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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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García-González J, Brock AJ, Parker MO, Riley RJ, Joliffe D, Sudwarts A, Teh MT, Busch-Nentwich EM, Stemple DL, Martineau AR, Kaprio J, Palviainen T, Kuan V, Walton RT, Brennan CH. Identification of slit3 as a locus affecting nicotine preference in zebrafish and human smoking behaviour. eLife 2020; 9:e51295. [PMID: 32209227 PMCID: PMC7096180 DOI: 10.7554/elife.51295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
To facilitate smoking genetics research we determined whether a screen of mutagenized zebrafish for nicotine preference could predict loci affecting smoking behaviour. From 30 screened F3 sibling groups, where each was derived from an individual ethyl-nitrosurea mutagenized F0 fish, two showed increased or decreased nicotine preference. Out of 25 inactivating mutations carried by the F3 fish, one in the slit3 gene segregated with increased nicotine preference in heterozygous individuals. Focussed SNP analysis of the human SLIT3 locus in cohorts from UK (n=863) and Finland (n=1715) identified two variants associated with cigarette consumption and likelihood of cessation. Characterisation of slit3 mutant larvae and adult fish revealed decreased sensitivity to the dopaminergic and serotonergic antagonist amisulpride, known to affect startle reflex that is correlated with addiction in humans, and increased htr1aa mRNA expression in mutant larvae. No effect on neuronal pathfinding was detected. These findings reveal a role for SLIT3 in development of pathways affecting responses to nicotine in zebrafish and smoking in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit García-González
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Alistair J Brock
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Matthew O Parker
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, University of PortsmouthPortsmouthUnited Kingdom
| | - Riva J Riley
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - David Joliffe
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Blizard InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Ari Sudwarts
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Muy-Teck Teh
- Centre for Immunobiology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Dentistry, Barts and The London School of Medicine and DentistryLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Elisabeth M Busch-Nentwich
- Wellcome Trust Sanger InstituteCambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Adrian R Martineau
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Blizard InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine FIMM, HiLIFEHelsinkiFinland
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | | | - Valerie Kuan
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Robert T Walton
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Blizard InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Caroline H Brennan
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
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Brock AJ, Goody SMG, Mead AN, Sudwarts A, Parker MO, Brennan CH. Assessing the Value of the Zebrafish Conditioned Place Preference Model for Predicting Human Abuse Potential. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2017; 363:66-79. [PMID: 28790193 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.117.242628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory agencies recommend that centrally active drugs are tested for abuse potential before approval. Standard preclinical assessments are conducted in rats or non-human primates (NHPs). This study evaluated the ability of the zebrafish conditioned place preference (CPP) model to predict human abuse outcomes. Twenty-seven compounds from a variety of pharmacological classes were tested in zebrafish CPP, categorized as positive or negative, and analyzed using standard diagnostic tests of binary classification to determine the likelihood that zebrafish correctly predict robust positive signals in human subjective effects studies (+HSE) and/or Drug Enforcement Administration drug scheduling. Results were then compared with those generated for rat self-administration and CPP, as well as NHP self-administration, using this same set of compounds. The findings reveal that zebrafish concordance and sensitivity values were not significantly different from chance for both +HSE and scheduling. Although significant improvements in specificity and negative predictive values were observed for zebrafish relative to +HSE, specificity without sensitivity provides limited predictive value. Moreover, assessments in zebrafish provided no added value for predicting scheduling. By contrast, rat and NHP models generally possessed significantly improved concordance, sensitivity, and positive predictive values for both clinical measures. Although there may be predictive value with compounds from specific pharmacological classes (e.g., µ-opioid receptor agonists, psychostimulants) for zebrafish CPP, altogether these data highlight that using the current methodology, the zebrafish CPP model does not add value to the preclinical assessment of abuse potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Brock
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom (A.J.B., A.S., C.H.B.); Global Safety Pharmacology, Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut (S.M.G.G., A.N.M.); and School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom (M.O.P.)
| | - S M G Goody
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom (A.J.B., A.S., C.H.B.); Global Safety Pharmacology, Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut (S.M.G.G., A.N.M.); and School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom (M.O.P.)
| | - A N Mead
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom (A.J.B., A.S., C.H.B.); Global Safety Pharmacology, Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut (S.M.G.G., A.N.M.); and School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom (M.O.P.)
| | - A Sudwarts
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom (A.J.B., A.S., C.H.B.); Global Safety Pharmacology, Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut (S.M.G.G., A.N.M.); and School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom (M.O.P.)
| | - M O Parker
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom (A.J.B., A.S., C.H.B.); Global Safety Pharmacology, Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut (S.M.G.G., A.N.M.); and School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom (M.O.P.)
| | - C H Brennan
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom (A.J.B., A.S., C.H.B.); Global Safety Pharmacology, Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut (S.M.G.G., A.N.M.); and School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom (M.O.P.)
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Faillace MP, Pisera-Fuster A, Medrano MP, Bejarano AC, Bernabeu RO. Short- and long-term effects of nicotine and the histone deacetylase inhibitor phenylbutyrate on novel object recognition in zebrafish. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2017; 234:943-955. [PMID: 28130648 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4532-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Zebrafish have a sophisticated color- and shape-sensitive visual system, so we examined color cue-based novel object recognition in zebrafish. We evaluated preference in the absence or presence of drugs that affect attention and memory retention in rodents: nicotine and the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) phenylbutyrate (PhB). OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to evaluate whether nicotine and PhB affect innate preferences of zebrafish for familiar and novel objects after short- and long-retention intervals. METHODS We developed modified object recognition (OR) tasks using neutral novel and familiar objects in different colors. We also tested objects which differed with respect to the exploratory behavior they elicited from naïve zebrafish. RESULTS Zebrafish showed an innate preference for exploring red or green objects rather than yellow or blue objects. Zebrafish were better at discriminating color changes than changes in object shape or size. Nicotine significantly enhanced or changed short-term innate novel object preference whereas PhB had similar effects when preference was assessed 24 h after training. Analysis of other zebrafish behaviors corroborated these results. CONCLUSIONS Zebrafish were innately reluctant or prone to explore colored novel objects, so drug effects on innate preference for objects can be evaluated changing the color of objects with a simple geometry. Zebrafish exhibited recognition memory for novel objects with similar innate significance. Interestingly, nicotine and PhB significantly modified innate object preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- M P Faillace
- Department of Physiology and Institute of Physiology and Biophysics (IFIBIO), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 7th floor, C1121ABG, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Pisera-Fuster
- Department of Physiology and Institute of Physiology and Biophysics (IFIBIO), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 7th floor, C1121ABG, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M P Medrano
- Department of Physiology and Institute of Physiology and Biophysics (IFIBIO), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 7th floor, C1121ABG, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A C Bejarano
- Department of Physiology and Institute of Physiology and Biophysics (IFIBIO), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 7th floor, C1121ABG, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - R O Bernabeu
- Department of Physiology and Institute of Physiology and Biophysics (IFIBIO), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 7th floor, C1121ABG, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Parker MO, Evans AMD, Brock AJ, Combe FJ, Teh MT, Brennan CH. Moderate alcohol exposure during early brain development increases stimulus-response habits in adulthood. Addict Biol 2016; 21:49-60. [PMID: 25138642 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to alcohol during early central nervous system development has been shown variously to affect aspects of physiological and behavioural development. In extreme cases, this can extend to craniofacial defects, severe developmental delay and mental retardation. At more moderate levels, subtle differences in brain morphology and behaviour have been observed. One clear effect of developmental alcohol exposure is an increase in the propensity to develop alcoholism and other addictions. The mechanisms by which this occurs, however, are not currently understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that adult zebrafish chronically exposed to moderate levels of ethanol during early brain ontogenesis would show an increase in conditioned place preference for alcohol and an increased propensity towards habit formation, a key component of drug addiction in humans. We found support for both of these hypotheses and found that the exposed fish had changes in mRNA expression patterns for dopamine receptor, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and μ-opioid receptor encoding genes. Collectively, these data show an explicit link between the increased proclivity for addiction and addiction-related behaviour following exposure to ethanol during early brain development and alterations in the neural circuits underlying habit learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew O. Parker
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences; Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry; Queen Mary University of London; UK
| | - Alexandra M-D. Evans
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences; Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry; Queen Mary University of London; UK
| | - Alistair J. Brock
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences; Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry; Queen Mary University of London; UK
| | - Fraser J. Combe
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences; Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry; Queen Mary University of London; UK
| | - Muy-Teck Teh
- Centre for Clinical and Diagnostic Oral Sciences; Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry; Queen Mary University of London; UK
| | - Caroline H. Brennan
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences; Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry; Queen Mary University of London; UK
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Sustained action of developmental ethanol exposure on the cortisol response to stress in zebrafish larvae and adults. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124488. [PMID: 25875496 PMCID: PMC4395288 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ethanol exposure during pregnancy is one of the leading causes of preventable birth defects, leading to a range of symptoms collectively known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. More moderate levels of prenatal ethanol exposure lead to a range of behavioural deficits including aggression, poor social interaction, poor cognitive performance and increased likelihood of addiction in later life. Current theories suggest that adaptation in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and neuroendocrine systems contributes to mood alterations underlying behavioural deficits and vulnerability to addiction. In using zebrafish (Danio rerio), the aim is to determine whether developmental ethanol exposure provokes changes in the hypothalamo-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis (the teleost equivalent of the HPA), as it does in mammalian models, therefore opening the possibilities of using zebrafish to elucidate the mechanisms involved, and to test novel therapeutics to alleviate deleterious symptoms. Results and Conclusions The results showed that developmental exposure to ambient ethanol, 20mM-50mM 1-9 days post fertilisation, had immediate effects on the HPI, markedly reducing the cortisol response to air exposure stress, as measured by whole body cortisol content. This effect was sustained in adults 6 months later. Morphology, growth and locomotor activity of the animals were unaffected, suggesting a specific action of ethanol on the HPI. In this respect the data are consistent with mammalian results, although they contrast with the higher corticosteroid stress response reported in rats after developmental ethanol exposure. The mechanisms that underlie the specific sensitivity of the HPI to ethanol require elucidation.
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Stewart AM, Ullmann JF, Norton WH, Brennan CH, Parker MO, Gerlai R, Kalueff AV. Molecular psychiatry of zebrafish. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:2-17. [PMID: 25349164 PMCID: PMC4318706 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2014] [Revised: 08/27/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Due to their well-characterized neural development and high genetic homology to mammals, zebrafish (Danio rerio) have emerged as a powerful model organism in the field of biological psychiatry. Here, we discuss the molecular psychiatry of zebrafish, and its implications for translational neuroscience research and modeling central nervous system (CNS) disorders. In particular, we outline recent genetic and technological developments allowing for in vivo examinations, high-throughput screening and whole-brain analyses in larval and adult zebrafish. We also summarize the application of these molecular techniques to the understanding of neuropsychiatric disease, outlining the potential of zebrafish for modeling complex brain disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), aggression, post-traumatic stress and substance abuse. Critically evaluating the advantages and limitations of larval and adult fish tests, we suggest that zebrafish models become a rapidly emerging new field in modern molecular psychiatry research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Michael Stewart
- ZENEREI Institute, 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA
- International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA
| | - Jeremy F.P. Ullmann
- International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - William H.J. Norton
- International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA
- Department of Biology, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychiatry, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Caroline H. Brennan
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1-4NS, UK
| | - Matthew O. Parker
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1-4NS, UK
| | - Robert Gerlai
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Rd N Mississauga, Ontario L5L1C6, Canada
| | - Allan V. Kalueff
- ZENEREI Institute, 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA
- International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA
- Research Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524025, China
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Gubner NR, Cunningham CL, Phillips TJ. Nicotine enhances the locomotor stimulating but not the conditioned rewarding effect of ethanol in DBA/2J mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2015; 39:64-72. [PMID: 25623407 PMCID: PMC4312001 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2014] [Accepted: 10/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One hypothesis to explain the high rate of nicotine and alcohol (ethanol [EtOH]) co-abuse is that these drugs have enhanced rewarding effects when taken together. The goal of this work was to use the conditioned place preference (CPP) procedure to determine whether nicotine would enhance the development of EtOH-induced CPP. METHODS The conditioned rewarding effects of nicotine (1 or 2 mg/kg of nicotine tartrate), EtOH (1 g/kg), and nicotine plus EtOH in combination were assessed using a well-established CPP procedure chosen specifically for examining alterations in the development of EtOH-induced CPP by nicotine. In addition, the reference dose procedure was used to directly compare the conditioned rewarding effect of EtOH versus nicotine plus EtOH. DBA/2J mice were used because they are an inbred strain that has repeatedly been shown to develop CPP to EtOH. RESULTS Neither dose of nicotine alone produced CPP, whereas EtOH did, using the standard EtOH CPP procedure. The magnitude of EtOH-induced CPP was not affected by co-administration of 1 mg/kg nicotine, but 2 mg/kg nicotine interfered with the development of EtOH-induced CPP. Using the reference dose procedure, there was no significant preference or aversion for either nicotine + EtOH dose combination versus EtOH alone. However, combined nicotine and EtOH had a larger effect on locomotor activity, during the conditioning trials, compared to their additive effect when given alone, consistent with previous data. CONCLUSIONS These data do not support the hypothesis that nicotine enhances the conditioned rewarding effect of EtOH. This finding differs from the combined locomotor stimulant effects of nicotine and EtOH that were observed in this study and in our previously published work, and suggests that combined stimulant effects of nicotine and EtOH do not predict enhanced reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah R. Gubner
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Portland Alcohol Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Christopher L. Cunningham
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Portland Alcohol Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Tamara J. Phillips
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Portland Alcohol Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- VA Medical Center, Portland, OR, USA
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Brennan CH, Parker MO. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) models of substance abuse: Harnessing the capabilities. BEHAVIOUR 2012. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Development and implementation of a three-choice serial reaction time task for zebrafish (Danio rerio). Behav Brain Res 2011; 227:73-80. [PMID: 22062587 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.10.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2011] [Revised: 10/18/2011] [Accepted: 10/23/2011] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Zebrafish are an established and widely utilized developmental genetic model system, but limitations in developed behavioral assays have meant that their potential as a model in behavioral neuroscience has yet to be fully realized. Here, we describe the development of a novel operant behavioral assay to examine a variety of aspects of stimulus control in zebrafish using a 3 choice serial reaction time task (3 CSRTT). Fish were briefly exposed to three spatially distinct, but perceptually identical stimuli, presented in a random order after a fixed-time inter-trial interval (ITI). Entries to the correct response aperture either during the stimulus presentation, or within a brief limited hold period following presentation, were reinforced with illumination of the magazine light and delivery of a small food reward. Following training, premature responding was probed with a long-ITI session three times; once at baseline, once following a saline injection and once following an injection of a low dose of amphetamine (AMPH; 0.025 mg/kg). We predicted that if premature responding was related to impulsivity (as in rodents) it would be reduced following the AMPH injection. Results confirmed that zebrafish could learn to perform a complex operant task similar to tasks developed for rodents which are used to probe sustained attention and impulsivity, but the results from the AMPH trials were inconclusive. This study provides the foundations for development and further validation of this species as a model for some aspects of human attentional and impulse control disorders, such as substance abuse disorder.
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