College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
The Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information Systems, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2022 Sep-Oct;93:107123. doi: 10.1016/j.ntt.2022.107123. Epub 2022 Sep 21.
Propionate is an effective mould inhibitor widely used as a food preservative. In this study, we used zebrafish to explore the adverse effects of long-term exposure to low concentrations of sodium propionate and the underlying molecular mechanisms (from larvae to adult). When exposed for 3 months, we found that blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels increased, and zebrafish developed a hyperglycaemic state. New tank test results showed depression in zebrafish reduced 5-hydroxytryptamine levels in the brain and damaged the dopamine system. At the same time, the results of the color preference test showed that zebrafish had cognitive impairments. In addition, Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis analysis revealed abnormal gene expression, increased cortisol levels, and reduced glucocorticoid receptor mRNA levels, which were consistent with depressive behavior. We also observed abnormal transcription of inflammatory and apoptotic factors. Overall, we found that chronic exposure to sodium propionate induces depressive symptoms. This may be related to the activation of the HPA axis by the hyperglycaemic state, thereby inducing inflammation and disrupting the dopaminergic system. In summary, this study provides theoretical and technical support for the overlap of the emotional pathogenesis associated with diabetes.
丙酸是一种有效的霉菌抑制剂，广泛用作食品防腐剂。在这项研究中，我们使用斑马鱼来探索长期暴露于低浓度丙酸钠的不良影响及其潜在的分子机制（从幼虫到成年）。当暴露 3 个月时，我们发现血糖、总胆固醇和甘油三酯水平升高，斑马鱼出现高血糖状态。新缸试验结果表明，斑马鱼大脑中的 5-羟色胺水平降低，多巴胺系统受损。同时，颜色偏好试验结果表明，斑马鱼存在认知障碍。此外，下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴分析显示基因表达异常、皮质醇水平升高和糖皮质激素受体 mRNA 水平降低，这与抑郁行为一致。我们还观察到炎症和凋亡因子的转录异常。总的来说，我们发现慢性暴露于丙酸钠会引起抑郁症状。这可能与高血糖状态激活 HPA 轴，从而引发炎症和破坏多巴胺能系统有关。总之，本研究为与糖尿病相关的情绪发病机制的重叠提供了理论和技术支持。
