Journal
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
Volume 189, Issue -, Pages 33-42Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2013.04.016
Keywords
Estrogen; Embryonic zebrafish; Cardiovascular system; Aromatase inhibitor; Nitric oxide
Categories
Funding
- Virginia's Commonwealth Health Research Board
- VMI and Roanoke College Departments of Biology
- VMI Center for Undergraduate Research
- Div Of Biological Infrastructure
- Direct For Biological Sciences [1126118] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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The presence of a robust estrogen (E2) response system throughout heart and blood vessel tissues of vertebrates, including humans, has led to the speculation that this ubiquitous hormone may play a prominent role in the health and maintenance of the adult cardiovascular system (CVS). We previously established an embryonic zebrafish model called 'listless', which results from the inhibition of E2 synthesis by treatment with aromatase enzyme inhibitors (AI). These fish have outward symptoms similar to the human condition of congestive heart failure and tamponade. E2 replacement therapy (1) reduced the severity of cardiac sac abnormalities, (2) protected heart function, (3) prevented reduction in heart size, and (4) reduced blood vessel deterioration. Nitric oxide may be a critical downstream mediator of these events. We also demonstrate that removal of fluid around the heart increases survival of AI-treated fish. These results strongly indicate the importance of E2 in the developing CVS of the zebrafish and offer a potential model for the study of its role in CVS development, maintenance, and disease conditions. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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