Abstract: Purpose: The pro-angiogenic effects of different sources and types of phospholipids in zebrafish were evaluated and compared. Methods: Zebrafish embryos at 24 and 72 h post fertilization (hpf) were used to evaluate the effects of phospholipid samples (prepared from soybean, egg yolk or white shrimp head) on the growth of intersegmental vessel (ISV) and subintestinal vein vessel (SIV). Six experimental groups were set up, including blank control, model (treated with 0.25 μg/mL PTK787), positive control and phospholipid treatment (at concentrations of 20, 40 and 80 μg/mL). After incubation for 24 h, the ISV and SIV growth of transgenic zebrafish in each experimental group was observed and recorded by fluorescence microscopy. Results: The three phospholipids prepared in this study and two commercially available phospholipid products (iodized lecithin tablets and polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules) showed obvious pro-angiogenic activity on zebrafish with damaged ISV. All three phospholipids and four commercially available phospholipid products (iodized lecithin tablets, polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules, soybean phospholipid soft capsules, and fish oil capsules) showed obvious pro-angiogenic activity on SIV. Among these drugs, phospholipids in the head of Penaeus vannaceus had the strongest pro-angiogenic activity. Five phospholipid standards showed different angiogenesis promoting effects. Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS) and high concentration (80 μg/mL) of sphingomyelin (SM) showed obvious pro-angiogenesis on ISV. All phospholipid standards showed obvious pro-angiogenic effects on SIV. Conclusion: Different concentrations of phospholipid extracts, commercially available phospholipid products and phospholipid standards had pro-angiogenic activity on zebrafish.

Key words: phospholipid; pro-angiogenic activity; zebrafish; intersegmental vessels; subintestinal vein vessels