Zebrafish as a model for the study of wound healing in hyperglycemia

Background: For preclinical studies of diabetic wound therapy, zebrafish have many orthologous signalling pathways that play essential roles in wound healing and regeneration. Objectives: This study compares the expression of four essential wound-healing genes and caudal fin regeneration in hyperglycemic zebrafish (Danio rerio) to normal zebrafish. Methods: Hyperglycemia was induced by using the intraperitoneal injection method with 350 mg/BW streptozotocin on days one, three, and five. The regeneration of the zebrafish's caudal fin was observed on day 5 after amputation using a stereomicroscope, followed by sampling of the blastema to analyse gene expression. Caudal fin regeneration was analysed using Zeiss Zen 3.3 blue documentation; blood glucose levels were measured using a glucometer; and relative gene expression analysis of sonic hedgehog (shh), insulin-like growth factor 2a (igf2a), bone morphogenetic protein 2b (bmp2b), collagen 1a2 (col1a2) was performed by qRT-PCR method. Results: The glucose level in the hyperglycemia group was 203.2 mg/dL, and that in the normal group was 59.5 mg/dL. The authors found that igf2a, shh, bmp2b, and col1a2 expression were all downregulated in the hyperglycemia group and decreased in caudal fin regeneration. Conclusion: This novel adult zebrafish model of hyperglycemia significantly impairs gene expression and caudal fin regeneration.