Zebrafish Parkinson’s model: Rotenone decrease motility, dopamine, and increase α-synuclein aggregation and apoptosis of zebrafish brain

Rotenone is a pesticide that is widely used to kill insects and nuisance fish in lakes. The mechanism of toxicity of rotenone is primarily mediated by its potent mitochondrial complex I inhibition. In this study, we examined the motility, dopamine, - synuclein and apoptosis as hallmark of PD in rotenone-induced zebrafish (Danio rerio). We used adult zebrafish (8 months) and exposed to 5 g/L rotenone for 28 days. Motility observed for 5 minutes in each week. Measurement dopamine (DA) by ELISA, apoptosis by immunohistochemistry and -synuclein by immunohistochemistry and westernblotting of zebrafish brain. The results showed that rotenone significantly (p < 0.05) decreased motility start at day 14, decreased dopamine, increasing α-synuclein expression and aggregation that seems both of that leading to apoptosis of neuronal cells. Together, these data suggest that sub chronic exposure (28 days) of rotenone 5 μg/L caused Parkinsonism due to decreases dopamine level, locomotor activity, increasing α-synuclein expression and aggregation and apoptosis of dopaminergic neuron as well.