Premium
Zebrafish as a model to study cardiovascular functions
Author(s) -
Horvat Christine M,
Behler James H,
AbouAlaiwi Wissam A,
Mell Blair M,
Williams Frederick E,
Nauli Surya M
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.939.11
Subject(s) - verapamil , zebrafish , calcium , contraction (grammar) , heart rate , dopamine , medicine , cytosol , endocrinology , chemistry , biology , blood pressure , biochemistry , enzyme , gene
Background Zebrafish have been used as a model for studying vertebrate development and genetics, including the cardiovascular system. Our project aims to monitor heart contraction and cytosolic calcium using a Fura‐2 probe to monitor calcium oscillations with regard to heart contraction. Methods and Results Using high resolution DIC and calcium imaging microscopy, we show that dopamine and verapamil alter calcium signals and muscle contraction in 6‐14 day old anesthetized zebrafish. Dopamine at 100 μg/mL increases heart rate. On the other hand, 40 μg/mL of verapamil decreases heart contraction, but it does not decreases heart rate. Interestingly, no significant difference in calcium in the heart is observed in the zebrafish treated with dopamine or verapamil. Conclusion Our preliminary data indicates that dopamine alters heart rate independent from cytosolic calcium. Furthermore, verapamil decreases heart contraction independent from the changes in cytosolic calcium. We propose here that zebrafish can be used as a model to study cardiovascular functions.