@article{2dbf1e36d83a4939805a2eca6bbf1253,
title = "Embryonic exposure to 4-methylimidazole leads to zebrafish myofibril misalignment",
abstract = "4-methylimidazole (4-MI) is an imidazole-derived organic chemical compound that can be used as a raw material in the manufacture of diverse chemicals and has been identified as an ingredient of caramel color in soybean sauce, beers, and other soft drinks. The aim of the present study was to investigate the teratogenic effects of 4-MI during zebrafish embryogenesis. Zebrafish embryos were treated with different dosages of 4-MI (0-120 mM) for different exposure durations (12-60 hours). The percentages of embryos with malformed phenotypes increased as the exposure dosages and duration time of 4-MI increased. We also used immunofluorescence and transmission microscopy to evaluate the subtle changes in the myofibril alignment and ultrastructure of muscle organization. Our data showed that 4-MI treatment disturbs muscle fiber alignment. Electron microscopy data indicated that Z-lines were undetectable in the 4-MI-treated embryos. Although the thick and thin filaments were visible, they were all disorganized. In addition, zebrafish embryos treated by 4-MI exhibited aberrant expression of 2 muscle-specific genes, myod and myogenin. Taken together, we concluded that early exposure to 4-MI affects zebrafish myogenesis, especially in myofibril alignment.",
keywords = "4-methylimidazole, myogenesis, zebrafish",
author = "Tsai, {Jen Ning} and Sun, {Chiao Yin} and Ding, {Yu Ju} and Wang, {Yun Hsin} and Lo, {Kang Chieh} and Wen, {Chi Chung} and Lin, {Jia Wei} and Chang, {Chiung Fang} and Hsu, {Li Sung} and Chen, {Hui Min} and Fong, {Tsorng Harn} and Chen, {Yau Hung}",
note = "Funding Information: The live or in situ stained embryos were observed under a microscope (DM 2500, Leica) equipped with Nomarski differential interference contrast optics and a fluorescent module having GFP filter cube (Kramer Scientific, Amesbury, Massachusetts). Images of embryos were captured at specific stages with a digital camera (Nikon, Tokyo, Japan). The F59-stained embryos were examined by a confocal microscope (Leica SP2). Rhodamine phalloidin-stained embryos were examined by a confocal microscopy (Leica LSM 510 META) performed in the Instrument Center of Chung Shan Medical University, which is supported by National Science Council, Ministry of Education and Chung Shan Medical University. Stained ultrathin sections were examined in a Hitachi H-600 electron microscope (Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan). Captured images were assembled using PhotoImpact X3 (Corel Inc., Ottawa, Canada). Funding Information: We are grateful to Taiwan Zebrafish Core Facility at Academia Sinica (TZCAS), which is supported by grant NSC 103-2321-B-001-050 from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), for providing the Zebrafish AB strain. We also acknowledge the technical services provided by Imaging Core Facility of Nanotechnology of the UST-YMU. This project was supported by the MOST, Republic of China, under grant number NSC 101-2313-B032-001-MY3. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Copyright: Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",
year = "2018",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1002/tox.22640",
language = "English",
volume = "33",
pages = "1321--1328",
journal = "Environmental Toxicology",
issn = "1520-4081",
publisher = "John Wiley & Sons Inc.",
number = "12",
}