Effects of exogenous carbon monoxide on radiation-induced bystander effect in zebrafish embryos in vivo

In the present work, the influence of a low concentration of exogenous carbon monoxide (CO) liberated from tricarbonylchloro(glycinato)ruthenium (II) (CORM-3) on the radiation induced bystander effect (RIBE) in vivo between embryos of the zebrafish was studied. RIBE was assessed through the number of apoptotic signals revealed on embryos at 25 h post fertilization (hpf). A significant attenuation of apoptosis on the bystander embryos induced by RIBE in a CO concentration dependent manner was observed.

► RIBE between zebrafish embryos in vivo was assessed by the level of apoptosis.
► CO from 10 and 20 μM CORM-3 entirely suppressed the RIBE.
► CO from 5 μM CORM-3 significantly attenuated the level of apoptosis.
► Inactive CORM-3 did not lead to suppression of RIBE.
► Suppression of RIBE by CO depended on the concentration of CORM-3.