ADInstruments repeorts that its PowerLab systems are being used to establish the zebrafish as a model for assessing drug effects on cardiac function, using QT prolongation as a key indicator
Researchers at Phylonix Pharmaceuticals are recording ECG signals from the small fish species, and using Chart's ECG Analysis module software to analyse the effects of pharmacological interventions.
Phylonix is a contract research organisation headquartered in Cambridge, MA, which develops and markets in vivo zebrafish assays for therapeutic drug screening for research and preclinical studies.
The zebrafish is extremely cost-effective compared to larger animal models, and its embryo is already established as a powerful model for studying genetics and developmental biology.
Recently, articles validating adult zebrafish as a model for researching drug-induced QT prolongation have appeared in the journals Circulation and AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology.
Zebrafish and human heart electrophysiological properties are comparable, and ECG patterns, including the PR interval, QRS complex and QT interval, are similar.
According to Patricia McGrath, Phylonix president and CEO, "We decided to get into this area because we could see that the pharmaceutical industry was being mandated to do QT prolongation testing for all their drugs, so if we could get the model to catch on, we hoped we'd catch some customers".
Phylonix researchers add drugs to the water in the zebrafish's recording chamber.
The ECG signal is recorded using needle electrodes with an ADInstruments' Octal Bio Amp, PowerLab data acquisition unit and Chart software.
Phylonix electrophysiologist Demian Park has worked closely with ADInstruments staff to optimise recordings.
The ECG Analysis module has accelerated Phylonix's data analysis processes.
It automatically detects, analyses and extracts signal parameters, including the QT interval, in real time.
As Phylonix's recordings are extremely long, Dr Park considers this software "really necessary" for research productivity.
