Exploring the biological significance of folate in embryo development

• Main Authors: Gang-HuiLee, 李耕琿
• Other Authors: Tzu-Fun Fu
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2018
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/9wrr7y

博士 === 國立成功大學 === 基礎醫學研究所 === 106 === Folate, vitamin B9, is an essential nutrient in embryonic development. Folate fortification enhances lung function and decreases the risk of neural tube defect, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and small eye. Excessive folate supplementation in pregnant women increases the risk of the bronchiolitis and athma. However, the possible mechanisms of how folate participated in these malformations remain unknown. Zebrafish is a powerful animal model for embryogenesis. In this study, zebrafish embryo with folate deficiency is induced by overexpressing γGH protein. We found that folate deficient embryo displayed swimbladder deflation, small eye and vision loss. These phenotypic abnormalities were reversed by folate fortification. Our results suggested that increased ratio of cathepsin L/cystatin B-like, impaired nucleotide synthesis and reduced aldh1a3 expression were likely to be involved in the occurrence of swimbladder deflation, small eye and vision loss, respectively. Our results also suggested that this folate deficient model may serve as a drug-screening platform of emphysema and microphthalmia.