific genes; mineralization was visualized by Von Kossa staining, osteoclast activity by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase histochemistry.
Results:
Prednisolone (compared to controls) enhances osteoclast activity and matrix resorption and slows down the build up of the calcium/phosphorus molar ratio indicative of altered crystal maturation. Prednisolone treatment further impedes regeneration through a shift in the time profiles of osteoblast and osteoclast genes that commensurates with an osteoporosis-like imbalance in bone formation.
Conclusions:
A glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis phenotype as seen in mammals was induced in regenerating scalar bone of zebrafish treated with prednisolone. An unsurpassed convenience and low cost then make the zebrafish scale a superior model for preclinical studies in osteoporosis research.
