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Wilson LC, Riordan A, Nussbaum A, Krawitz J. Heart and shoal: Social cues and oxytocin receptors impact stress recovery in the zebrafish. Physiol Behav 2024; 283:114613. [PMID: 38871154 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
In many species, social interactions decrease behavioral, hormonal, and neural responses to environmental stressors. While "social buffering" and its mechanisms have received considerable attention in mammals, we know less about the phenomenon in fish. The nonapeptide oxytocin regulates social behavior across vertebrates and plays an important role in social buffering in mammals. We investigated social buffering in the zebrafish by evaluating how the social environment and oxytocin receptors impact recovery from an acute stressor. Male and female fish were briefly exposed to alarm substance and recovered either in isolation or within view of a stimulus shoal. Alarm substance did not increase social approach, but social stimuli improved behavioral stress recovery. Oxytocin receptor antagonism decreased social approach during stress recovery and impaired stress recovery exclusively in individuals with access to visual social stimuli. Our findings contribute to the growing body of evidence that social stimuli buffer stress responses in fish and suggest that oxytocin receptors may play a role in socially-buffered stress recovery across taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah C Wilson
- Neuroscience Department, Muhlenberg College, 240W Chew St, Allentown, PA 18104, USA.
| | - Anna Riordan
- Neuroscience Department, Muhlenberg College, 240W Chew St, Allentown, PA 18104, USA
| | - April Nussbaum
- Neuroscience Department, Muhlenberg College, 240W Chew St, Allentown, PA 18104, USA
| | - Jacob Krawitz
- Neuroscience Department, Muhlenberg College, 240W Chew St, Allentown, PA 18104, USA
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2
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Zhang S, Mi P, Luan J, Sun M, Zhao X, Feng X. Fluorene-9-bisphenol acts on the gut-brain axis by regulating oxytocin signaling to disturb social behaviors in zebrafish. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 255:119169. [PMID: 38763277 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119169] [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: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies have identified the exposure to ubiquitous environmental endocrine disruptors may be a risk factor of neurological disorders. However, the effects of fluorene-9-bisphenol (BHPF) in environmental exposure concentrations associated with these disorders are poorly understood. In this study, classic light-dark and social behavior tests were performed on zebrafish larvae and adults exposed BHPF exposure to evaluate social behavioral disorders and the microbiota-gut-brain axis was assessed to reveal the potential mechanisms underlying the behavioral abnormalities observed. Our results demonstrated that zebrafish larvae exposed to an environmentally relevant concentration (0.1 nM) of BHPF for 7 days showed a diminished response to external environmental factors (light or dark). Zebrafish larvae exposed to BHPF for 7 days or adults exposed to BHPF for 30 days at 1 μM displayed significant behavioral inhibition and altered social behaviors, including social recognition, social preference, and social fear contagion, indicating autism-like behaviors were induced by the exposure. BHPF exposure reduced the distribution of Nissl bodies in midbrain neurons and significantly reduced 5-hydroxytryptamine signaling. Oxytocin (OXT) levels and expression of its receptor oxtra in the gut and brain were down-regulated by BHPF exposure. In addition, the expression levels of genes related to the excitation-inhibitory balance of synaptic transmission changed. Microbiomics revealed increased community diversity and altered abundance of some microflora, such as an elevation in Bacillota and Bacteroidota and a decline in Mycoplasmatota in zebrafish guts, which might contribute to the abnormal neural circuits and autism-like behaviors induced by BHPF. Finally, the rescue effect of exogenous OXT on social behavioral defects induced by BHPF exposure was verified in zebrafish, highlighting the crucial role of OXT signaling through gut-brain axis in the regulatory mechanisms of social behaviors affected by BHPF. This study contributes to understanding the effects of environmental BHPF exposure on neuropsychiatric disorders and attracts public attention to the health risks posed by chemicals in aquatic organisms. The potential mental disorders should be considered in the safety assessments of environmental pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhui Zhang
- College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education. Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Ping Mi
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Jialu Luan
- College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education. Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Mingzhu Sun
- The Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information Systems, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- The Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information Systems, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
| | - Xizeng Feng
- College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education. Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
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3
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Goode TD, Alipio JB, Besnard A, Pathak D, Kritzer-Cheren MD, Chung A, Duan X, Sahay A. A dorsal hippocampus-prodynorphinergic dorsolateral septum-to-lateral hypothalamus circuit mediates contextual gating of feeding. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.02.606427. [PMID: 39149322 PMCID: PMC11326193 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.02.606427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Adaptive regulation of feeding depends on linkage of internal states and food outcomes with contextual cues. Human brain imaging has identified dysregulation of a hippocampal-lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) network in binge eating, but mechanistic instantiation of underlying cell-types and circuitry is lacking. Here, we identify an evolutionary conserved and discrete Prodynorphin (Pdyn)-expressing subpopulation of Somatostatin (Sst)-expressing inhibitory neurons in the dorsolateral septum (DLS) that receives primarily dorsal, but not ventral, hippocampal inputs. DLS(Pdyn) neurons inhibit LHA GABAergic neurons and confer context- and internal state-dependent calibration of feeding. Viral deletion of Pdyn in the DLS mimicked effects seen with optogenetic silencing of DLS Pdyn INs, suggesting a potential role for DYNORPHIN-KAPPA OPIOID RECEPTOR signaling in contextual regulation of food-seeking. Together, our findings illustrate how the dorsal hippocampus has evolved to recruit an ancient LHA feeding circuit module through Pdyn DLS inhibitory neurons to link contextual information with regulation of food consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis D Goode
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- BROAD Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA
| | - Jason Bondoc Alipio
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- BROAD Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA
| | - Antoine Besnard
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- BROAD Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA
| | - Devesh Pathak
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- BROAD Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA
| | - Michael D Kritzer-Cheren
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- BROAD Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA
| | - Ain Chung
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- BROAD Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA
| | - Xin Duan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, CA
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, CA
| | - Amar Sahay
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- BROAD Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA
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4
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Sofer Y, Zilkha N, Gimpel E, Wagner S, Chuartzman SG, Kimchi T. Sexually dimorphic oxytocin circuits drive intragroup social conflict and aggression in wild house mice. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:1565-1573. [PMID: 38969756 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01685-5] [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: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
In nature, both males and females engage in competitive aggressive interactions to resolve social conflicts, yet the behavioral principles guiding such interactions and their underlying neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. Through circuit manipulations in wild mice, we unveil oxytocin-expressing (OT+) neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) as a neural hub governing behavior in dyadic and intragroup social conflicts, influencing the degree of behavioral sexual dimorphism. We demonstrate that OT+ PVN neurons are essential and sufficient in promoting aggression and dominance hierarchies, predominantly in females. Furthermore, pharmacogenetic activation of these neurons induces a change in the 'personality' traits of the mice within groups, in a sex-dependent manner. Finally, we identify an innervation from these OT neurons to the ventral tegmental area that drives dyadic aggression, in a sex-specific manner. Our data suggest that competitive aggression in naturalistic settings is mediated by a sexually dimorphic OT network connected with reward-related circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhak Sofer
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Noga Zilkha
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Elena Gimpel
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shlomo Wagner
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Tali Kimchi
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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5
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Kareklas K, Oliveira RF. Emotional contagion and prosocial behaviour in fish: An evolutionary and mechanistic approach. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 163:105780. [PMID: 38955311 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
In this review, we consider the definitions and experimental approaches to emotional contagion and prosocial behaviour in mammals and explore their evolutionary conceptualisation for studying their occurrence in the evolutionarily divergent vertebrate group of ray-finned fish. We present evidence for a diverse set of fish phenotypes that meet definitional criteria for prosocial behaviour and emotional contagion and discuss conserved mechanisms that may account for some preserved social capacities in fish. Finally, we provide some considerations on how to address the question of interdependency between emotional contagion and prosocial response, highlighting the importance of recognition processes, decision-making systems, and ecological context for providing evolutionary explanations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyriacos Kareklas
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, R. Q.ta Grande 6, Oeiras 2780-156, Portugal
| | - Rui F Oliveira
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, R. Q.ta Grande 6, Oeiras 2780-156, Portugal; ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, Lisboa 1149-041, Portugal.
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6
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Fusani B, Oliveira RF. "Why (Zebra)fish May Get Ulcers": Cognitive and Social Modulation of Stress in Fish. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2024:1-9. [PMID: 39047702 DOI: 10.1159/000540113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the bestseller book "Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers", Robert Sapolsky argues that animals do not suffer from stress-related diseases like humans because for them, stress is episodic, while humans in contrast suffer from chronic psychological stress. In particular, the idea that fish cannot experience psychological stress is still prevalent, partly due to the lack of a homologous brain area to the neocortex. However, emerging evidence suggests that teleosts can undergo psychological stress, defined as a subjective and perceptual experience of the stressor, and in recent years, the underlying mechanisms started to be unveiled. SUMMARY The occurrence of cognitive appraisal in the assessment of stressors has been demonstrated in fish, indicating that the subjective evaluation of stimulus valence and salience, rather than absolute intrinsic characteristics of the stimulus itself, play a key role in the activation of the stress response. Moreover, individual biases (i.e., cognitive bias) in the cognitive appraisal of stimuli have also been described in fish, with some individuals consistently evaluating ambiguous stimuli as positive (aka optimists) whereas other individuals (aka pessimists) appraise them as negative. As a result, optimists and pessimists show consistent differences in stress reactivity and susceptibility/resilience to disease. Finally, social context has also been shown to modulate the response to aversive stimuli with the behavior of conspecifics either buffering or enhancing the response (i.e., social buffering vs. social contagion). KEY MESSAGES Cognitive appraisal of stressors occurs in fish, implying that the stress response is modulated by a subjective and perceptual experience of the stressor. Moreover, interindividual consistent cognitive biases in the appraisal of stressors are also present in fish making some individuals more susceptible to stress-related diseases. Therefore, psychological stress has a health toll in fish, and psychologically stressed fish can potentially have ulcers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Fusani
- IGC - Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia, Oeiras, Portugal
- ISPA - Instituto Universitario, Lisbon, Portugal
- ISE - Institute of Science and Environment, University of Saint Joseph, Macau, Macau
| | - Rui F Oliveira
- IGC - Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia, Oeiras, Portugal
- ISPA - Instituto Universitario, Lisbon, Portugal
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Program, Lisbon, Portugal
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7
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Bryant KJ, Rodgers EW. Disruption in cortisol synchrony and pair-dissolution in the serially monogamous convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2024; 357:114589. [PMID: 39025240 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2024.114589] [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: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Endocrine synchronization is a biological process often associated with social bonding. The mechanisms that mediate this process have been well studied in many vertebrate clades with evolved complex social behaviors. However, studies focusing on such processes in the less neurologically complex teleost clade are surprisingly lacking. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that mated pairs of convict cichlids (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) perform cortisol synchronization and that the disruption of this might accompany pair-bond instability. Mated pairs were subjected to both behavioral and non-invasive waterborne hormonal assays to better understand the biological complexity of endocrine synchrony and its role in pair-bonding. Baseline cortisol assays indicated a positive correlation between male and female cortisol levels. Individuals that were subjected to a prolonged separation from their mate exhibited a negative correlation in cortisol synchrony after being reunited with their mate. Cortisol synchrony was disrupted, but pairs did not show a significant variance of intrapair aggression after initial pair reunion. However, more than half of the pairs that received the stressor exhibited significantly higher levels of intrapair aggression than their time matched controls approximately 1-7 days following this reunion, indicating pair-dissolution. Concurrently, pairs who underwent the stressor but maintained their bonds did not display an increase in intrapair aggression and also re-synchronized their cortisol levels. Not only does this study provide crucial insights in regard to the role of cortisol synchrony in serially monogamous systems, but it also suggests that the mechanisms that mediate the synchronization of endocrine through the formation of social bonds are more evolutionarily conserved than originally thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiedon J Bryant
- Georgia State University, Department of Biology, 145 Piedmont Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA; Texas A&M University, Department of Biology, Butler Hall, 100, 525 Lubbock St, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Edmund W Rodgers
- Georgia State University, Department of Biology, 145 Piedmont Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
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8
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Corrales Parada CD, Mayer U, Chagnaud BP. The Dorsal Part of the Anterior Tuberal Nucleus Responds to Auditory Stimulation in Zebrafish ( Danio rerio). eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0062-24.2024. [PMID: 38918052 PMCID: PMC11236576 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0062-24.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish, a widely used model in neurobiology, relies on hearing in aquatic environments. Unfortunately, its auditory pathways have mainly been studied in larvae. In this study, we examined the involvement of the anterior tuberal nucleus (AT) in auditory processing in adult zebrafish. Our tract-tracing experiments revealed that the dorsal subdivision of AT is strongly bidirectionally connected to the central nucleus of the torus semicircularis (TSc), a major auditory nucleus in fishes. Immunohistochemical visualization of the ribosomal protein S6 (pS6) phosphorylation to map neural activity in response to auditory stimulation substantiated this finding: the dorsal but not the ventral part of AT responded strongly to auditory stimulation. A similar response to auditory stimulation was present in the TSc but not in the nucleus isthmi, a visual region, which we used as a control for testing if the pS6 activation was specific to the auditory stimulation. We also measured the time course of pS6 phosphorylation, which was previously unreported in teleost fish. After auditory stimulation, we found that pS6 phosphorylation peaked between 100 and 130 min and returned to baseline levels after 190 min. This information will be valuable for the design of future pS6 experiments. Our results suggest an anatomical and functional subdivision of AT, where only the dorsal part connects to the auditory network and processes auditory information.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Uwe Mayer
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto 38068 TN, Italy
| | - Boris P Chagnaud
- Institute for Biology, Karl-Franzens-University Graz, Graz 8010 ST, Austria
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9
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Maia CM, Saraiva JL, Volstorf J, Gonçalves-de-Freitas E. Surveying the welfare of farmed fish species on a global scale through the fair-fish database. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38924085 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Fish welfare is a critical issue that needs to be addressed by the rapidly growing aquaculture industry. Scientific knowledge regarding the natural behaviors of species and the conditions in which they are kept in farms is essential for improving their welfare in aquaculture. To provide a consistent overview of the welfare of farmed fish, the organization fair-fish has created the online platform fair-fish database, which gathers ethological knowledge categorized into profiles of farmed aquatic species. The WelfareChecks on this platform are profiles based on criteria that are rated based on the likelihood and potential of the species to experience a high level of welfare in aquaculture systems, together with the certainty about the findings. A score (WelfareScore) is calculated from these ratings, serving as a reference to identify knowledge gaps, assess welfare, and suggest ways to improve it. Here, we performed an in-depth analysis of the species with WelfareChecks already published in the fair-fish database based on their respective WelfareScores. In general, although just a small percentage of farmed aquatic species (~5%) have at least a 20% chance of experiencing a good level of welfare under minimal aquaculture conditions, 60% of them have at least some potential to achieve good welfare under high-standard conditions, with more than a third of the species (~37%) having at least a 20% potential. Despite that, several species exhibit a very high frequency of low chances and potential for experiencing good welfare levels under aquaculture conditions, besides a low degree of certainty based on literature reviews. Furthermore, many others show a very frequent occurrence of unclear or nonexistent knowledge in their profiles. The current welfare state is therefore poor for the majority of farmed aquatic species; yet, there is considerable potential for improvement. However, many species are very unlikely to achieve good welfare, even under high-standard conditions. Importantly, large knowledge gaps remain for an accurate assessment of the welfare of several farmed species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Marques Maia
- FishEthoGroup Association, Faro, Portugal
- Alianima organization, São Paulo, Brazil
- CAUNESP-Centro de Aquicultura da UNESP, Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - João Luis Saraiva
- FishEthoGroup Association, Faro, Portugal
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR-LA), Faro, Portugal
| | | | - Eliane Gonçalves-de-Freitas
- CAUNESP-Centro de Aquicultura da UNESP, Jaboticabal, Brazil
- Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
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10
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Reddon AR, Swaney WT. Fellowship of the fin: Fish empathy and oxytocin. Learn Behav 2024; 52:135-136. [PMID: 37407788 DOI: 10.3758/s13420-023-00593-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Zebrafish exhibit fear contagion, a basic form of empathy, and when observing social fellows that have been exposed to predation cues, will themselves exhibit similar distress behaviours. As in mammals, the nonapeptide hormone oxytocin is essential for this empathic response, and homologous areas of the brain are involved, suggesting that the mechanistic basis of empathy may be conserved among vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam R Reddon
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, James Parsons Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK.
| | - William T Swaney
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, James Parsons Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
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11
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Brosnan A, Knapska E. Cheerful tails: Delving into positive emotional contagion. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 161:105674. [PMID: 38614451 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
This review delves into the phenomenon of positive emotional contagion (PEC) in rodents, an area that remains relatively understudied compared to the well-explored realm of negative emotions such as fear or pain. Rodents exhibit clear preferences for individuals expressing positive emotions over neutral counterparts, underscoring the importance of detecting and responding to positive emotional signals from others. We thoroughly examine the adaptive function of PEC, highlighting its pivotal role in social learning and environmental adaptation. The developmental aspect of the ability to interpret positive emotions is explored, intricately linked to maternal care and social interactions, with oxytocin playing a central role in these processes. We discuss the potential involvement of the reward system and draw attention to persisting gaps in our understanding of the neural mechanisms governing PEC. Presenting a comprehensive overview of the existing literature, we focus on food-related protocols such as the Social Transmission of Food Preferences paradigm and tickling behaviour. Our review emphasizes the pressing need for further research to address lingering questions and advance our comprehension of positive emotional contagion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Brosnan
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY - Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewelina Knapska
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY - Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
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12
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Conklin QA, Zanesco AP, King BG, Epel ES, Saron CD. Changes in peripheral oxytocin and vasopressin during a silent month-long Insight meditation retreat. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1345527. [PMID: 38863930 PMCID: PMC11165068 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1345527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Given its putative roles in mediating prosocial behavior, attachment bonds, and stress physiology, oxytocin modulation has been hypothesized to be a biological correlate of the salubrious effects of meditation practice. Here we investigated the effects of a month-long silent meditation retreat on changes in oxytocin, and the related hormone and vasopressin, in relation to psychosocial changes in attachment style, anxiety, personality measures, and feelings of social connectedness with fellow meditators. Methods Plasma oxytocin and vasopressin and self-report questionnaires were measured in retreat participants (n = 28) at the beginning of, and 3 weeks into, a residential meditation retreat. Control participants (n = 34), who were similar in age, gender, and meditation experience, were also assessed across a 3-week interval. Linear mixed effects models were used to assess outcomes. Results The retreat group showed a small but significant decrease in oxytocin compared to controls who showed no change. In the retreat group, higher openness to experience at Time 1 predicted greater reductions in oxytocin during the retreat, and lower oxytocin at Time 2 was related to stronger feelings of personal connection with fellow meditators. The changes in oxytocin were not related to attachment style or anxiety. Vasopressin decreased over time across both groups, suggesting no specific effect of retreat. Conclusion These preliminary findings suggest that meditation training in the context of a silent residential retreat may reduce circulating levels of oxytocin. We interpret this finding from multiple theoretical perspectives, discussing key measurement limitations and proposing future study designs that may help to differentiate the effects of different meditation practices and contexts on oxytocin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quinn A. Conklin
- Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Anthony P. Zanesco
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Brandon G. King
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Elissa S. Epel
- Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Clifford D. Saron
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- The MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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13
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Kiran NS, Yashaswini C, Chatterjee A. Zebrafish: A trending model for gut-brain axis investigation. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 270:106902. [PMID: 38537435 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.106902] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) has ascended as a pivotal model organism in the realm of gut-brain axis research, principally owing to its high-throughput experimental capabilities and evolutionary alignment with mammals. The inherent transparency of zebrafish embryos facilitates unprecedented real-time imaging, affording unparalleled insights into the intricate dynamics of bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain. Noteworthy are the structural and functional parallels shared between the zebrafish and mammalian gut-brain axis components, rendering zebrafish an invaluable model for probing the molecular and cellular intricacies inherent in this critical physiological interaction. Recent investigations in zebrafish have systematically explored the impact of gut microbiota on neurodevelopment, behaviour, and disease susceptibility, underscoring the model's prowess in unravelling the multifaceted influence of microbial communities in shaping gut-brain interactions. Leveraging the genetic manipulability inherent in zebrafish, researchers have embarked on targeted explorations of specific pathways and molecular mechanisms, providing nuanced insights into the fundamental functioning of the gut-brain axis. This comprehensive review synthesizes pivotal findings and methodological advancements derived from zebrafish-based gut-brain axis research, accentuating the model's potential to significantly advance our understanding of this complex interplay. Furthermore, it underscores the translational significance of these insights, offering promising avenues for the identification of therapeutic targets in neuro-gastroenterological disorders and psychiatric conditions intricately linked with gut-brain interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelakanta Sarvashiva Kiran
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Sciences, REVA University, Kattigenahalli, Yelahanka, Bengaluru, 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Chandrashekar Yashaswini
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Sciences, REVA University, Kattigenahalli, Yelahanka, Bengaluru, 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Ankita Chatterjee
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Sciences, REVA University, Kattigenahalli, Yelahanka, Bengaluru, 560064, Karnataka, India.
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14
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Zhao Y, Huang CX, Gu Y, Zhao Y, Ren W, Wang Y, Chen J, Guan NN, Song J. Serotonergic modulation of vigilance states in zebrafish and mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2596. [PMID: 38519480 PMCID: PMC10959952 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47021-0] [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: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Vigilance refers to being alertly watchful or paying sustained attention to avoid potential threats. Animals in vigilance states reduce locomotion and have an enhanced sensitivity to aversive stimuli so as to react quickly to dangers. Here we report that an unconventional 5-HT driven mechanism operating at neural circuit level which shapes the internal state underlying vigilance behavior in zebrafish and male mice. The neural signature of internal vigilance state was characterized by persistent low-frequency high-amplitude neuronal synchrony in zebrafish dorsal pallium and mice prefrontal cortex. The neuronal synchronization underlying vigilance was dependent on intense release of 5-HT induced by persistent activation of either DRN 5-HT neuron or local 5-HT axon terminals in related brain regions via activation of 5-HTR7. Thus, we identify a mechanism of vigilance behavior across species that illustrates the interplay between neuromodulators and neural circuits necessary to shape behavior states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Chun-Xiao Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiming Gu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Yacong Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjie Ren
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Yutong Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinjin Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Na N Guan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China.
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China.
- Frontiers Science Center for Intelligent Autonomous Systems, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Jianren Song
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China.
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China.
- Frontiers Science Center for Intelligent Autonomous Systems, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
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15
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Beetz MJ. A perspective on neuroethology: what the past teaches us about the future of neuroethology. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2024; 210:325-346. [PMID: 38411712 PMCID: PMC10995053 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-024-01695-5] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
For 100 years, the Journal of Comparative Physiology-A has significantly supported research in the field of neuroethology. The celebration of the journal's centennial is a great time point to appreciate the recent progress in neuroethology and to discuss possible avenues of the field. Animal behavior is the main source of inspiration for neuroethologists. This is illustrated by the huge diversity of investigated behaviors and species. To explain behavior at a mechanistic level, neuroethologists combine neuroscientific approaches with sophisticated behavioral analysis. The rapid technological progress in neuroscience makes neuroethology a highly dynamic and exciting field of research. To summarize the recent scientific progress in neuroethology, I went through all abstracts of the last six International Congresses for Neuroethology (ICNs 2010-2022) and categorized them based on the sensory modalities, experimental model species, and research topics. This highlights the diversity of neuroethology and gives us a perspective on the field's scientific future. At the end, I highlight three research topics that may, among others, influence the future of neuroethology. I hope that sharing my roots may inspire other scientists to follow neuroethological approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Jerome Beetz
- Zoology II, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
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16
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Mu X, Liu Z, Zhao X, Yuan L, Li Y, Wang C, Xiao G, Mu J, Qiu J, Qian Y. Bisphenol A Analogues Induce Neuroendocrine Disruption via Gut-Brain Regulation in Zebrafish. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:1022-1035. [PMID: 38165294 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
There is epidemiological evidence in humans that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) is tied to abnormal neuroendocrine function with both behavioral and intestinal symptoms. However, the underlying mechanism of this effect, particularly the role of gut-brain regulation, is poorly understood. We exposed zebrafish embryos to a concentration series (including environmentally relevant levels) of BPA and its analogues. The analogue bisphenol G (BPG) yielded the strongest behavioral impact on zebrafish larvae and inhibited the largest number of neurotransmitters, with an effective concentration of 0.5 μg/L, followed by bisphenol AF (BPAF) and BPA. In neurod1:EGFP transgenic zebrafish, BPG and BPAF inhibited the distribution of enteroendocrine cells (EECs), which is associated with decreased neurotransmitters level and behavioral activity. Immune staining of ace-α-tubulin suggested that BPAF inhibited vagal neural development at 50 and 500 μg/L. Single-cell RNA-Seq demonstrated that BPG disrupted the neuroendocrine system by inducing inflammatory responses in intestinal epithelial cells via TNFα-trypsin-EEC signaling. BPAF exposure activated apoptosis and inhibited neural developmental pathways in vagal neurons, consistent with immunofluorescence imaging studies. These findings show that both BPG and BPAF affect the neuroendocrine system through the gut-brain axis but by different mechanisms, revealing new insights into the modes of bisphenol-mediated neuroendocrine disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyan Mu
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Zaiteng Liu
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhao
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Lilai Yuan
- Fishery Resource and Environment Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Beijing 214081, China
| | - Yingren Li
- Fishery Resource and Environment Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Beijing 214081, China
| | - Chengju Wang
- College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Guohua Xiao
- Hebei Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Qinhuangdao 066000, China
- Hebei Marine Living Resources and Environment Key Laboratory, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Jiandong Mu
- Hebei Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Qinhuangdao 066000, China
- Hebei Marine Living Resources and Environment Key Laboratory, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Jing Qiu
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yongzhong Qian
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
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17
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de C Williams AC. Pain: Behavioural expression and response in an evolutionary framework. Evol Med Public Health 2023; 11:429-437. [PMID: 38022798 PMCID: PMC10656790 DOI: 10.1093/emph/eoad038] [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: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
An evolutionary perspective offers insights into the major public health problem of chronic (persistent) pain; behaviours associated with it perpetuate both pain and disability. Pain is motivating, and pain-related behaviours promote recovery by immediate active or passive defence; subsequent protection of wounds; suppression of competing responses; energy conservation; vigilance to threat; and learned avoidance of associated cues. When these persist beyond healing, as in chronic pain, they are disabling. In mammals, facial and bodily expression of pain is visible and identifiable by others, while social context, including conspecifics' responses, modulate pain. Studies of responses to pain emphasize onlooker empathy, but people with chronic pain report feeling disbelieved and stigmatized. Observers frequently discount others' pain, best understood in terms of cheater detection-alertness to free riders that underpins the capacity for prosocial behaviours. These dynamics occur both in everyday life and in clinical encounters, providing an account of the adaptiveness of pain-related behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda C de C Williams
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology, University College London, Gower St, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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18
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Burbano D, Senthilkumar S, Manzini MC. Exploring emotional contagion in zebrafish: A virtual-demonstrator study of positive and negative emotions. Behav Processes 2023; 213:104961. [PMID: 37897852 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2023.104961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Emotional contagion, the transmission of emotions within a group, has been extensively studied in mammals but remains largely unexplored in fish. This study aims to investigate whether emotional contagion, specifically in terms of low and high anxiety levels, can be evoked in zebrafish. This freshwater species has been gaining momentum due to its high genetic homology to humans and complex behavioral repertoire, making it well-suited for exploring social behavior. Our hypothesis posits that zebrafish have the ability to transmit positive and negative emotions to one another through visual cues only and that this transmission is robust over time. To test this, we employed a virtual demonstrator fish approach, where videos of zebrafish exhibiting either high or low geotactic behavior were shown to live zebrafish. Geotaxis, the tendency of a fish to spend more time at the bottom of the tank, is a sensitive measure of anxiety, with high geotactic behavior corresponding to high anxiety levels and vice versa. Our findings indicate that the virtual demonstrator successfully transmitted emotional states to the live fish, as evidenced by changes in the time spent at the bottom of the tank, linear acceleration, and fast-turning maneuvers, metrics that quantify anxiety-like behaviors such as geotaxis and erratic movements. Additionally, we conducted a causal analysis using a transfer entropy approach, revealing a significant flow of information from the virtual demonstrator fish to the live fish, indicating the efficacy and potential of this approach in studying emotional contagion. This study provides additional empirical evidence of how visual cues alone from a virtual demonstrator exhibiting high or low anxious behavior can elicit similar behavioral states in bystander fish, highlighting the potential for emotional contagion beyond mammalian and avian models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Burbano
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rutgers University, 94 Brett Road, Piscataway 08854, NJ, USA.
| | - Sahana Senthilkumar
- School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program, 35 College Avenue, New Brunswick 08901, NY, USA
| | - M Chiara Manzini
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Child Health Institute of New Jersey, 89 French Street, New Brunswick 08901, NY, USA
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19
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Collier AD, Abdulai AR, Leibowitz SF. Utility of the Zebrafish Model for Studying Neuronal and Behavioral Disturbances Induced by Embryonic Exposure to Alcohol, Nicotine, and Cannabis. Cells 2023; 12:2505. [PMID: 37887349 PMCID: PMC10605371 DOI: 10.3390/cells12202505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
It is estimated that 5% of pregnant women consume drugs of abuse during pregnancy. Clinical research suggests that intake of drugs during pregnancy, such as alcohol, nicotine and cannabis, disturbs the development of neuronal systems in the offspring, in association with behavioral disturbances early in life and an increased risk of developing drug use disorders. After briefly summarizing evidence in rodents, this review focuses on the zebrafish model and its inherent advantages for studying the effects of embryonic exposure to drugs of abuse on behavioral and neuronal development, with an emphasis on neuropeptides known to promote drug-related behaviors. In addition to stimulating the expression and density of peptide neurons, as in rodents, zebrafish studies demonstrate that embryonic drug exposure has marked effects on the migration, morphology, projections, anatomical location, and peptide co-expression of these neurons. We also describe studies using advanced methodologies that can be applied in vivo in zebrafish: first, to demonstrate a causal relationship between the drug-induced neuronal and behavioral disturbances and second, to discover underlying molecular mechanisms that mediate these effects. The zebrafish model has great potential for providing important information regarding the development of novel and efficacious therapies for ameliorating the effects of early drug exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sarah F. Leibowitz
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurobiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
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20
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Washbourne P. Can we model autism using zebrafish? Dev Growth Differ 2023; 65:453-458. [PMID: 37623916 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most common, heritable neuropsychiatric disorders in the world, affecting almost 1% of the population. The core symptoms used to diagnose ASD are decreased social interaction and increased repetitive behaviors. Despite the large number of affected individuals, the precise mechanisms that cause this disorder remain unclear. The identification of genes and environmental factors associated with ASD allows the study of the underlying mechanisms in animal models. Although ASD presents as a human disorder, based on recent advances in understanding their brain anatomy, physiology, behavior, and evolutionary conservation of neuronal cell types, I propose that zebrafish may provide novel insights into the etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Washbourne
- Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
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21
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Kareklas K, Teles MC, Nunes AR, Oliveira RF. Social zebrafish: Danio rerio as an emerging model in social neuroendocrinology. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13280. [PMID: 37165563 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The fitness benefits of social life depend on the ability of animals to affiliate with others and form groups, on dominance hierarchies within groups that determine resource distribution, and on cognitive capacities for recognition, learning and information transfer. The evolution of these phenotypes is coupled with that of neuroendocrine mechanisms, but the causal link between the two remains underexplored. Growing evidence from our research group and others demonstrates that the tools available in zebrafish, Danio rerio, can markedly facilitate progress in this field. Here, we review this evidence and provide a synthesis of the state-of-the-art in this model system. We discuss the involvement of generalized motivation and cognitive components, neuroplasticity and functional connectivity across social decision-making brain areas, and how these are modulated chiefly by the oxytocin-vasopressin neuroendocrine system, but also by reward-pathway monoamine signaling and the effects of sex-hormones and stress physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Magda C Teles
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
- ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Rui F Oliveira
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
- ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
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22
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Li Y, Zhi W, Qi B, Wang L, Hu X. Update on neurobiological mechanisms of fear: illuminating the direction of mechanism exploration and treatment development of trauma and fear-related disorders. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1216524. [PMID: 37600761 PMCID: PMC10433239 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1216524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear refers to an adaptive response in the face of danger, and the formed fear memory acts as a warning when the individual faces a dangerous situation again, which is of great significance to the survival of humans and animals. Excessive fear response caused by abnormal fear memory can lead to neuropsychiatric disorders. Fear memory has been studied for a long time, which is of a certain guiding effect on the treatment of fear-related disorders. With continuous technological innovations, the study of fear has gradually shifted from the level of brain regions to deeper neural (micro) circuits between brain regions and even within single brain regions, as well as molecular mechanisms. This article briefly outlines the basic knowledge of fear memory and reviews the neurobiological mechanisms of fear extinction and relapse, which aims to provide new insights for future basic research on fear emotions and new ideas for treating trauma and fear-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- College of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, China
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Weijia Zhi
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Qi
- College of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Lifeng Wang
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangjun Hu
- College of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, China
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
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23
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Locascio A, Annona G, Caccavale F, D'Aniello S, Agnisola C, Palumbo A. Nitric Oxide Function and Nitric Oxide Synthase Evolution in Aquatic Chordates. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11182. [PMID: 37446358 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311182] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is a key signaling molecule in almost all organisms and is active in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Our understanding of the peculiarities and functions of this simple gas has increased considerably by extending studies to non-mammal vertebrates and invertebrates. In this review, we report the nitric oxide synthase (Nos) genes so far characterized in chordates and provide an extensive, detailed, and comparative analysis of the function of NO in the aquatic chordates tunicates, cephalochordates, teleost fishes, and amphibians. This comprehensive set of data adds new elements to our understanding of Nos evolution, from the single gene commonly found in invertebrates to the three genes present in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Locascio
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni Annona
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
- Department of Research Infrastructure for Marine Biological Resources (RIMAR), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Filomena Caccavale
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Salvatore D'Aniello
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Claudio Agnisola
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Palumbo
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
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24
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Kareklas K, Teles MC, Dreosti E, Oliveira RF. Autism-associated gene shank3 is necessary for social contagion in zebrafish. Mol Autism 2023; 14:23. [PMID: 37391856 PMCID: PMC10311831 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-023-00555-4] [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: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animal models enable targeting autism-associated genes, such as the shank3 gene, to assess their impact on behavioural phenotypes. However, this is often limited to simple behaviours relevant for social interaction. Social contagion is a complex phenotype forming the basis of human empathic behaviour and involves attention to the behaviour of others for recognizing and sharing their emotional or affective state. Thus, it is a form of social communication, which constitutes the most common developmental impairment across autism spectrum disorders (ASD). METHODS Here we describe the development of a zebrafish model that identifies the neurocognitive mechanisms by which shank3 mutation drives deficits in social contagion. We used a CRISPR-Cas9 technique to generate mutations to the shank3a gene, a zebrafish paralogue found to present greater orthology and functional conservation relative to the human gene. Mutants were first compared to wild types during a two-phase protocol that involves the observation of two conflicting states, distress and neutral, and the later recall and discrimination of others when no longer presenting such differences. Then, the whole-brain expression of different neuroplasticity markers was compared between genotypes and their contribution to cluster-specific phenotypic variation was assessed. RESULTS The shank3 mutation markedly reduced social contagion via deficits in attention contributing to difficulties in recognising affective states. Also, the mutation changed the expression of neuronal plasticity genes. However, only downregulated neuroligins clustered with shank3a expression under a combined synaptogenesis component that contributed specifically to variation in attention. LIMITATIONS While zebrafish are extremely useful in identifying the role of shank3 mutations to composite social behaviour, they are unlikely to represent the full complexity of socio-cognitive and communication deficits presented by human ASD pathology. Moreover, zebrafish cannot represent the scaling up of these deficits to higher-order empathic and prosocial phenotypes seen in humans. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate a causal link between the zebrafish orthologue of an ASD-associated gene and the attentional control of affect recognition and consequent social contagion. This models autistic affect-communication pathology in zebrafish and reveals a genetic attention-deficit mechanism, addressing the ongoing debate for such mechanisms accounting for emotion recognition difficulties in autistic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyriacos Kareklas
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, R. Q.ta Grande 6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Magda C Teles
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, R. Q.ta Grande 6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal
- ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Elena Dreosti
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rui F Oliveira
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, R. Q.ta Grande 6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal.
- ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041, Lisbon, Portugal.
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25
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Jin Y, Song D, Yan Y, Quan Z, Qing H. The Role of Oxytocin in Early-Life-Stress-Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10430. [PMID: 37445607 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Early-life stress during critical periods of brain development can have long-term effects on physical and mental health. Oxytocin is a critical social regulator and anti-inflammatory hormone that modulates stress-related functions and social behaviors and alleviates diseases. Oxytocin-related neural systems show high plasticity in early postpartum and adolescent periods. Early-life stress can influence the oxytocin system long term by altering the expression and signaling of oxytocin receptors. Deficits in social behavior, emotional control, and stress responses may result, thus increasing the risk of anxiety, depression, and other stress-related neuropsychiatric diseases. Oxytocin is regarded as an important target for the treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we describe the history of oxytocin and its role in neural circuits and related behaviors. We then review abnormalities in the oxytocin system in early-life stress and the functions of oxytocin in treating stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Jin
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Da Song
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Zhenzhen Quan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Hong Qing
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
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DeAngelis RS, Hofmann HA. The spread of fear in an empathetic fish. Science 2023; 379:1186-1187. [PMID: 36952409 DOI: 10.1126/science.adh0769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
An evolutionarily ancient signaling pathway mediates emotional contagion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross S DeAngelis
- Department of Integrative Biology and Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Hans A Hofmann
- Department of Integrative Biology and Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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