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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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Sabadin GR, Biasuz E, Canzian J, Adedara IA, Rosemberg DB. A novel behavioral paradigm to measure anxiety-like behaviors in zebrafish by the concomitant assessment of geotaxis and scototaxis. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 118:110579. [PMID: 35618149 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Pathological anxiety is a set of diseases characterized by specific clinical manifestations and the use of alternative models may provide novel insights in translational neurobehavioral research. In zebrafish, the separate performance of novel tank and light dark tests in different order to assess anxiety using a same animal may provide conflicting data due to the battery effect and/or time-drug-response and variability across tests. To improve data reliability, we aimed to characterize a novel behavioral paradigm to measure geotaxis and scototaxis as anxiety-like responses in the same trial. The novel apparatus consisted of four colored-compartments, with specific white- and black sections delimited in both bottom and upper areas of the tank. The main baseline responses of zebrafish in the novel apparatus were measured and animals were further exposed to modulators of anxiety. Zebrafish showed robust habituation to novelty stress during the 6-min trial with preference for the black section while exploring the top area. Fluoxetine (100 μg/L, 15 min) reduced geotaxis and scototaxis and ketamine (20 mg/L, 20 min) decreased geotaxis and increased the distance traveled in the black section while exploring the top, possibly due to the increased circling behavior. As anxiogenic modulators, conspecific alarm substance (3.5 mL/L, 5 min) exacerbated risk assessment, geotaxis, and scototaxis, whereas caffeine (10 mg/L, 15 min) increased geotaxis and exploration in the black section of the top area. Since important correlations were also found for relevant anxiety-like behaviors, our findings support the predictive validity of this novel paradigm to simultaneously assess geotaxis and scototaxis in zebrafish. Moreover, it fully adheres to the 3Rs principle of animal experimentation of reducing the number of subjects tested, execution time, also minimizing a potential battery effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovana R Sabadin
- 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
| | - Eduarda Biasuz
- 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
| | - 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
| | - Isaac A Adedara
- 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; Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - 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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