The role of ambra1 in Pb-induced developmental neurotoxicity in zebrafish

• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.12.084
• Publication Date: 2021-12-25T01:03:08Z
• Authors: Jiaxian Liu; Yongjie Xu; Gengze Liao; Hongwei Tu; Ying Huang; Tao Peng; Xiaohui Chen; Zhibin Huang; Yiyue Zhang; Xiaojing Meng; Fei Zou
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gene Expression Profiling; Movement; Neurogenesis; Neurotoxins; Brain; Embryonic Development; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Apoptosis; Nervous System; 03 medical and health sciences; Lead; Brain Injuries; Larva; Animals; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Gene Silencing; In Situ Hybridization; Zebrafish; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing

Lead is a highly toxic metal that displays developmental neurotoxicity. Ambra1 plays a crucial role in embryonic neural development. At present, the role of Ambra1 in lead-induced developmental neurotoxicity remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of Ambra1 concerning its role in lead-induced neurotoxicity. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were exposed to 0.1, 1, or 10 μM Pb until 5 days post-fertilization, and their locomotor activity was significantly impaired by the 10 μM treatment. Meanwhile, Pb reduced the expression of ambra1a and ambra1b in the brain at 48 and 72 h post-fertilization. Overexpression of ambra1a or ambra1b reversed Pb-induced alterations in locomotor activity, and decreased the apoptotic cell numbers in the brains of Pb-treated zebrafish. Our data reveal a novel protective role of Ambra1 against Pb-induced neural damage in the developing zebrafish.