New insight into teratogenic effects of (S)-thalidomide in zebrafish embryos growing inside the chorion and subjected to electric pulses

Abstract Studies of (S)-thalidomide were conducted on zebrafish embryos subjected to electroporation processes using a square wave pulse generator. The results showed that the electroporation increases the absorption of (S)-thalidomide through the chorion into the growing embryos, which was confirme...

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Main Authors: Anna Małkowska, Łukasz Szymański, Julita Nowakowska, Dorota Kaczorek, Agnieszka Nosal-Wiercińska, Robert Kawęcki, Ireneusz P. Grudzinski, Anna M. Nowicka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00641-y
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author Anna Małkowska
Łukasz Szymański
Julita Nowakowska
Dorota Kaczorek
Agnieszka Nosal-Wiercińska
Robert Kawęcki
Ireneusz P. Grudzinski
Anna M. Nowicka
author_facet Anna Małkowska
Łukasz Szymański
Julita Nowakowska
Dorota Kaczorek
Agnieszka Nosal-Wiercińska
Robert Kawęcki
Ireneusz P. Grudzinski
Anna M. Nowicka
author_sort Anna Małkowska
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Studies of (S)-thalidomide were conducted on zebrafish embryos subjected to electroporation processes using a square wave pulse generator. The results showed that the electroporation increases the absorption of (S)-thalidomide through the chorion into the growing embryos, which was confirmed by increased thalidomide levels in the embryo bodies at different hours post-treatments using differential pulse voltammetry and controlled-growth mercury drop electrode techniques. (S)-thalidomide administered by electroporation produced structural body deformations in zebrafish embryos as showed by scanning electron microscopy studies. Detailed transmission electron microscopy analysis evidenced multiple deposits of the outer layer and translucencies in the chorion structure, which was also pronounced on the mitochondrial membranes. The results confirmed the spontaneous conversion of the (S)-thalidomide enantiomer to the (R)-enantiomer in embryos exposed to the (S)-thalidomide only and subjected to electroporation pulses. The electroporation was found as a promising method to increase the uptake of (S)-thalidomide in the developmental studies on early zebrafish embryos growing in the chorion.
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spelling doaj-art-ad3c9b9a989a4b4b8a7a3f364e03d2ed2025-08-20T03:48:02ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-00641-yNew insight into teratogenic effects of (S)-thalidomide in zebrafish embryos growing inside the chorion and subjected to electric pulsesAnna Małkowska0Łukasz Szymański1Julita Nowakowska2Dorota Kaczorek3Agnieszka Nosal-Wiercińska4Robert Kawęcki5Ireneusz P. Grudzinski6Anna M. Nowicka7Department of Toxicology and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of WarsawUniversity of Warsaw, Faculty of ChemistryUniversity of Warsaw, Faculty of BiologyUniversity of Siedlce, Faculty of Natural ScienceMaria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lubin, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Departament of Analytical ChemistryUniversity of Siedlce, Faculty of Natural ScienceDepartment of Toxicology and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of WarsawUniversity of Warsaw, Faculty of ChemistryAbstract Studies of (S)-thalidomide were conducted on zebrafish embryos subjected to electroporation processes using a square wave pulse generator. The results showed that the electroporation increases the absorption of (S)-thalidomide through the chorion into the growing embryos, which was confirmed by increased thalidomide levels in the embryo bodies at different hours post-treatments using differential pulse voltammetry and controlled-growth mercury drop electrode techniques. (S)-thalidomide administered by electroporation produced structural body deformations in zebrafish embryos as showed by scanning electron microscopy studies. Detailed transmission electron microscopy analysis evidenced multiple deposits of the outer layer and translucencies in the chorion structure, which was also pronounced on the mitochondrial membranes. The results confirmed the spontaneous conversion of the (S)-thalidomide enantiomer to the (R)-enantiomer in embryos exposed to the (S)-thalidomide only and subjected to electroporation pulses. The electroporation was found as a promising method to increase the uptake of (S)-thalidomide in the developmental studies on early zebrafish embryos growing in the chorion.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00641-yThalidomideElectroporationZebrafish embryosTeratogenicity
spellingShingle Anna Małkowska
Łukasz Szymański
Julita Nowakowska
Dorota Kaczorek
Agnieszka Nosal-Wiercińska
Robert Kawęcki
Ireneusz P. Grudzinski
Anna M. Nowicka
New insight into teratogenic effects of (S)-thalidomide in zebrafish embryos growing inside the chorion and subjected to electric pulses
Scientific Reports
Thalidomide
Electroporation
Zebrafish embryos
Teratogenicity
title New insight into teratogenic effects of (S)-thalidomide in zebrafish embryos growing inside the chorion and subjected to electric pulses
title_full New insight into teratogenic effects of (S)-thalidomide in zebrafish embryos growing inside the chorion and subjected to electric pulses
title_fullStr New insight into teratogenic effects of (S)-thalidomide in zebrafish embryos growing inside the chorion and subjected to electric pulses
title_full_unstemmed New insight into teratogenic effects of (S)-thalidomide in zebrafish embryos growing inside the chorion and subjected to electric pulses
title_short New insight into teratogenic effects of (S)-thalidomide in zebrafish embryos growing inside the chorion and subjected to electric pulses
title_sort new insight into teratogenic effects of s thalidomide in zebrafish embryos growing inside the chorion and subjected to electric pulses
topic Thalidomide
Electroporation
Zebrafish embryos
Teratogenicity
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00641-y
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