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Cavallino L, Florencia Scaia M, Gabriela Pozzi A, Eugenia Pedreira M. Recognizing the opponent: The consolidation of long-term social memory in zebrafish males. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2024; 212:107939. [PMID: 38762038 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2024.107939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Recognizing and remembering another individual in a social context could be beneficial for individual fitness. Especially in agonistic encounters, remembering an opponent and the previous fight could allow for avoiding new conflicts. Considering this, we hypothesized that this type of social interaction forms a long-term recognition memory lasting several days. It has been shown that a second encounter 24 h later between the same pair of zebrafish males is resolved with lower levels of aggression. Here, we evaluated if this behavioral change could last for longer intervals and a putative mechanism associated with memory storage: the recruitment of NMDA receptors. We found that if a pair of zebrafish males fight and fight again 48 or 72 h later, they resolve the second encounter with lower levels of aggression. However, if opponents were exposed to MK-801 (NMDA receptor antagonist) immediately after the first encounter, they solved the second one with the same levels of aggression: that is, no reduction in aggressive behaviors was observed. These amnesic effect suggest the formation of a long-term social memory related to recognizing a particular opponent and/or the outcome and features of a previous fight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Cavallino
- Laboratorio de Neuroendocrinología y comportamiento en peces y anfibios, DBBE, IBBEA-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CABA, Argentina; Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Pabellón 2, Piso 4°, Laboratorio26 (C1428EHA), Argentina.
| | - María Florencia Scaia
- Laboratorio de Neuroendocrinología y comportamiento en peces y anfibios, DBBE, IBBEA-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CABA, Argentina; Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Pabellón 2, Piso 4°, Laboratorio26 (C1428EHA), Argentina
| | - Andrea Gabriela Pozzi
- Laboratorio de Neuroendocrinología y comportamiento en peces y anfibios, DBBE, IBBEA-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CABA, Argentina; Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Pabellón 2, Piso 4°, Laboratorio26 (C1428EHA), Argentina
| | - María Eugenia Pedreira
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Al-Zoubi RM, Abu-Hijleh H, Zarour A, Zakaria ZZ, Yassin A, Al-Ansari AA, Al-Asmakh M, Bawadi H. Zebrafish Model in Illuminating the Complexities of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders: A Unique Research Tool. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4895. [PMID: 38732113 PMCID: PMC11084870 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychological condition that may develop in certain individuals following exposure to life-threatening or traumatic events. Distressing symptoms, including flashbacks, are characterized by disrupted stress responses, fear, anxiety, avoidance tendencies, and disturbances in sleep patterns. The enduring effects of PTSD can profoundly impact personal and familial relationships, as well as social, medical, and financial stability. The prevalence of PTSD varies among different populations and is influenced by the nature of the traumatic event. Recently, zebrafish have emerged as a valuable model organism in studying various conditions and disorders. Zebrafish display robust behavioral patterns that can be effectively quantified using advanced video-tracking tools. Due to their relatively simple nervous system compared to humans, zebrafish are particularly well suited for behavioral investigations. These unique characteristics make zebrafish an appealing model for exploring the underlying molecular and genetic mechanisms that govern behavior, thus offering a powerful comparative platform for gaining deeper insights into PTSD. This review article aims to provide updates on the pathophysiology of PTSD and the genetic responses associated with psychological stress. Additionally, it highlights the significance of zebrafish behavior as a valuable tool for comprehending PTSD better. By leveraging zebrafish as a model organism, researchers can potentially uncover novel therapeutic interventions for the treatment of PTSD and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of this complex condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raed M. Al-Zoubi
- Department of Chemistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan;
- Surgical Research Section, Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha P.O. Box 3050, Qatar; (A.Y.); (A.A.A.-A.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, QU-Health, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Haya Abu-Hijleh
- Department of Human Nutrition, QU-Health, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar; (H.A.-H.); (M.A.-A.)
| | - Ahmad Zarour
- Department of Surgery, Acute Care Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha P.O. Box 3050, Qatar;
| | - Zain Z. Zakaria
- Vice President for Medical and Health Sciences Office, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar;
| | - Aksam Yassin
- Surgical Research Section, Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha P.O. Box 3050, Qatar; (A.Y.); (A.A.A.-A.)
- Center of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dresden International University, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Abdulla A. Al-Ansari
- Surgical Research Section, Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha P.O. Box 3050, Qatar; (A.Y.); (A.A.A.-A.)
| | - Maha Al-Asmakh
- Department of Human Nutrition, QU-Health, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar; (H.A.-H.); (M.A.-A.)
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Hiba Bawadi
- Department of Human Nutrition, QU-Health, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar; (H.A.-H.); (M.A.-A.)
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Abozaid A, Gerlai R. A search for effective reinforcers in appetitive conditioning for adult zebrafish: Ecologically relevant unconditioned stimuli. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 131:110946. [PMID: 38237886 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.110946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Learning and memory related brain disorders represent a large unmet medical need. Laboratory studies with animals may model brain disorders and facilitate uncovering their mechanisms. The zebrafish has been proposed for such studies. However, numerous factors that influence performance in learning tasks have yet to be understood in zebrafish. One such factor is what motivates zebrafish. Here we introduce a novel reinforcer, an ecologically relevant unconditioned stimulus (US). We placed a photograph of gravel underneath quarter of the bottom of an experimental tank on one side and also positioned artificial plants there, the "natural" US. First, we showed that this stimulus was preferred by zebrafish. Next, we investigated whether this stimulus could serve as US for associative learning. We marked the walls of the tank on the side where the US was presented with red paper, the conditioned stimulus (CS+) we found neutral before, and we also marked the walls on the other side of the tank where no US was placed with blue paper (CS-). In addition to fish receiving this "paired" training, we also ran unpaired training with another group of zebrafish, in which the fish saw the US associated with blue and red in a random manner. After having trained the fish in this manner, we tested the performance of the paired and unpaired group of zebrafish in a memory probe trial during which no US was present, and only the CSs (blue and red walls) were shown. We found the paired group of zebrafish to show significant preference for the CS+, as they spent more time and swam closer to the red side compared to the unpaired group and compared to chance. We conclude that ecologically relevant stimuli can serve as efficient US in appetitive conditioning of zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Abozaid
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Robert Gerlai
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G5, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, Ontario, L5L 1C6, Canada.
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4
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Abozaid A, Gerlai R. Paradoxical effects of feeding status on food consumption and learning performance in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 128:110846. [PMID: 37611652 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Associative learning is often studied using food reward as the unconditioned stimulus (US). With warm-blooded species, to get the subject more motivated the solution has been to feed less, making the subject hungrier. Here we show the opposite with zebrafish. We randomly assigned zebrafish to two groups: a once-a-day-fed and a five-times-a-day-fed group, with the same amount of food fed per occasion for fish of both groups, a feeding regimen that lasted for three months. Subsequently, we trained fish by pairing food (US) with a red cue card (the conditioned stimulus, CS), which were placed together in one arm of a plus-maze across eight training sessions. We also ran unpaired training, in which the CS and US were presented in different arms. We found the previously once-a-day-fed zebrafish to consume less food throughout habituation and training sessions compared to the previously five-times-a-day-fed ones. Furthermore, five-times-a-day-fed fish in the paired group swam significantly closer to the CS during a post-training probe trial compared to the five-times-a-day-fed unpaired fish, a paired training effect that was absent in once-a-day-fed fish. Groups did not differ in health or general activity. In sum, elevated chronic feeding improved food consumption and enhanced learning and memory performance without affecting activity levels in adult zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Abozaid
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Canada.
| | - Robert Gerlai
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Canada.
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5
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Sourisse JM, Bonzi LC, Semmelhack J, Schunter C. Warming affects routine swimming activity and novel odour response in larval zebrafish. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21075. [PMID: 38030737 PMCID: PMC10687225 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48287-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Temperature is a primary factor affecting the physiology of ectothermic animals and global warming of water bodies may therefore impact aquatic life. Understanding the effects of near-future predicted temperature changes on the behaviour and underlying molecular mechanisms of aquatic animals is of particular importance, since behaviour mediates survival. In this study, we investigate the effects of developmental temperature on locomotory behaviour and olfactory learning in the zebrafish, Danio rerio. We exposed zebrafish from embryonic stage to either control (28 °C) or elevated temperature (30 °C) for seven days. Overall, warming reduced routine swimming activity and caused upregulation of metabolism and neuron development genes. When exposed to olfactory cues, namely catfish cue, a non-alarming but novel odour, and conspecifics alarming cue, warming differently affected the larvae response to the two cues. An increase in locomotory activity and a large transcriptional reprogramming was observed at elevated temperature in response to novel odour, with upregulation of cell signalling, neuron development and neuron functioning genes. As this response was coupled with the downregulation of genes involved in protein translation and ATP metabolism, novel odour recognition in future-predicted thermal conditions would require energetic trade-offs between expensive baseline processes and responsive functions. To evaluate their learning abilities at both temperatures, larvae were conditioned with a mixture of conspecifics alarm cue and catfish cue. Regardless of temperature, no behavioural nor gene expression changes were detected, reinforcing our findings that warming mainly affects zebrafish molecular response to novel odours. Overall, our results show that future thermal conditions will likely impact developing stages, causing trade-offs following novel olfactory detection in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade M Sourisse
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lucrezia C Bonzi
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Julie Semmelhack
- The Division of Life Science, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clearwater Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Celia Schunter
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Syed OA, Tsang B, Gerlai R. The zebrafish for preclinical psilocybin research. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105381. [PMID: 37689090 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
In this review, we discuss the possible utility of zebrafish in research on psilocybin, a psychedelic drug whose recreational use as well as possible clinical application are gaining increasing interest. First, we review behavioral tests with zebrafish, focussing on anxiety and social behavior, which have particular relevance in the context of psilocybin research. Next, we briefly consider methods of genetic manipulations with which psilocybin's phenotypical effects and underlying mechanisms may be investigated in zebrafish. We briefly review the known mechanisms of psilocybin, and also discuss what we know about its safety and toxicity profile. Last, we discuss examples of how psilocybin may be employed for testing treatment efficacy in preclinical research for affective disorders in zebrafish. We conclude that zebrafish has a promising future in preclinical research on psychedelic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omer A Syed
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada.
| | - Benjamin Tsang
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Canada.
| | - Robert Gerlai
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada.
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Tsang B, Venditti V, Javier CM, Gerlai R. The ram cichlid (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) learns an associative task: a new fish species for memory research. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13781. [PMID: 37612369 PMCID: PMC10447575 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40739-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Fish are the most species rich and evolutionarily oldest vertebrate taxon. This represents opportunities for biologists who intend to employ laboratory animals in their comparative or translational research. Yet, the overwhelming majority of such studies use a single fish species, the zebrafish, a suboptimal strategy from the comparative standpoint. Neuronal plasticity (learning and memory) is perhaps one of the most complex biological phenomena from a mechanistic standpoint, and thus its analysis could benefit from the use of evolutionarily ancient and simple vertebrate model organisms, i.e., fish species. However, learning & memory research with the zebrafish has been replete with problems. Here, we employ a novel fish species, the ram cichlid, we argue will be particularly appropriate for this purpose for practical as well as ethological/ecological reasons. First, we investigate whether the ram cichlid exhibits innate preference for certain colours (red, blue, yellow or green) in a four-choice task, the plus maze. Subsequently, we pair the apparently least preferred colour (green, the conditioned stimulus or CS) with food reward (the unconditioned stimulus, US) in the plus maze, a CS-US associative learning task. After eight pairing trials, we run a probe trial during which only the CS is presented. At this trial, we find significant preference to the CS, i.e., acquisition of memory of CS-US association. We argue that our proof-of-concept study demonstrating fast acquisition of CS-US association in the ram cichlid, coupled with the universal utility of some genome editing methods, will facilitate the mechanistic analysis of learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Tsang
- Cell and System Biology Department, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Veronica Venditti
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Celina Micaela Javier
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Robert Gerlai
- Cell and System Biology Department, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Rm CCT4004, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada.
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Liu H, Fu R, Zhang Y, Mao L, Zhu L, Zhang L, Liu X, Jiang H. Integrate transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis reveals the underlying mechanisms of behavioral disorders in zebrafish (Danio rerio) induced by imidacloprid. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 870:161541. [PMID: 36731560 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Imidacloprid, a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide, poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems. Behavior is a functional indicator of the net sensory, motor, and integrative processes of the nervous system and is presumed to be more sensitive in detecting toxicity. In the present study, we investigated the behavioral effects of imidacloprid at the level of environmental concentrations (1, 10 and 100 μg/L) for a constant exposure to zebrafish adults, and performed the integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis to analyze the molecular mechanism underlying behavioral effects of imidacloprid. Our results show that imidacloprid exposure significantly induce behavioral disruptions characterized by anxiety, depression, and reduced physiological function including exploratory, decision, social interaction and locomotor activity. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis indicate that the disruption of circadian rhythm, metabolic imbalance of arginine and proline, and neurotransmitter disorder are the underlying molecular mechanisms of behavioral impairment induced by imidacloprid. The "gene-metabolite-disease" network consisted by 11 metabolites and 15 genes is associated human disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) and schizophrenia. Our results confirm the behavioral impairment induced by imidacloprid at environmental concentrations for constant exposure. The identified genes and metabolites can be used not only to illustrate the underlying mechanisms, but also can be developed as biomarkers in determining the ecological risk of imidacloprid to aquatic organisms even Homo sapiens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongli Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ruiqiang Fu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yanning Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Liangang Mao
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lizhen Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Xingang Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Hongyun Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
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Shishis S, Tsang B, Ren GJ, Gerlai R. Effects of different handling methods on the behavior of adult zebrafish. Physiol Behav 2023; 262:114106. [PMID: 36758848 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
The zebrafish is an important biomedical research organism. In most research, zebrafish are removed from their home tank and subsequently their phenotype is measured. The method of handling the fish, however, may significantly affect a variety of phenotypes. This is particularly problematic for studies of brain function that measure behavioral or neuronal responses. Nevertheless, the potential effects of handling have not been analyzed, and in fact are usually ignored. Here, we explore the effects of two usual and two rarely or never-before employed handling methods on the behavior of adult zebrafish. We exposed each fish to one of four handling methods, a between subject experimental design: (1) net chasing followed by air-suspension, (2) gentle net catching (without chasing) followed by air-suspension, (3) gentle net catching followed by being placed in a beaker (no chasing and very short air-suspension), (4) transportation in home tank and pouring the fish directly into the test tank (no chasing, netting or air-suspension). With these handling methods, the fish were placed in a test tank and their swim path was videorecorded and analyzed. Handling significantly affected swim path parameters, duration and frequency of immobility, absolute turn angle and its temporal variance and velocity, but not the distance to bottom. The behavioral effects confirmed that chasing and netting induce robust behavioral changes, and that pouring the fish from its home to its test tank is least aversive for zebrafish. We recommend using this latter method to reduce experimental error variation and increase reproducibility of results.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin Tsang
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada; Department of Critical Care Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Canada
| | - Gary J Ren
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert Gerlai
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada.
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Reemst K, Shahin H, Shahar OD. Learning and memory formation in zebrafish: Protein dynamics and molecular tools. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1120984. [PMID: 36968211 PMCID: PMC10034119 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1120984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Research on learning and memory formation at the level of neural networks, as well as at the molecular level, is challenging due to the immense complexity of the brain. The zebrafish as a genetically tractable model organism can overcome many of the current challenges of studying molecular mechanisms of learning and memory formation. Zebrafish have a translucent, smaller and more accessible brain than that of mammals, allowing imaging of the entire brain during behavioral manipulations. Recent years have seen an extensive increase in published brain research describing the use of zebrafish for the study of learning and memory. Nevertheless, due to the complexity of the brain comprising many neural cell types that are difficult to isolate, it has been difficult to elucidate neural networks and molecular mechanisms involved in memory formation in an unbiased manner, even in zebrafish larvae. Therefore, data regarding the identity, location, and intensity of nascent proteins during memory formation is still sparse and our understanding of the molecular networks remains limited, indicating a need for new techniques. Here, we review recent progress in establishing learning paradigms for zebrafish and the development of methods to elucidate neural and molecular networks of learning. We describe various types of learning and highlight directions for future studies, focusing on molecular mechanisms of long-term memory formation and promising state-of-the-art techniques such as cell-type-specific metabolic labeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kitty Reemst
- Migal—Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
| | - Heba Shahin
- Migal—Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
| | - Or David Shahar
- Migal—Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- *Correspondence: Or David Shahar,
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11
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Schneider H, Pearson A, Harris D, Krause S, Tucker A, Gardner K, Chinyanya K. Identification of nicotine-seeking and avoiding larval zebrafish using a new three-choice behavioral assay. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1112927. [PMID: 37063370 PMCID: PMC10098024 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1112927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Nicotine dependence is one of the main causes of preventable diseases in the United States. Nicotine-seeking and avoidance behavioral assays in larval zebrafish could be used for identifying potential new pharmacotherapeutics in an early phase of drug discovery and could facilitate the identification of genes and genomic variations associated with nicotine-seeking and avoidance behavior. Methods A new three-choice behavioral assay has been developed for the identification of nicotine-seeking and avoiding larval zebrafish. The three choices are represented by three compartments of a gradient maze. Video-recording and subsequent quantitative analysis of the swimming track was carried out using EthovisionXT (Noldus). Results Three behavioral phenotypes could be identified. Nicotine-seeking larval zebrafish occupied nicotine compartments for longer periods and entered the nicotine-containing compartments most frequently. Nicotine-avoiders spent most of the cumulative time in the water compartment or entered the water compartment most frequently. Non-seekers remained in the center compartment for most of the time. In the gradient maze, about 20-30% of larval zebrafish had a preference for low nicotine concentrations whereas nicotine avoidance was stronger at higher nicotine concentrations. Lower concentrations of nicotine (0.63 μM, 6.3 μM) resulted in higher percentages of nicotine seekers whereas high nicotine concentrations (63 μM, 630 µM) resulted in higher percentages of nicotine avoiders. Pre-treatment of larval zebrafish with nicotine slightly increased the percentage of nicotine avoiders at lower nicotine concentrations. Treatment with varenicline strongly increased the percentage of nicotine avoiders at lower nicotine concentrations. Conclusion The results show that larval zebrafish have individual preferences for nicotine that could change with drug treatment. The three-choice gradient maze assay for larval zebrafish provides a new testing paradigm for studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms of nicotine action and the discovery of potential new pharmacotherapeutics for the treatment of smoking cessation.
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12
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Tan JK, Nazar FH, Makpol S, Teoh SL. Zebrafish: A Pharmacological Model for Learning and Memory Research. Molecules 2022; 27:7374. [PMID: 36364200 PMCID: PMC9657833 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27217374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Learning and memory are essential to organism survival and are conserved across various species, especially vertebrates. Cognitive studies involving learning and memory require using appropriate model organisms to translate relevant findings to humans. Zebrafish are becoming increasingly popular as one of the animal models for neurodegenerative diseases due to their low maintenance cost, prolific nature and amenability to genetic manipulation. More importantly, zebrafish exhibit a repertoire of neurobehaviors comparable to humans. In this review, we discuss the forms of learning and memory abilities in zebrafish and the tests used to evaluate the neurobehaviors in this species. In addition, the pharmacological studies that used zebrafish as models to screen for the effects of neuroprotective and neurotoxic compounds on cognitive performance will be summarized here. Lastly, we discuss the challenges and perspectives in establishing zebrafish as a robust model for cognitive research involving learning and memory. Zebrafish are becoming an indispensable model in learning and memory research for screening neuroprotective agents against cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen Kit Tan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), UKM Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Faris Hazwan Nazar
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), UKM Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Suzana Makpol
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), UKM Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Seong Lin Teoh
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), UKM Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
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13
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Shishis S, Tsang B, Gerlai R. The effect of fish density and tank size on the behavior of adult zebrafish: A systematic analysis. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:934809. [PMID: 36275854 PMCID: PMC9581232 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.934809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish has been employed in several fields of biology due to its translational relevance and its simplicity and ease of maintenance. As a result, zebrafish are kept in thousands of laboratories around the world. Current industry standards favor keeping the largest possible number of fish in the smallest possible volume of water to increase efficiency and reduce costs. However, physiological and psychological stress resulting from such crowding may impact a variety of phenotypes, from brain function and behavior to cardiovascular function and cancer. Nevertheless, surprisingly little is known about what constitutes an optimal housing environment for the zebrafish, e.g., no systematic analyses have been performed to test the role of housing density and tank volume despite recent sporadic reports implying negative effects of the standard practice of crowding. Here, we conduct the first proof of concept analysis examining the potential impact of housing density and tank volume on the behavior of zebrafish. We randomly assigned adult zebrafish to one of three tank sizes (1.5, 10, or 50 L) with one of three housing densities (1, 2, or 4 fish/L), a 3 × 3 between subject experimental design, and maintained the fish in their corresponding condition for 2 weeks. Subsequently, we tested the behavior of the fish singly in a novel open tank for 12 min and quantified several of their swim path parameters using a video-tracking system. We found significant additive and interacting effects of tank size and/or housing density on swim path parameters including immobility, swim speed, turn angle, and distance to bottom and to stimulus. Although we had only three fish densities and three tank sizes and we did not explore the effects of more extreme conditions and although the interpretation of the above behavioral effects is speculative at this point, the results already demonstrate that both tank size and housing density exerts significant effects on the zebrafish and thus should be considered in zebrafish husbandry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Shishis
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Benjamin Tsang
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Robert Gerlai
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
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14
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Messina A, Potrich D, Perrino M, Sheardown E, Miletto Petrazzini ME, Luu P, Nadtochiy A, Truong TV, Sovrano VA, Fraser SE, Brennan CH, Vallortigara G. Quantity as a Fish Views It: Behavior and Neurobiology. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:943504. [PMID: 35911657 PMCID: PMC9334151 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.943504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
An ability to estimate quantities, such as the number of conspecifics or the size of a predator, has been reported in vertebrates. Fish, in particular zebrafish, may be instrumental in advancing the understanding of magnitude cognition. We review here the behavioral studies that have described the ecological relevance of quantity estimation in fish and the current status of the research aimed at investigating the neurobiological bases of these abilities. By combining behavioral methods with molecular genetics and calcium imaging, the involvement of the retina and the optic tectum has been documented for the estimation of continuous quantities in the larval and adult zebrafish brain, and the contributions of the thalamus and the dorsal-central pallium for discrete magnitude estimation in the adult zebrafish brain. Evidence for basic circuitry can now be complemented and extended to research that make use of transgenic lines to deepen our understanding of quantity cognition at genetic and molecular levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Messina
- Centre for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Davide Potrich
- Centre for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Matilde Perrino
- Centre for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Eva Sheardown
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, New Hunt’s House, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Peter Luu
- Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Anna Nadtochiy
- Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Thai V. Truong
- Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Valeria Anna Sovrano
- Centre for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Scott E. Fraser
- Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Caroline H. Brennan
- School of Biological and Behavioral Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giorgio Vallortigara
- Centre for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
- *Correspondence: Giorgio Vallortigara,
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15
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Marcon M, Benvenutti R, Gallas-Lopes M, Herrmann AP, Piato A. What do male and female zebrafish prefer? Directional and color preference in maze tasks. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:4546-4557. [PMID: 35831240 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Studies regarding the animals' innate preferences help elucidate and avoid probable sources of bias and serve as a reference to improve and develop new behavioral tasks. In zebrafish research, data obtained in behavioral assessments are often not replicated between research groups or even inside the same laboratory raising huge concerns about replicability and reproducibility. Among the potential causes that are not well considered, sexual differences can be a probable source of bias. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the male and female zebrafish directional and color preferences in the plus-maze and T-maze behavioral tasks. Experiment 1 evaluated directional preference and experiment 2 evaluated color preference in a plus-maze task; experiment 3 evaluated preference between black or white in a T-maze task. Individual preferences were expressed as the percentage of time spent in each zone. Our results showed that male and female zebrafish demonstrated no difference in directional preference in the plus-maze task. Surprisingly, male and female zebrafish showed color preference differences in the plus-maze task; males did not show any color preference, while female zebrafish demonstrated a red preference compared to white, blue, and yellow colors. Moreover, both male and female zebrafish demonstrated a strong black color preference compared to the white color in the T-maze task. Our findings characterized the spontaneous preference of male and female zebrafish for direction and color, identifying possible biases, and providing insights that contribute to the standardization of future protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Marcon
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Farmacologia e Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Radharani Benvenutti
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Matheus Gallas-Lopes
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Herrmann
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-graduação em Farmacologia e Terapêutica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Angelo Piato
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-graduação em Farmacologia e Terapêutica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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16
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Kolesnikova TO, Galstyan DS, Demin KA, Barabanov MA, Pestov AV, S de Abreu M, Strekalova T, Kalueff AV. Pharmacological characterization of a novel putative nootropic beta-alanine derivative, MB-005, in adult zebrafish. J Psychopharmacol 2022; 36:892-902. [PMID: 35713386 DOI: 10.1177/02698811221098192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive deficits represent an urgent biomedical problem, and are commonly reduced by nootropic drugs. Animal models, including both rodents and zebrafish, offer a valuable tool for studying cognitive phenotypes and screening novel nootropics. Beta-alanine and its derivatives have recently been proposed to exert nootropic activity. AIMS This study aimed to characterize putative nootropic profile of a novel β-alanine analogue, 1,3-diaminopropane (MB-005), in adult zebrafish. METHODS Nootropic profile of MB-005 was assessed in adult zebrafish in the novel tank and conditioned place aversion (CPA) tests acutely, and in cued-learning plus-maze (PMT) tests chronically. RESULTS/OUTCOMES MB-005 did not alter zebrafish anxiety-like behavior or monoamine neurochemistry acutely, improved short-term memory in the CPA test, but impaired cognitive performance in both CPA and PMT tests chronically. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION This study reveals high sensitivity of zebrafish cognitive phenotypes to MB-005, suggesting it as a potential novel cognitive enhancer acutely, but raises concerns over its cognitive (and, possibly, other) side-effects chronically.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David S Galstyan
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia.,Laboratory of Preclinical Bioscreening, Granov Russian Research Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Pesochny, Russia
| | - Konstantin A Demin
- Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia.,Institute of Translational Biomedicine, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia.,Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Mikhail A Barabanov
- Postovsky Institute of Organic Synthesis, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Alexander V Pestov
- Postovsky Institute of Organic Synthesis, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russia.,Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | | | - Tatyana Strekalova
- Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Laboratory of Psychiatric Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Normal Physiology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia.,Institute of Translational Biomedicine, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia.,Laboratory of Preclinical Bioscreening, Granov Russian Research Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Pesochny, Russia.,Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg, Russia.,Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia.,Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,COBRAIN Center, Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi, Yerevan, Armenia.,Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia.,School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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17
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Daniel DK, Bhat A. Sex and Population Drive Interindividual Variations in a Cognitive Task Across Three Populations of Wild Zebrafish. Front Psychol 2022; 13:786486. [PMID: 35310218 PMCID: PMC8931718 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.786486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal personality refers to the consistency of variation in behavior among individuals which may be the driving force behind variations in complex behaviors as well. Individual personality could predict how well an organism would perform in behavior and cognition related tasks, as well as survive and thrive in its environment. Therefore, we would expect inter-individual variations in many behaviors, which would persist even if habituation to the experimental setup occurs, which generally results in convergence of behavior (i.e., the difference between individuals becomes less pronounced). Our study used wild-caught zebrafish (Danio rerio) from three natural habitats with differing ecological regimes, to understand how consistency and repeatability in specific traits such as boldness, exploration, and spatial ability varies across and within populations even when habituation causes change in behavior. We found that the extent of individual variation differs between populations, with dynamic habitats showing similar repeatability. This indicates that habitat conditions are important drivers of individual variation in addition to other factors, such as sex or size of individuals within populations. Although we found that sex and size played an important role within some populations for some behaviors, in others, the variation was likely caused by other factors (for example, ecological factors such as vegetation and/or resource availability), for which we have not accounted. This study underlines the importance of studying inter-individual differences as the phenomenon that underpins multiple behavioral traits and explains the possible role of environmental and inherent factors that drive these differences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anuradha Bhat
- *Correspondence: Anuradha Bhat, , orcid.org/0000-0002-7447-2380
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18
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Cohen A, Popowitz J, Delbridge-Perry M, Rowe CJ, Connaughton VP. The Role of Estrogen and Thyroid Hormones in Zebrafish Visual System Function. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:837687. [PMID: 35295340 PMCID: PMC8918846 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.837687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual system development is a highly complex process involving coordination of environmental cues, cell pathways, and integration of functional circuits. Consequently, a change to any step, due to a mutation or chemical exposure, can lead to deleterious consequences. One class of chemicals known to have both overt and subtle effects on the visual system is endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). EDCs are environmental contaminants which alter hormonal signaling by either preventing compound synthesis or binding to postsynaptic receptors. Interestingly, recent work has identified neuronal and sensory systems, particularly vision, as targets for EDCs. In particular, estrogenic and thyroidogenic signaling have been identified as critical modulators of proper visual system development and function. Here, we summarize and review this work, from our lab and others, focusing on behavioral, physiological, and molecular data collected in zebrafish. We also discuss different exposure regimes used, including long-lasting effects of developmental exposure. Overall, zebrafish are a model of choice to examine the impact of EDCs and other compounds targeting estrogen and thyroid signaling and the consequences of exposure in visual system development and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annastelle Cohen
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC, WA, United States
| | - Jeremy Popowitz
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC, WA, United States
| | | | - Cassie J. Rowe
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC, WA, United States,Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, American University, Washington, DC, WA, United States
| | - Victoria P. Connaughton
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC, WA, United States,Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, American University, Washington, DC, WA, United States,*Correspondence: Victoria P. Connaughton,
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19
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Gerlai R. From Genes to Behavior: The Question of Evolutionary Conservation and the Role of Ethology in the Analysis of the Zebrafish. Front Neuroanat 2021; 15:809967. [PMID: 34924966 PMCID: PMC8675880 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.809967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Gerlai
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
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20
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Kenney JW, Steadman PE, Young O, Shi MT, Polanco M, Dubaishi S, Covert K, Mueller T, Frankland PW. A 3D adult zebrafish brain atlas (AZBA) for the digital age. eLife 2021; 10:69988. [PMID: 34806976 PMCID: PMC8639146 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish have made significant contributions to our understanding of the vertebrate brain and the neural basis of behavior, earning a place as one of the most widely used model organisms in neuroscience. Their appeal arises from the marriage of low cost, early life transparency, and ease of genetic manipulation with a behavioral repertoire that becomes more sophisticated as animals transition from larvae to adults. To further enhance the use of adult zebrafish, we created the first fully segmented three-dimensional digital adult zebrafish brain atlas (AZBA). AZBA was built by combining tissue clearing, light-sheet fluorescence microscopy, and three-dimensional image registration of nuclear and antibody stains. These images were used to guide segmentation of the atlas into over 200 neuroanatomical regions comprising the entirety of the adult zebrafish brain. As an open source, online (azba.wayne.edu), updatable digital resource, AZBA will significantly enhance the use of adult zebrafish in furthering our understanding of vertebrate brain function in both health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin W Kenney
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, United States.,Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Patrick E Steadman
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Olivia Young
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, United States
| | - Meng Ting Shi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, United States
| | - Maris Polanco
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, United States
| | - Saba Dubaishi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, United States
| | - Kristopher Covert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, United States
| | - Thomas Mueller
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, United States
| | - Paul W Frankland
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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21
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Lin T, Liu X, Zhang D. Does the female seahorse still prefer her mating partner after a period of separation? JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2021; 99:1613-1621. [PMID: 34331361 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
For species showing sexual monogamy, once one male and one female form a mating pair bond, they will be faithful to each other in subsequent breeding events. However, if their pair bond is broken for some reason, do they continue to prefer their partner when they come together again for mating? In other words, can the broken pair bond of sexually monogamous species be repaired? This is an interesting question but not yet well answered. To address this question, in the present study we used the lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus), a typical sexually monogamous species, to study the partner preference of a female individual who experienced a complete separation followed by a reunion with her partner. Our main findings are as follows: (i) The female seahorse no longer prefers her partner after a separation, whether it is a former partner or a recent partner. No preference for partner-males may indicate that the broken pair bond cannot be repaired. (ii) The female seahorse maintains sexual fidelity to her partner in the absence of separation. However, once the health of her partner decreases, the female will switch mate, and her courtship with the new partner can take place during the pregnancy of her original partner. The first finding may provide insight into whether monogamous species still have an opportunity to reselect a new partner in the future to correct their poor choice once they have mated with a low-quality partner. The answer is that they can still gain an opportunity as long as the pair bonds with their current partners are broken. The second finding may reveal the conditions and timing at which a female seahorse switches her mate. These findings help us better understand the mating system of the seahorse H. erectus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Lin
- Key Laboratory of East China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture, East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Key Laboratory of East China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture, East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of East China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture, East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Shanghai, China
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22
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Baker MR, Wong RY. Npas4a expression in the teleost forebrain is associated with stress coping style differences in fear learning. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12074. [PMID: 34103598 PMCID: PMC8187387 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91495-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Learning to anticipate potentially dangerous contexts is an adaptive behavioral response to coping with stressors. An animal's stress coping style (e.g. proactive-reactive axis) is known to influence how it encodes salient events. However, the neural and molecular mechanisms underlying these stress coping style differences in learning are unknown. Further, while a number of neuroplasticity-related genes have been associated with alternative stress coping styles, it is unclear if these genes may bias the development of conditioned behavioral responses to stressful stimuli, and if so, which brain regions are involved. Here, we trained adult zebrafish to associate a naturally aversive olfactory cue with a given context. Next, we investigated if expression of two neural plasticity and neurotransmission-related genes (npas4a and gabbr1a) were associated with the contextual fear conditioning differences between proactive and reactive stress coping styles. Reactive zebrafish developed a stronger conditioned fear response and showed significantly higher npas4a expression in the medial and lateral zones of the dorsal telencephalon (Dm, Dl), and the supracommissural nucleus of the ventral telencephalon (Vs). Our findings suggest that the expression of activity-dependent genes like npas4a may be differentially expressed across several interconnected forebrain regions in response to fearful stimuli and promote biases in fear learning among different stress coping styles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Baker
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, USA
| | - Ryan Y Wong
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge St, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA.
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23
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Mason D, Zajitschek S, Anwer H, O'Dea RE, Hesselson D, Nakagawa S. Low repeatability of aversive learning in zebrafish (Danio rerio). J Exp Biol 2021; 224:269009. [PMID: 34087936 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.240846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Aversive learning - avoiding certain situations based on negative experiences - can profoundly increase fitness in animal species, yet no studies have systematically quantified its repeatability. Therefore, we assessed the repeatability of aversive learning by conditioning approximately 100 zebrafish (Danio rerio) to avoid a colour cue associated with a mild electric shock. Across eight different colour conditions, zebrafish did not show consistent individual differences in aversive learning (R=0.04). Within conditions, when zebrafish were conditioned to the same colour, blue conditioning was more repeatable than green conditioning (R=0.15 and R=0.02). Overall, aversive learning responses of zebrafish were weak and variable. We speculate that the effect of aversive learning might have been too weak to quantify consistent individual differences, or directional selection might have eroded additive genetic variance. We also discuss how confounded repeatability assays and publication bias could have inflated estimates of repeatability in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Mason
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences , University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Susanne Zajitschek
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences , University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.,School of Biological and Environmental Sciences , Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - Hamza Anwer
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences , University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Rose E O'Dea
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences , University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Daniel Hesselson
- Diabetes and Metabolism Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.,St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences , University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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24
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Benvenutti R, Marcon M, Gallas-Lopes M, de Mello AJ, Herrmann AP, Piato A. Swimming in the maze: An overview of maze apparatuses and protocols to assess zebrafish behavior. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 127:761-778. [PMID: 34087275 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Most preclinical behavioral assays use rodents as model animals, leaving room for species-specific biases that could be avoided by an expanded cross-species approach. In this context, zebrafish emerges as an alternative model organism to study neurobiological mechanisms of anxiety, preference, learning, and memory, as well as other phenotypes with relevance to neuropsychiatric disorders. In recent years, several zebrafish studies using different types of mazes have been published. However, the protocols and apparatuses' shapes and dimensions vary widely in the literature. This variation may puzzle researchers attempting to implement maze behavioral assays and challenges the reproducibility across institutions. This review aims to provide an overview of the behavioral paradigms assessed in different types of mazes in zebrafish reported in the last couple of decades. Also, this review aims to contribute to a better characterization of multi-behavioral assessment in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radharani Benvenutti
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Sarmento Leite, 500/305, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Sarmento Leite, 500/209, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Matheus Marcon
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Sarmento Leite, 500/305, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Sarmento Leite, 500/209, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Matheus Gallas-Lopes
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Sarmento Leite, 500/305, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Anna Julie de Mello
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Sarmento Leite, 500/305, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Herrmann
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Sarmento Leite, 500/305, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia e Terapêutica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Sarmento Leite, 500/305, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Angelo Piato
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Sarmento Leite, 500/305, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Sarmento Leite, 500/209, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia e Terapêutica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Sarmento Leite, 500/305, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil.
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Loss-of-function of p53 isoform Δ113p53 accelerates brain aging in zebrafish. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:151. [PMID: 33542214 PMCID: PMC7862496 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03438-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress has been demonstrated as potentially critical for induction and maintenance of cellular senescence, and been considered as a contributing factor in aging and in various neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In response to low-level ROS stress, the expression of Δ133p53, a human p53 isoform, is upregulated to promote cell survival and protect cells from senescence by enhancing the expression of antioxidant genes. In normal conditions, the basal expression of Δ133p53 prevents human fibroblasts, T lymphocytes, and astrocytes from replicative senescence. It has been also found that brain tissues from AD and ALS patients showed decreased Δ133p53 expression. However, it is uncharacterized if Δ133p53 plays a role in brain aging. Here, we report that zebrafish Δ113p53, an ortholog of human Δ133p53, mainly expressed in some of the radial glial cells along the telencephalon ventricular zone in a full-length p53-dependent manner. EDU-labeling and cell lineage tracing showed that Δ113p53-positive cells underwent cell proliferation to contribute to the neuron renewal process. Importantly, Δ113p53M/M mutant telencephalon possessed less proliferation cells and more senescent cells compared to wild-type (WT) zebrafish telencephalon since 9-months old, which was associated with decreased antioxidant genes expression and increased level of ROS in the mutant telencephalon. More interestingly, unlike the mutant fish at 5-months old with cognition ability, Δ113p53M/M zebrafish, but not WT zebrafish, lost their learning and memory ability at 19-months old. The results demonstrate that Δ113p53 protects the brain from aging by its antioxidant function. Our finding provides evidence at the organism level to show that depletion of Δ113p53/Δ133p53 may result in long-term ROS stress, and finally lead to age-related diseases, such as AD and ALS in humans.
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Samaras A, Pavlidis M. Behavioural and physiological responses to a conditioning protocol for adult zebrafish, Danio rerio, held in groups. Behav Processes 2020; 179:104201. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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27
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Facciol A, Gerlai R. Zebrafish Shoaling, Its Behavioral and Neurobiological Mechanisms, and Its Alteration by Embryonic Alcohol Exposure: A Review. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:572175. [PMID: 33100980 PMCID: PMC7546311 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.572175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Social cognition and social behaviors are complex phenomena that involve numerous brain areas and underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Embryonic alcohol exposure may lead to the development of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), a disorder that manifests with varying symptoms including abnormal social behavior and other cognitive deficits. Animal models have been utilized to mimic aspects of the disease and to study potential underlying mechanisms. The zebrafish is a relative newcomer in this field but has been suggested as an optimal compromise between system complexity and practical simplicity for modeling FASD. Importantly, due to external fertilization and development of the embryo outside the mother and subsequent lack of parental care, this species allows precise control of the timing and dose of alcohol delivery during embryonic development. Furthermore, the zebrafish is a highly social species and thus may be particularly appropriate for the analysis of embryonic alcohol-induced alterations in this context. Here, we provide a succinct review focusing on shoaling, a prominent form of social behavior, in zebrafish. We summarize what is known about its behavioral mechanisms and underlying neurobiological processes, and how it is altered by exposure to ethanol during embryonic development. Lastly, we briefly consider possible future directions of research that would help us better understand the relationship between the behavioral expression and molecular basis of embryonic ethanol-induced social deficits in fish and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Facciol
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Robert Gerlai
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
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28
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Daniel DK, Bhat A. Bolder and Brighter? Exploring Correlations Between Personality and Cognitive Abilities Among Individuals Within a Population of Wild Zebrafish, Danio rerio. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:138. [PMID: 32903664 PMCID: PMC7438763 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Within populations, individual differences in behavioral and cognitive traits are dependent on the habitat and specific contexts, such as the presence of a predator or other risks. The ability to show variable responses to changing conditions can be of immense survival advantage to organisms. We studied individual differences in specific personality traits, such as boldness, exploration, and spatial ability, and the effect of these traits on learning ability and memory in the presence of a predatory threat, among wild caught zebrafish (Danio rerio). Under laboratory conditions, individuals were trained to perform a simple navigation task, and their performance, exploration, boldness traits were measured, along with learning and memory abilities under two contexts (i.e., in the presence and absence of a predator). Our results revealed that fish showed a clear decline in emergence time, exploration time, and feeding latency over trials, indicative of learning, and further tests for memory also showed memory retention. While the presence of a predator increased emergence time and latencies for navigating, indicating declines in boldness and exploration, these were found to be correlated to different personalities among the individuals and dependent on their sex. While females tended to be bolder and learned the spatial task faster, they showed lower memory retention abilities than males. Personality traits were also found to affect cognitive abilities among individuals. In general, the presence of a predator decreased performance latencies. However, bolder individuals were less affected and emerged more quickly from the refuge chamber than shy individuals. Our results point to the complex interplay of ecological context along with inherent correlations across personality traits that decide the overall personality and cognitive responses among individuals even within populations. These findings thus highlight the importance of an inclusive approach that combines personality and cognition studies for understanding variations within populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danita K Daniel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Kolkata, India
| | - Anuradha Bhat
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Kolkata, India
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29
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Gerlai R. Evolutionary conservation, translational relevance and cognitive function: The future of zebrafish in behavioral neuroscience. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 116:426-435. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Gusso D, Reolon GK, Gonzalez JB, Altenhofen S, Kist LW, Bogo MR, Bonan CD. Pyriproxyfen Exposure Impairs Cognitive Parameters and Alters Cortisol Levels in Zebrafish. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:103. [PMID: 32625070 PMCID: PMC7313640 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyriproxyfen is one of the most used larvicides and insecticides; it acts as an analog of juvenile insect hormone (a growth regulator). It is highly toxic during all stages of mosquito development, suppresses metamorphosis, and interferes in insect reproduction and proliferation. Pyriproxyfen and its main metabolite have been shown to affect brain development in rodents. This compound is employed mainly to eliminate outbreaks of the genus Aedes, even in potable water. Despite the increasing number of toxicological studies about larvicides and insecticides-with an indication of continuous use-there have been few studies about the effects of pyriproxyfen in non-target species such as fish. This study evaluated the effects of pyriproxyfen on behavioral, cognitive, and endocrine parameters in zebrafish. We exposed adult zebrafish to different pyriproxyfen (Pestanal®) concentrations (0.125, 0.675, and 1.75 mg/l) for 96 h. We analyzed behavioral parameters, memory, cortisol levels, and gene expression of glucocorticoid receptor (gr) and corticotrophin-releasing factor (crf) after pyriproxyfen exposure. This exposure did not alter locomotion (distance or mean speed), anxiety-like behavior (latency to enter to the top zone of the tank or time in the top zone of the tank), and social or aggressive behavior. However, there was impaired inhibitory avoidance memory at all tested pyriproxyfen concentrations. Cortisol levels were reduced in exposed groups when compared to control or vehicle. However, gr and crf gene expression in pyriproxyfen-treated animals were unaltered when compared to control or vehicle groups. Taken together, these findings indicate that pyriproxyfen may induce cognitive impairment and altered cortisol levels in zebrafish, a non-target species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darlan Gusso
- Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciencias da Saude e da Vida, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Kellermann Reolon
- Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciencias da Saude e da Vida, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Jonas Brum Gonzalez
- Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciencias da Saude e da Vida, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Stefani Altenhofen
- Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Medicina e Ciencias da Saude, Escola de Medicina, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Luiza Wilges Kist
- Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciencias da Saude e da Vida, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Mauricio Reis Bogo
- Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciencias da Saude e da Vida, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Medicina e Ciencias da Saude, Escola de Medicina, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Carla Denise Bonan
- Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciencias da Saude e da Vida, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Medicina e Ciencias da Saude, Escola de Medicina, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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31
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Bruzzone M, Gatto E, Lucon Xiccato T, Dalla Valle L, Fontana CM, Meneghetti G, Bisazza A. Measuring recognition memory in zebrafish larvae: issues and limitations. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8890. [PMID: 32368416 PMCID: PMC7192156 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Recognition memory is the capacity to recognize previously encountered objects, events or places. This ability is crucial for many fitness-related activities, and it appears very early in the development of several species. In the laboratory, recognition memory is most often investigated using the novel object recognition test (NORt), which exploits the tendency of most vertebrates to explore novel objects over familiar ones. Despite that the use of larval zebrafish is rapidly increasing in research on brain, cognition and neuropathologies, it is unknown whether larvae possess recognition memory and whether the NORt can be used to assess it. Here, we tested a NOR procedure in zebrafish larvae of 7-, 14- and 21-days post-fertilization (dpf) to investigate when recognition memory first appears during ontogeny. Overall, we found that larvae explored a novel stimulus longer than a familiar one. This response was fully significant only for 14-dpf larvae. A control experiment evidenced that larvae become neophobic at 21-dpf, which may explain the poor performance at this age. The preference for the novel stimulus was also affected by the type of stimulus, being significant with tri-dimensional objects varying in shape and bi-dimensional geometrical figures but not with objects differing in colour. Further analyses suggest that lack of effect for objects with different colours was due to spontaneous preference for one colour. This study highlights the presence of recognition memory in zebrafish larvae but also revealed non-cognitive factors that may hinder the application of NORt paradigms in the early developmental stages of zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Bruzzone
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Elia Gatto
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Tyrone Lucon Xiccato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Angelo Bisazza
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Facciol A, Bailleul C, Nguyen S, Chatterjee D, Gerlai R. Developmental stage-dependent deficits induced by embryonic ethanol exposure in zebrafish: A neurochemical analysis. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2020; 99:109859. [PMID: 31917146 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.109859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
FASD results from the developing fetus being exposed to alcohol, and is characterized by morphological, behavioural and cognitive deficits. However, the expression, severity and age of onset of these symptoms has been found to show variation. This variation may partly be due to the developmental stage at which alcohol reached the developing fetus. Previously, alcohol was shown to lead to significant concentration dependent behavioural as well as neurochemical changes detected in adult zebrafish when this substance was administered at 24 h post-fertilization (hpf) for 2 h. This alcohol exposure method arguably mimicked the milder, and more prevalent, forms of human FASD. However, whether the observed changes depended upon the developmental stage, i.e., the timing, of alcohol exposure has not been systematically analyzed. Here, we employ the same alcohol dosing regimen, where zebrafish eggs are immersed into 0% or 1% (vol/vol) alcohol for 2 h, but we perform the immersion at 5, 10, 16, 24, 36, or 48 hpf. We previously developed a sensitive HPLC method to quantify neurochemicals, and found levels of dopamine, serotonin and their metabolites DOPAC and 5-HIAA to be affected by embryonic alcohol treatment. Here, using the same method, we compare whole-brain levels of these neurochemicals in the embryonic alcohol exposed and control zebrafish at their age of 30 days post-fertilization (dpf). Consistent with previous reports, we found significant reduction of levels of dopamine, serotonin and their metabolites in the fish exposed to alcohol at 24 hpf. However, we also found significant dependency on the developmental stage at which alcohol was administered with particularly robust impairments when the exposure was at the early or middle of the developmental periods probed. Our results now demonstrate that one can detect functional abnormalities in the zebrafish brain induced by embryonic alcohol as early as 30 dpf and that the neurochemical deficits are dependent upon the developmental stage at which alcohol is administered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Facciol
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Celine Bailleul
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada
| | - Samuel Nguyen
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada
| | | | - Robert Gerlai
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada.
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33
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Messina A, Potrich D, Schiona I, Sovrano VA, Fraser SE, Brennan CH, Vallortigara G. Response to change in the number of visual stimuli in zebrafish:A behavioural and molecular study. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5769. [PMID: 32238844 PMCID: PMC7113307 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62608-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence has shown that a variety of vertebrates, including fish, can discriminate collections of visual items on the basis of their numerousness using an evolutionarily conserved system for approximating numerical magnitude (the so-called Approximate Number System, ANS). Here we combine a habituation/dishabituation behavioural task with molecular biology assays to start investigating the neural bases of the ANS in zebrafish. Separate groups of zebrafish underwent a habituation phase with a set of 3 or 9 small red dots, associated with a food reward. The dots changed in size, position and density from trial to trial but maintained their numerousness, and the overall areas of the stimuli was kept constant. During the subsequent dishabituation test, zebrafish faced a change (i) in number (from 3 to 9 or vice versa with the same overall surface), or (ii) in shape (with the same overall surface and number), or (iii) in size (with the same shape and number). A control group of zebrafish was shown the same stimuli as during the habituation. RT-qPCR revealed that the telencephalon and thalamus were characterized by the most consistent modulation of the expression of the immediate early genes c-fos and egr-1 upon change in numerousness; in contrast, the retina and optic tectum responded mainly to changes in stimulus size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Messina
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy.
| | - Davide Potrich
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Ilaria Schiona
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Valeria Anna Sovrano
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Scott E Fraser
- Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Caroline H Brennan
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University, London, UK
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34
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Barela PB. Classical fear conditioning in zebrafish (Danio rerio) using an upgraded version of the goldfish conditioned withdrawal preparation. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 331:108503. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2019.108503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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35
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Canzian J, Müller TE, Franscescon F, Michelotti P, Fontana BD, Costa FV, Rosemberg DB. Modeling psychiatric comorbid symptoms of epileptic seizures in zebrafish. J Psychiatr Res 2019; 119:14-22. [PMID: 31542703 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Epilepsy is a debilitating neurological disorder characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. Anxiety, cognitive deficits, depressive-like symptoms, and social dysfunction are psychiatric comorbidities with high prevalence in epileptic patients. Due to the genetic and behavioral tractability, the zebrafish is a promising model organism to understand the neural bases involved in epilepsy-related comorbidities. Here, we aimed to characterize some behavioral phenotypes paralleling those observed in epilepsy-related comorbidities after a single pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) exposure in zebrafish. We also analyzed the influence of whole-body cortisol levels in the behavioral responses measured. Fish were exposed to 10 mM PTZ for 20 min to induce epileptic seizures. After 24 h recovery period, locomotion and anxiety-like responses (novel tank and light-dark tests), social interaction (shoaling behavior task), and memory retention (inhibitory avoidance protocol) were assessed. Basically, PTZ impaired habituation to novelty stress, evoked anxiogenic-like behaviors, disrupted shoaling, and caused memory consolidation deficits in zebrafish without changing whole-body cortisol levels. In conclusion, our novel findings further validate the use of zebrafish as a suitable tool for modeling epilepsy-related comorbidities in translational neuropsychiatric research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Canzian
- Laboratory of Experimental Neuropsychobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Natural and Exact Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
| | - Talise E Müller
- Laboratory of Experimental Neuropsychobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Natural and Exact Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Francini Franscescon
- Laboratory of Experimental Neuropsychobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Natural and Exact Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Paula Michelotti
- Laboratory of Experimental Neuropsychobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Natural and Exact Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Barbara D Fontana
- Brain and Behaviour Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK
| | - Fabiano V Costa
- Laboratory of Experimental Neuropsychobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Natural and Exact Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Denis B Rosemberg
- Laboratory of Experimental Neuropsychobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Natural and Exact Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil; The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA, 70458, USA.
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Roy T, Suriyampola PS, Flores J, López M, Hickey C, Bhat A, Martins EP. Color preferences affect learning in zebrafish, Danio rerio. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14531. [PMID: 31601932 PMCID: PMC6787237 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51145-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals may exhibit preference for colors that match their environment or the resources in the environment. These preferences may impact ability to learn associations with these colors and revert the associations when the reward contingency is modified. We used zebrafish Danio rerio from four populations to test if color preferences impact associative and reversal learning ability. First, we tested if preference for blue or green impact associative ability. We subjected individual fish through eight trials to associate a social stimulus with blue or green. Next, we tested if preference for red or green impact associative reversal learning ability. We trained fish in groups of three to associate a social stimulus with red or green over three trials, and reversed the reward contingency during the following session. Results showed that zebrafish preferred green over blue and domesticated fish chose green more than blue when there was a reward attached. Zebrafish also preferred red over green. Fish from one wild population learned with both colors and reversed learning only from green to red and not vice-versa. Fish from another population showed an overwhelming preference for red irrespective of what was rewarded. Domesticated fish did not show reversal learning ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamal Roy
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
| | - Piyumika S Suriyampola
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Jennifer Flores
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Melissa López
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Collin Hickey
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Anuradha Bhat
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, West Bengal, India
| | - Emília P Martins
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
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37
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Gawel K, Banono NS, Michalak A, Esguerra CV. A critical review of zebrafish schizophrenia models: Time for validation? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 107:6-22. [PMID: 31381931 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects 1% of the population worldwide and is manifested as a broad spectrum of symptoms, from hallucinations to memory impairment. It is believed that genetic and/or environmental factors may contribute to the occurrence of this disease. Recently, the zebrafish has emerged as a valuable and attractive model for various neurological disorders including schizophrenia. In this review, we describe current pharmacological models of schizophrenia with special emphasis on providing insights into the pros and cons of using zebrafish as a behavioural model of this disease. Moreover, we highlight the advantages and utility of using zebrafish for elucidating the genetic mechanisms underlying this psychiatric disorder. We believe that the zebrafish has high potential also in the area of precision medicine and may complement the development of therapeutics, especially for pharmacoresistant patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gawel
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway; Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego St. 8b, 20-090, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Nancy Saana Banono
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Agnieszka Michalak
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki St. 4A, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Camila V Esguerra
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway; Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
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Contextual fear learning and memory differ between stress coping styles in zebrafish. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9935. [PMID: 31289317 PMCID: PMC6617452 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46319-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals frequently overcome stressors and the ability to learn and recall these salient experiences is essential to an individual’s survival. As part of an animal’s stress coping style, behavioral and physiological responses to stressors are often consistent across contexts and time. However, we are only beginning to understand how cognitive traits can be biased by different coping styles. Here we investigate learning and memory differences in zebrafish (Danio rerio) displaying proactive and reactive stress coping styles. We assessed learning rate and memory duration using an associative fear conditioning paradigm that trained zebrafish to associate a context with exposure to a natural olfactory alarm cue. Our results show that both proactive and reactive zebrafish learn and remember this fearful association. However, we note significant interaction effects between stress coping style and cognition. Zebrafish with the reactive stress coping style acquired the fear memory at a significantly faster rate than proactive fish. While both stress coping styles showed equal memory recall one day post-conditioning, reactive zebrafish showed significantly stronger recall of the conditioned context relative to proactive fish four days post-conditioning. Through understanding how stress coping strategies promote biases in processing salient information, we gain insight into mechanisms that can constrain adaptive behavioral responses.
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Tsang B, Ansari R, Gerlai R. Dose dependent behavioral effects of acute alcohol administration in zebrafish fry. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2019; 179:124-133. [PMID: 30807782 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2019.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The zebrafish is becoming increasingly utilized in behavioral neuroscience as it appears to strike a good compromise between practical simplicity and system complexity. Particularly in alcohol (ethanol) research, the zebrafish has been employed as a translationally relevant model organism. However, the majority of studies investigating the effects of alcohol on brain function and behavior has used adult zebrafish. In the current study, we utilize 6-8 post-fertilization day old larval zebrafish (fry) to investigate the effects of a 40 min-long, acute, immersion into the alcohol bath. We measure the behavioral responses of the fry during the immersion session in relatively large arenas, the petri dish, instead of the often employed 96 well plate, and report on significant modification of behavior induced by alcohol. For example, we found the intermediate dose of alcohol (0.5%, vol/vol) to exert a stimulant effect manifesting as slight elevation of swim speed, robust increase of turning, temporal variability of swim speed and turning, and diminished frequency of staying immobile. We also found the high dose of 1% alcohol to elicit an opposite response, a sedative effect. This biphasic dose response of alcohol mimics what has been found in mammals, including humans, and thus we conclude that a few day-old zebrafish fry may be a cost effective and efficient tool with which one can screen for small molecules or mutations with alcohol-effect modifying properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Tsang
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada
| | - Rida Ansari
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada
| | - Robert Gerlai
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada; Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Canada.
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40
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Adams MM, Kafaligonul H. Zebrafish-A Model Organism for Studying the Neurobiological Mechanisms Underlying Cognitive Brain Aging and Use of Potential Interventions. Front Cell Dev Biol 2018; 6:135. [PMID: 30443547 PMCID: PMC6221905 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2018.00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle M Adams
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, Aysel Sabuncu Brain Research Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Psychology, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM), Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics Department Zebrafish Facility, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,National Magnetic Resonance Research Center (UMRAM), Aysel Sabuncu Brain Research Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Hulusi Kafaligonul
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, Aysel Sabuncu Brain Research Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,National Magnetic Resonance Research Center (UMRAM), Aysel Sabuncu Brain Research Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
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41
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Therapeutic evaluation of solid lipid nanoparticle of quercetin in pentylenetetrazole induced cognitive impairment of zebrafish. Life Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2018.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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42
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Meshalkina DA, Kizlyk MN, Kysil EV, Collier AD, Echevarria DJ, Abreu MS, Barcellos LJ, Song C, Kalueff AV. Understanding zebrafish cognition. Behav Processes 2017; 141:229-241. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2016.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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43
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Khan KM, Collier AD, Meshalkina DA, Kysil EV, Khatsko SL, Kolesnikova T, Morzherin YY, Warnick JE, Kalueff AV, Echevarria DJ. Zebrafish models in neuropsychopharmacology and CNS drug discovery. Br J Pharmacol 2017; 174:1925-1944. [PMID: 28217866 PMCID: PMC5466539 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 02/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the high prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders, their aetiology and molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is increasingly utilized as a powerful animal model in neuropharmacology research and in vivo drug screening. Collectively, this makes zebrafish a useful tool for drug discovery and the identification of disordered molecular pathways. Here, we discuss zebrafish models of selected human neuropsychiatric disorders and drug-induced phenotypes. As well as covering a broad range of brain disorders (from anxiety and psychoses to neurodegeneration), we also summarize recent developments in zebrafish genetics and small molecule screening, which markedly enhance the disease modelling and the discovery of novel drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanza M Khan
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Southern MississippiHattiesburgMSUSA
| | - Adam D Collier
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Southern MississippiHattiesburgMSUSA
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC)SlidellLAUSA
| | - Darya A Meshalkina
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC)SlidellLAUSA
- Institute of Translational BiomedicineSt. Petersburg State UniversitySt. PetersburgRussia
| | - Elana V Kysil
- Institute of Translational BiomedicineSt. Petersburg State UniversitySt. PetersburgRussia
| | | | | | | | - Jason E Warnick
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC)SlidellLAUSA
- Department of Behavioral SciencesArkansas Tech UniversityRussellvilleARUSA
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC)SlidellLAUSA
- Institute of Translational BiomedicineSt. Petersburg State UniversitySt. PetersburgRussia
- Ural Federal UniversityEkaterinburgRussia
- Research Institute of Marine Drugs and Nutrition, College of Food Science and TechnologyGuangdong Ocean UniversityZhanjiangGuangdongChina
| | - David J Echevarria
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Southern MississippiHattiesburgMSUSA
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC)SlidellLAUSA
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Johnson A, Hamilton TJ. Modafinil decreases anxiety-like behaviour in zebrafish. PeerJ 2017; 5:e2994. [PMID: 28229024 PMCID: PMC5312568 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Modafinil (2-((diphenylmethyl)sulfinyl)acetamide), a selective dopamine and norepinephrine transporter inhibitor, is most commonly prescribed for narcolepsy but has gained recent interest for treating a variety of disorders. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are becoming a model of choice for pharmacological and behavioural research. To investigate the behavioural effects of modafinil on anxiety, we administered doses of 0, 2, 20, and 200 mg/L for 30 minutes then tested zebrafish in the novel approach test. In this test, the fish was placed into a circular arena with a novel object in the center and motion-tracking software was used to quantify the time the fish spent in the outer area of the arena (thigmotaxis zone), middle third of the arena (transition zone) and center of the arena, as well as total distance traveled, immobility and meandering. Modafinil caused a decrease in time spent in the thigmotaxis zone and increased time spent in the transition zone across all doses. Modafinil did not significantly alter the time spent in the center zone (near the novel object), the distance moved, meandering, or the duration of time spent immobile. We also validated this test as a measure of anxiety with the administration of ethanol (1%) which decreased time spent in the thigmotaxis zone and increased time spent in the transition zone. These results suggest that modafinil decreases anxiety-like behaviour in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Johnson
- Department of Psychology, MacEwan University , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada
| | - Trevor James Hamilton
- Department of Psychology, MacEwan University, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, Universtiy of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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Gerlai R. Zebrafish and relational memory: Could a simple fish be useful for the analysis of biological mechanisms of complex vertebrate learning? Behav Processes 2017; 141:242-250. [PMID: 28143721 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Analysis of the zebrafish allows one to combine two distinct scientific approaches, comparative ethology and neurobehavioral genetics. Furthermore, this species arguably represents an optimal compromise between system complexity and practical simplicity. This mini-review focuses on a complex form of learning, relational learning and memory, in zebrafish. It argues that zebrafish are capable of this type of learning, and it attempts to show how this species may be useful in the analysis of the mechanisms and the evolution of this complex brain function. The review is not intended to be comprehensive. It is a short opinion piece that reflects the author's own biases, and it draws some of its examples from the work coming from his own laboratory. Nevertheless, it is written in the hope that it will persuade those who have not utilized zebrafish and who may be interested in opening their research horizon to this relatively novel but powerful vertebrate research tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Gerlai
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road North, Rm CCT4004 Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada.
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Fernandes YM, Rampersad M, Luchiari AC, Gerlai R. Associative learning in the multichamber tank: A new learning paradigm for zebrafish. Behav Brain Res 2016; 312:279-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.06.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2016] [Revised: 04/24/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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