Beneficial and detrimental effects of the phytochemical naringenin on rainbow trout intestinal epithelial cells

Abstract

Monolayer cultures of the rainbow trout cell line, RTgutGC, were used to study actions on the intestinal epithelium of a potential feed additive, the flavanone naringenin. Although having little effect on viability or morphology, naringenin altered the F-actin staining pattern. Stress fibers disappeared and peripheral actin became more intense. Naringenin enhanced barrier function, as measured by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and Lucifer yellow permeability. When cell-free gaps or wounds were created, cells in L15/FBS migrated into and covered the gap but more slowly with naringenin. By contrast in L15, cells only partially migrated into the gap and high naringenin concentrations blocked migration. These cells in naringenin had fewer protrusion and stress fibers but some had prominent peripheral F-actin staining on the side facing the gap. Therefore, naringenin might be enhancing barrier function and impeding cell migration by a common mechanism, modulating actin dynamics.

Keywords

• Naringenin
• Fish
• Intestine
• RTgutGC
• Wound healing