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Development of a Whole-organism Model to Screen New Compounds for Sun Protection

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Abstract

We used zebrafish as a whole-organism model to screen new compounds for sun protection activity. First of all, we designed a series of UVB exposure experiments and recorded the phenotypic changes of zebrafish embryos. Results showed that 100 mJ/cm2 of UVB given six times separated by 30 min intervals is the best condition. Fin malformation (reduced and/or absent fin) phenotypes are the most evident consequences after exposure to UVB. Each fin was affected by UVB, including pelvic, ventral, caudal, and dorsal fin, but pelvic fin seemed to be the most sensitive target after UVB exposure. We furthermore carried out “prevention” and “treatment” experiments using green tea extract and/or (−)-epigallocatechin (EGCG) to test this whole-organism model by observing the morphological changes of all fins (especially pelvic fin) after UVB exposure. Effects of UVB, green tea extract and EGCG on fin development were assessed using the Kaplan–Meier analysis, log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression. Results showed that a zebrafish pelvic fin in the UVB + green tea (treatment) group is 5.51 (range from 2.39 to 14.90) times, one in the UVB + green tea (prevention) group is 7.04 (range from 3.11 to 18.92) times, and one in the 25 ppm of EGCG (prevention) group is 22.19 (range from 9.40 to 61.50) times more likely to return to normal fin than one in the UVB only group. On the basis of these observations, we believe this model is effective for screening the higher stability and lower toxicity of new compounds, such as small chemicals which are derivative from EGCG or other dietary agents for sun protection.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the National Science Council, Republic of China, under grant numbers of NSC 96-2313-B-032-001-MY3 and NSC 97-2313-B-032-001-MY3.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Research, Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center, Taipei, Taiwan

    Yun-Hsin Wang

  2. Department of Mathematics, Tamkang University, Tamsui, Taiwan

    Chi-Chung Wen

  3. Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, Tamkang University, No. 151 Ying-chuan Road, Tamsui, Taipei County, Taiwan

    Zhi-Shiang Yang, Hsin-Ju Wu & Yau-Hung Chen

  4. Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chia-Yi University, Chia-Yi, Taiwan

    Chien-Chung Cheng

  5. School of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Jen-Ning Tsai

  6. Department of Chemistry, Tamkang University, Tamsui, Taiwan

    Chia-Chen Ku

  7. Life Sciences Development Center, Tamkang University, Tamsui, Taiwan

    Yau-Hung Chen

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  1. Yun-Hsin Wang
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  2. Chi-Chung Wen
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Correspondence to Yau-Hung Chen.

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Yun-Hsin Wang and Chi-Chung Wen contributed equally.

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Wang, YH., Wen, CC., Yang, ZS. et al. Development of a Whole-organism Model to Screen New Compounds for Sun Protection. Mar Biotechnol 11, 419–429 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-008-9159-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-008-9159-9

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