miR-203a inhibitor and miR-34b-injected zebrafish (Danio rerio) exhibit an oil-induced response

In silico software previously predicted that interactions between microRNA (miR) and messenger RNA (mRNA) induced downstream impairments to early life stage fish following exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in crude oil. miR-203a and miR-34b were among the top two consistently dysregulated miRNAs following exposure to source and slick crude oil following the Deepwater Horizon incident. To better characterize the downstream influence of an inhibition of miR-203a and overexpression miR-34b, zebrafish were used as a model organism to assess molecular level impacts to morphological impairments. Benzo(a)pyrene was used as a positive control, as both miR-203a and miR-34b are known to act through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway.