Miao Fang, Ju Peng, Daoqi Zhu, Chaohua Luo, Chan Li, Yingbo Lin, Chen Zhu, Ken Kin-Lam Yung and Zhixian Mo
This study aimed to observe cardiotoxicity induced by three kinds of addictive drugs (i.e., methamphetamine (METH), ketamine (KT), and methadone) in zebrafish embryos. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to various doses of METH, KT, and methadone solutions. The qualitative and quantitative cardiotoxicities were recorded at 24 h and 48 h posttreatment using specific endpoints, i.e., heart rate, heart malformation, pericardial edema, and circulation abnormalities. Results showed that METH at 500 mg/L dose induced a heart rate decline and pericardial edema at 24 h posttreatment, whereas a 1,000 mg/L dose induced significant cardiac malfunctions (i.e., heart rate, pericardial edema, and circulation decrease/absence) at 12 h and 24 h posttreatment compared with the control group. The heart rate of zebrafish embryos treated with KT at 500 mg/L dose decreased compared with the control groups at 24 h posttreatment, whereas a minimum dose of 1,000 mg/L induced significant cardiac malfunctions (i.e., heart rate, pericardial edema, and circulation decrease/absence) at 12 h and 24 h posttreatment. All of the zebrafish embryos treated with methadone at a minimum dose of 500 mg/L died, whereas methadone at 200 mg/L and 300 mg/L dose induced significant cardiac malfunctions (i.e., heart rate, pericardial edema, and circulation decrease/absence) at 12 h and 24 h posttreatment. The results confirm the potential cardiotoxicity of the three kinds of addictive drugs (i.e., METH, KT, and methadone), particularly of methadone. Therefore, more attention must be focused on the risk of clinical application of methadone.
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