Protective effects of quercetin, polydatin, and folic acid and their mixtures in a zebrafish (Danio rerio) fetal alcohol spectrum disorder model

Abstract

Protective effects of quercetin (QUE), polydatin (POL), and folic acid (FA) and their mixtures were tested using zebrafish to model fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in this study. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 150 mM ethanol for 6 or 22 h and co-treated with QUE, POL, FA, and their mixtures (37.5 – 100.0 μM). Epiboly progression, teratogenic effects, and behavior were evaluated. Ethanol exposure reduced epiboly, and FA and QUE protected against these ethanol-induced defects. POL did not reduce epiboly defects. The mixture QUE+FA showed a possible antagonistic effect. The observed teratogenic effects were similar in all ethanol exposed groups. QUE, FA and QUE+POL reduced the percentage of affected animals, but treatments did not eliminate teratogenic effects. Behavioral measurements were divided into small (between 4 and 8 mm/s) and high swimming activity (> 8 mm/s). All experimental groups displayed a reduction in small swimming activity as compared to control and ethanol groups when exposed to bright light. Additionally, larvae exposed to ethanol were more inhibited than control, not showing a habituation period (after 60 min of experiment) in high swimming activity. Chemical treatments like QUE and POL reduced behavioral defects induced by ethanol exposure. In conclusion, this study presents new evidence that QUE, POL, FA and their mixtures partially protected epiboly, teratogenic, and behavioral defects induced by ethanol exposure. QUE, FA and QUE+POL were more effective in reducing these defects than the other studied compounds and mixtures.