The Effects of Sex on Zebrafish Bone Metabolism

I investigated the effects of diet and sex on zebrafish bone metabolism. Zebrafish were subjected to either a high-calorie or low-calorie diet over a five-week period. After this diet, zebrafish scales were used to measure alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) enzyme activity with a fluorescent substrate. The enzyme activities were markers of the osteoblasts (ALP) and the osteoclasts (TRAP). These data were compared among sex and diet of the zebrafish using a repeated measures ANOVA statistical test. I also measured the number of resorption lacunae per scale (another indicator of osteoclast activity). The results showed higher TRAP activity in the low-calorie diet group (p = 0.03) but no effect of sex (p = 0.55). The low-calorie diet group had a higher number of lacunae per square mm of scale (p = 0.01). I interpret these results as low-calorie treatment increases osteoclast activity in zebrafish