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Updated: May 1, 2026
Quantification of Ethanol Levels in Zebrafish Embryos Using Head Space Gas Chromatography
Published on: February 11, 2020
Effects of ethanol and acetaldehyde in zebrafish brain structures: an in vitro approach on glutamate uptake and on
Kamila Cagliari Zenki1, Ben Hur Marins Mussulini1, Eduardo Pacheco Rico2
1Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600-Anexo, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Abstract:
Ethanol (EtOH) and its metabolite, acetaldehyde (ALD), induce deleterious effects on central nervous system (CNS). Here we investigate the in vitro toxicity of EtOH and ALD (concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1%) in zebrafish brain structures [telencephalon (TE), opticum tectum (OT), and cerebellum (CE)] by measuring the functionality of glutamate transporters, MTT reduction, and extracellular LDH activity. Both molecules decreased the activity of the Na(+)-dependent glutamate transporters in all brain structures. The strongest glutamate uptake inhibition after EtOH exposure was 58% (TE-1%), and after ALD, 91% (CE-1%). The results of MTT assay and LDH released demonstrated that the actions of EtOH and its metabolite are concentration and structure-dependent, in which ALD was more toxic than EtOH. In summary, our findings demonstrate a differential toxicity in vitro of EtOH and ALD in zebrafish brain structures, which can involve changes on glutamatergic parameters. We suggest that this species may be an interesting model for assessing the toxicological actions of alcohol and its metabolite in CNS.
