Glucose inhibits haemostasis and accelerates diet-induced hyperlipidaemia in zebrafish larvae

Hyperglycaemia damages the microvasculature in part through the reduced recruitment of immune cells and interference with platelet signalling, leading to poor wound healing and accelerated lipid deposition in mammals. We investigated the utility of zebrafish larvae to model the effect of glucose on leukocyte recruitment, thrombosis, and hyperlipidaemia by treating larvae with exogenous glucose. Exogenous glucose supplementation reduced thrombocyte and fibrin plug formation following tail transection in zebrafish larvae but did not affect the recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages. We observed accelerated lipid accumulation in glucose-supplemented larvae challenged with high fat chicken egg yolk feeding. Our study identifies conserved and divergent effects of high glucose on inflammation in the tractable zebrafish embryo model system compared to mammals.