Haemal lordosis, a frequent skeletal deformity in teleost fish, has long been correlated with increased mechanical loads induced by swimming activity. In the present study, we examine whether juvenile zebrafish can recover from haemal lordosis and explore the musculoskeletal mechanisms involved. Juveniles were subjected to a swimming challenge test (SCT) that induced severe haemal lordosis in 49% of the animals and then immediately transferred them to 0.0 total body lengths (TL) per second of water velocity for a week. The recovery from lordosis was examined by means of whole mount staining, histology and gene expression analysis. Results demonstrate that 80% of the lordotic zebrafish are capable of internal and external recovery within a week after the SCT. Recovered individuals presented normal shape of the vertebral centra, maintaining though distorted internal tissue organization. Through the transcriptomic analysis of the affected haemal regions, several processes related to chromosome organization, DNA replication, circadian clock and transcription regulation were enriched within genes significantly regulated behind this musculoskeletal recovery procedure. Genes especially involved in adipogenesis, bone remodeling and muscular regeneration were regulated. A remodeling tissue-repair hypothesis behind haemal lordosis recovery is raised. Limitations and future possibilities for zebrafish as a model organism to clarify mechanically driven musculoskeletal changes are discussed.

血液前凸是硬骨鱼中常见的骨骼畸形，长期以来一直与游泳活动引起的机械负荷增加有关。在本研究中，我们检查幼年斑马鱼是否可以从血液前凸中恢复并探索所涉及的肌肉骨骼机制。幼鱼接受游泳挑战测试 (SCT)，该测试在 49% 的动物中诱发严重的血液前凸，然后立即将它们转移到每秒 0.0 全身长度 (TL) 的水流速度，持续一周。通过整体染色、组织学和基因表达分析检查脊柱前凸的恢复情况。结果表明，80% 的前凸斑马鱼能够在 SCT 后一周内进行内部和外部恢复。恢复的个体呈现正常的椎骨中心形状，维持虽然扭曲的内部组织组织。通过对受影响的血液区域进行转录组学分析，与染色体组织、DNA 复制、生物钟和转录调节相关的几个过程在该肌肉骨骼恢复过程背后显着调节的基因中得到了丰富。特别涉及脂肪生成、骨重塑和肌肉再生的基因受到调节。提出了血液前凸恢复背后的重塑组织修复假说。讨论了斑马鱼作为模型生物以阐明机械驱动的肌肉骨骼变化的局限性和未来可能性。生物钟和转录调控在该肌肉骨骼恢复过程后显着调控的基因中得到丰富。特别涉及脂肪生成、骨重塑和肌肉再生的基因受到调节。提出了血液前凸恢复背后的重塑组织修复假说。讨论了斑马鱼作为模型生物以阐明机械驱动的肌肉骨骼变化的局限性和未来可能性。生物钟和转录调控在该肌肉骨骼恢复过程后显着调控的基因中得到丰富。特别涉及脂肪生成、骨重塑和肌肉再生的基因受到调节。提出了血液前凸恢复背后的重塑组织修复假说。讨论了斑马鱼作为模型生物以阐明机械驱动的肌肉骨骼变化的局限性和未来可能性。