Caffeine treatment disturbs the angiogenesis of zebrafish embryos.
Caffeine is a widely consumed substance that occurs in numerous dietary sources, but teratogenic effects of caffeine intake during embryonic development are still not clear. In the present study, we used the zebrafish as a model to assess caffeine-induced toxicity on embryonic vascular development. A green fluorescent vascular endothelium transgenic line, Tg(fli1:egfp), was utilized for the sensitive detection of vascular development, including vasculo- and angiogenesis. Caffeine-treated embryos showed no defects in vasculogenesis, but revealed dose-dependent (250-350 ppm) developmental defects in intersegmental vessels, dorsal longitudinal anastomotic vessels, and subintestinal vein sprouting. Further, real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of caffeine-treated embryos showed an upregulation of nrp1a along with a downregulation of sema3aa and sema3c. In conclusion, caffeine treatment induces defects of angiogenesis in zebrafish embryos.
Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, Tamkang University, Tamsui, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Chien-Hung
CH
Yeh
Yun-Feng
YF
Liao
Chao-Yuan
CY
Chang
Jen-Ning
JN
Tsai
Yun-Hsin
YH
Wang
Chien-Chung
CC
Cheng
Chi-Chung
CC
Wen
Yau-Hung
YH
Chen
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D013723:Teratogens; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; C120876:sema3aa protein, zebrafish; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D002110:Caffeine