Chronotropic and vasoactive properties of the gut bacterial short-chain fatty acids in larval zebrafish.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by the gut bacteria have been associated with cardiovascular dysfunction in humans and rodents. However, studies exploring effects of SCFAs on cardiovascular parameters in the zebrafish, an increasingly popular model in cardiovascular research, remain limited. Here, we performed fecal bacterial 16S sequencing and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine the composition and abundance of gut microbiota and SCFAs in adult zebrafish. Following this, the acute effects of major SCFAs on heart rate and vascular tone were measured in anesthetized zebrafish larvae using fecal concentrations of butyrate, acetate, and propionate. Finally, we investigated if coincubation with butyrate may lessen the effects of angiotensin II (ANG II) and phenylephrine (PE) on vascular tone in anesthetized zebrafish larvae. We found that the abundance in Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Fusobacteria phyla in the adult zebrafish resembled those reported in rodents and humans. SCFA levels with highest concentration of acetate (27.43 µM), followed by butyrate (2.19 µM) and propionate (1.65 µM) were observed in the fecal samples of adult zebrafish. Immersion in butyrate and acetate produced a ∼20% decrease in heart rate (HR), respectively, with no observed effects of propionate. Butyrate alone also produced an ∼25% decrease in the cross-sectional width of the dorsal aorta (DA) at 60 min (*P < 0.05), suggesting compensatory vasoconstriction, with no effects of either acetate or propionate. In addition, butyrate significantly alleviated the decrease in DA cross-sectional width produced by both ANG II and PE. We demonstrate the potential for zebrafish in investigation of host-microbiota interactions in cardiovascular health.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We highlight the presence of a core gut microbiota and demonstrate in vivo short-chain fatty acid production in adult zebrafish. In addition, we show cardio-beneficial vasoactive and chronotropic properties of butyrate, and chronotropic properties of acetate in anesthetized zebrafish larvae.

Small fish, big discoveries: zebrafish shed light on microbial biomarkers for neuro-immune-cardiovascular health.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have emerged as a powerful model to study the gut microbiome in the context of human conditions, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, and immune dysfunction. Here, we highlight zebrafish as a tool to bridge the gap in knowledge in linking the gut microbiome and physiological homeostasis of cardiovascular, neural, and immune systems, both independently and as an integrated axis. Drawing on zebrafish studies to date, we discuss challenges in microbiota transplant techniques and gnotobiotic husbandry practices. We present advantages and current limitations in zebrafish microbiome research and discuss the use of zebrafish in identification of microbial enterotypes in health and disease. We also highlight the versatility of zebrafish studies to further explore the function of human conditions relevant to gut dysbiosis and reveal novel therapeutic targets.