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Schenk S, Horsfield JA, Dwoskin L, Johnson SL. Methamphetamine effects in zebrafish (Danio rerio) depend on behavioral endpoint, dose and test session duration. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2024; 240:173777. [PMID: 38670467 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173777] [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: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Research using zebrafish (Danio rerio) has begun to provide novel information in many fields, including the behavioral pharmacology of drug use and misuse. There have been limited studies on the effects of methamphetamine in adult zebrafish and the parameters of exposure (dose, test session length) have not been well-documented. Behavior following drug exposure is generally measured during relatively short sessions (6-10 min is common) in a novel tank environment. Many procedural variables (isolation, netting, novel tank) elicit anxiety-like behavior that is most apparent during the initial portion of a test session. This anxiety-like behavior might mask the initial effects of methamphetamine. During longer test sessions, these anxiety-like responses would be expected to habituate and drug effects should become more apparent. To test this idea, we measured several locomotor activity responses for 50-min following a range of methamphetamine doses (0.1-3.0 mg/L via immersion in methamphetamine solution). Methamphetamine failed to alter swimming velocity, distance travelled, or freezing time. In contrast, methamphetamine produced a dose-dependent decrease in time spent in the bottom of the tank, an increase in the number of visits to the top of the tank, and an increase in the number of transitions along the sides of the tank. The effects of methamphetamine were apparent 10-20 min following exposure and generally persisted throughout the session. These findings indicate that longer test sessions are required to measure methamphetamine-induced changes in behavior in zebrafish, as has been shown in other laboratory animals. The results also suggest that anxiety-like responses associated with various procedural aspects (netting, isolation, novel test apparatus) likely interfere with the ability to observe many behavioral effects of methamphetamine in zebrafish. Based on the current results, habituation to testing procedures to reduce anxiety-like behaviors is recommended in determining the effects of methamphetamine in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Schenk
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Linda Dwoskin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Sheri L Johnson
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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2
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Mastin N, Durell L, Brooks BW, Hering AS. Advancing statistical treatment of photolocomotor behavioral response study data. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300636. [PMID: 38771799 PMCID: PMC11108188 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Fish photolocomotor behavioral response (PBR) studies have become increasingly prevalent in pharmacological and toxicological research to assess the environmental impact of various chemicals. There is a need for a standard, reliable statistical method to analyze PBR data. The most common method currently used, univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA), does not account for temporal dependence in observations and leads to incomplete or unreliable conclusions. Repeated measures ANOVA, another commonly used method, has drawbacks in its interpretability for PBR study data. Because each observation is collected continuously over time, we instead consider each observation to be a function and apply functional ANOVA (FANOVA) to PBR data. Using the functional approach not only accounts for temporal dependency but also retains the full structure of the data and allows for straightforward interpretation in any subregion of the domain. Unlike the traditional univariate and repeated measures ANOVA, the FANOVA that we propose is nonparametric, requiring minimal assumptions. We demonstrate the disadvantages of univariate and repeated measures ANOVA using simulated data and show how they are overcome by applying FANOVA. We then apply one-way FANOVA to zebrafish data from a PBR study and discuss how those results can be reproduced for future PBR studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Mastin
- Department of Statistical Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States of America
| | - Luke Durell
- Department of Statistical Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States of America
| | - Bryan W. Brooks
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States of America
- Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States of America
| | - Amanda S. Hering
- Department of Statistical Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States of America
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3
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Kim TY, Roychaudhury A, Kim HT, Choi TI, Baek ST, Thyme SB, Kim CH. Impairments of cerebellar structure and function in a zebrafish KO of neuropsychiatric risk gene znf536. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:82. [PMID: 38331943 PMCID: PMC10853220 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02806-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic variants in ZNF536 contribute to the risk for neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, autism, and others. The role of this putative transcriptional repressor in brain development and function is, however, largely unknown. We generated znf536 knockout (KO) zebrafish and studied their behavior, brain anatomy, and brain function. Larval KO zebrafish showed a reduced ability to compete for food, resulting in decreased total body length and size. This phenotype can be rescued by segregating the homozygous KO larvae from their wild-type and heterozygous siblings, enabling studies of adult homozygous KO animals. In adult KO zebrafish, we observed significant reductions in anxiety-like behavior and social interaction. These znf536 KO zebrafish have decreased cerebellar volume, corresponding to decreased populations of specific neuronal cells, especially in the valvular cerebelli (Va). Finally, using a Tg[mbp:mgfp] line, we identified a previously undetected myelin structure located bilaterally within the Va, which also displayed a reduction in volume and disorganization in KO zebrafish. These findings indicate an important role for ZNF536 in brain development and implicate the cerebellum in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae-Yoon Kim
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, South Korea
| | | | - Hyun-Taek Kim
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, 31151, South Korea
| | - Tae-Ik Choi
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, South Korea
| | - Seung Tae Baek
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Summer B Thyme
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Cheol-Hee Kim
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, South Korea.
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4
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Read E, Hindges R. A novel locomotion-based prepulse inhibition assay in zebrafish larvae. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2024; 2024:10.17912/micropub.biology.000914. [PMID: 38344062 PMCID: PMC10853821 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Sensory gating, measured using prepulse inhibition (PPI), is an endophenotype of neuropsychiatric disorders that can be assessed in larval zebrafish models. However, current PPI assays require high-speed cameras to capture rapid c-bend startle behaviours of the larvae. In this study, we designed and employed a PPI paradigm that uses locomotion as a read-out of zebrafish larval startle responses. PPI percentage was measured at a maximum of 87% and strongly reduced upon administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801. This work provides the foundation for simpler and more accessible PPI assays using larval zebrafish to model key endophenotypes of neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Read
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology & MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, England, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Hindges
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology & MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, England, United Kingdom
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Kuroda T, Ritchey CM, Podlesnik CA. Selective effects of conspecific movement on social preference in zebrafish (Danio rerio) using real-time 3D tracking and 3D animation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10502. [PMID: 37380673 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37579-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish show social behavior such as shoaling and schooling, which is a result of complex and interdependent interactions among conspecifics. Zebrafish social behavior is interdependent in the sense that one fish's behavior affects both conspecific behavior and, as a result, their own behavior. Previous research examined effects of the interdependent interactions on the preference for social stimulus but lacked clear evidence that specific conspecific movements were reinforcing. The present research examined whether dependency between individual experimental fish's motion and a social-stimulus fish's motions contributes to preference for the social stimulus. In Experiment 1, a 3D animated stimulus fish either chased individual experimental fish or was motionless, serving as dependent and independent motions, respectively. In Experiment 2, the stimulus fish either chased experimental fish, moved away, or moved independently of the experimental fish. In both experiments, experimental fish spent more time near the stimulus fish showing dependent and interactive movements, indicating preference for dependent motion over independent motion, and chasing over other motions. Implications of these results are discussed including a potential role of operant conditioning in the preference for social stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshikazu Kuroda
- Huckle Co., Ltd., 2-51 Shiroki, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-0846, Japan.
- Aichi Bunkyo University, 5969-3 Okusa, Komaki, Aichi, 485-8565, Japan.
- Department of Dynamic Brain Imaging, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, 2-2-2 Hikaridai Seika-cho, Kyoto, 619-0288, Japan.
| | | | - Christopher A Podlesnik
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, 945 Center Dr., P.O. Box 112250, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
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Harry GJ, McBride S, Witchey SK, Mhaouty-Kodja S, Trembleau A, Bridge M, Bencsik A. Roadbumps at the Crossroads of Integrating Behavioral and In Vitro Approaches for Neurotoxicity Assessment. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:812863. [PMID: 35295216 PMCID: PMC8915899 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.812863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
With the appreciation that behavior represents the integration and complexity of the nervous system, neurobehavioral phenotyping and assessment has seen a renaissance over the last couple of decades, resulting in a robust database on rodent performance within various testing paradigms, possible associations with human disorders, and therapeutic interventions. The interchange of data across behavior and other test modalities and multiple model systems has advanced our understanding of fundamental biology and mechanisms associated with normal functions and alterations in the nervous system. While there is a demonstrated value and power of neurobehavioral assessments for examining alterations due to genetic manipulations, maternal factors, early development environment, the applied use of behavior to assess environmental neurotoxicity continues to come under question as to whether behavior represents a sensitive endpoint for assessment. Why is rodent behavior a sensitive tool to the neuroscientist and yet, not when used in pre-clinical or chemical neurotoxicity studies? Applying new paradigms and evidence on the biological basis of behavior to neurobehavioral testing requires expertise and refinement of how such experiments are conducted to minimize variability and maximize information. This review presents relevant issues of methods used to conduct such test, sources of variability, experimental design, data analysis, interpretation, and reporting. It presents beneficial and critical limitations as they translate to the in vivo environment and considers the need to integrate across disciplines for the best value. It proposes that a refinement of behavioral assessments and understanding of subtle pronounced differences will facilitate the integration of data obtained across multiple approaches and to address issues of translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Jean Harry
- Neurotoxicology Group, Molecular Toxicology Branch, Division National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
- *Correspondence: G. Jean Harry,
| | - Sandra McBride
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., a DLH Holdings Company, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Shannah K. Witchey
- Division National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sakina Mhaouty-Kodja
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Neuroscience Paris Seine – Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, Paris, France
| | - Alain Trembleau
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR8246, Inserm U1130, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (IBPS), Neuroscience Paris Seine (NPS), Paris, France
| | - Matthew Bridge
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., a DLH Holdings Company, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Anna Bencsik
- Anses Laboratoire de Lyon, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Université de Lyon 1, Lyon, France
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7
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Xu J, Casanave R, Guo S. Larval zebrafish display dynamic learning of aversive stimuli in a constant visual surrounding. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 28:228-238. [PMID: 34131054 PMCID: PMC8212779 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053425.121] [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: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Balancing exploration and anti-predation are fundamental to the fitness and survival of all animal species from early life stages. How these basic survival instincts drive learning remains poorly understood. Here, using a light/dark preference paradigm with well-controlled luminance history and constant visual surrounding in larval zebrafish, we analyzed intra- and intertrial dynamics for two behavioral components, dark avoidance and center avoidance. We uncover that larval zebrafish display short-term learning of dark avoidance with initial sensitization followed by habituation; they also exhibit long-term learning that is sensitive to trial interval length. We further show that such stereotyped learning patterns is stimulus-specific, as they are not observed for center avoidance. Finally, we demonstrate at individual levels that long-term learning is under homeostatic control. Together, our work has established a novel paradigm to understand learning, uncovered sequential sensitization and habituation, and demonstrated stimulus specificity, individuality, as well as dynamicity in learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiale Xu
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California at San Francisico, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Romelo Casanave
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California at San Francisico, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Su Guo
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California at San Francisico, San Francisco, California 94158, USA.,Program in Human Genetics, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, USA.,Program in Biological Sciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
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8
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Pantoni MM, Herrera GM, Van Alstyne KR, Anagnostaras SG. Quantifying the Acoustic Startle Response in Mice Using Standard Digital Video. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:83. [PMID: 32595460 PMCID: PMC7289120 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The startle response is an unconditional reflex, characterized by the rapid contraction of facial and skeletal muscles, to a sudden and intense startling stimulus. It is an especially useful tool in translational research for its consistency across species, simple neural circuitry, and sensitivity to a variety of experimental manipulations. The rodent acoustic startle response is commonly used to study fundamental properties of the central nervous system, including habituation, sensitization, classical conditioning, fear and anxiety, sensorimotor gating, and drug effects. The rodent startle response is typically assessed in stabilimeter chambers, and while these systems are excellent at measuring startle, they are designed only for this sole purpose. In the present study, we used the VideoFreeze system-a widely used tool for studying Pavlovian fear conditioning-to assess the acoustic startle response in freely moving mice. We validated the use of this system to quantify startle response amplitude and prepulse inhibition of startle. This is the first demonstration to date of using standard video in the automated assessment of the acoustic startle response in rodents. We believe that researchers already using the VideoFreeze system will benefit from the additional ability to assess startle without the purchase of new equipment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline M Pantoni
- Molecular Cognition Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Gerald M Herrera
- Med-Associates Inc., Catamount Research & Development Inc., St. Albans, VT, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Kaitlin R Van Alstyne
- Molecular Cognition Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Stephan G Anagnostaras
- Molecular Cognition Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Program in Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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