2. Academic Validation
  3. Valbenazine promotes body growth via growth hormone signaling during zebrafish embryonic development

Valbenazine promotes body growth via growth hormone signaling during zebrafish embryonic development

  • Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2023 Aug 28;116674. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116674.
Zhengkang Su 1,  Ziru Dai 2,  Fengqing Qin 2,  Hai Zhang 3,  Miaomiao Zheng 1,  Ya Zhu 1,  Zhiqian Tong 4,  Song Weihong 5,  Xi Li 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 The Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China.
  • 2 Guangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Biodiversity Conservation, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, Guangxi, China.
  • 3 College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
  • 4 Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China.
  • 5 The Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China; Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 6 The Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 37648088 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116674
Abstract

Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 (VMAT-2) functions by uptake of cytoplasmic monoamines into vesicles for storage. Valbenazine (VBZ) is a newly FDA-approved oral VMAT-2 inhibitor used for the treatment of movement disorders such as tardive dyskinesia (TD), and Tourette syndrome (TS). Clinical data shows that VBZ is a relatively safe drug with no cardiotoxicity or hepatotoxicity. However, the effect of VBZ on embryonic development remains unknown. Here, we use zebrafish larvae as an animal model to demonstrate that VBZ exposure causes premature hatching and increases body size and hyperactivity-like behaviors in zebrafish larvae. In addition, VBZ exposure leads to increased dopamine (DA) and Glutamate (Glu) levels. Moreover, an increased in the growth hormone (gh) and enriched PI3K/Akt signaling were found in VBZ-exposed zebrafish larvae, which may explain their accelerated development. In summary, VBZ exposure may be developmentally toxic in zebrafish larvae.

Keywords

Dopamine; VBZ; VMAT2; Zebrafish larvae.

Figures
Products