1
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Yu JH, Napoli JL, Lovett-Barron M. Understanding collective behavior through neurobiology. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2024; 86:102866. [PMID: 38852986 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2024.102866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
A variety of organisms exhibit collective movement, including schooling fish and flocking birds, where coordinated behavior emerges from the interactions between group members. Despite the prevalence of collective movement in nature, little is known about the neural mechanisms producing each individual's behavior within the group. Here we discuss how a neurobiological approach can enrich our understanding of collective behavior by determining the mechanisms by which individuals interact. We provide examples of sensory systems for social communication during collective movement, highlight recent discoveries about neural systems for detecting the position and actions of social partners, and discuss opportunities for future research. Understanding the neurobiology of collective behavior can provide insight into how nervous systems function in a dynamic social world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo-Hsien Yu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA. https://twitter.com/anitajhyu
| | - Julia L Napoli
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA. https://twitter.com/juliadoingneuro
| | - Matthew Lovett-Barron
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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2
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Hughes S, Hessel EVS. Zebrafish and nematodes as whole organism models to measure developmental neurotoxicity. Crit Rev Toxicol 2024; 54:330-343. [PMID: 38832580 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2024.2342448] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Despite the growing epidemiological evidence of an association between toxin exposure and developmental neurotoxicity (DNT), systematic testing of DNT is not mandatory in international regulations for admission of pharmaceuticals or industrial chemicals. However, to date around 200 compounds, ranging from pesticides, pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals, have been tested for DNT in the current OECD test guidelines (TG-443 or TG-426). There are calls for the development of new approach methodologies (NAMs) for DNT, which has resulted in a DNT testing battery using in vitro human cell-based assays. These assays provide a means to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of toxicity in humans which is lacking in animal-based toxicity tests. However, cell-based assays do not represent all steps of the complex process leading to DNT. Validated models with a multi-organ network of pathways that interact at the molecular, cellular and tissue level at very specific timepoints in a life cycle are currently missing. Consequently, whole model organisms are being developed to screen for, and causally link, new molecular targets of DNT compounds and how they affect whole brain development and neurobehavioral endpoints. Given the practical and ethical restraints associated with vertebrate testing, lower animal models that qualify as 3 R (reduce, refine and replace) models, including the nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans) and the zebrafish (Danio rerio) will prove particularly valuable for unravelling toxicity pathways leading to DNT. Although not as complex as the human brain, these 3 R-models develop a complete functioning brain with numerous neurodevelopmental processes overlapping with human brain development. Importantly, the main signalling pathways relating to (neuro)development, metabolism and growth are highly conserved in these models. We propose the use of whole model organisms specifically zebrafish and C. elegans for DNT relevant endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Hughes
- Department of Environmental Health and Toxicology, A-LIFE, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ellen V S Hessel
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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3
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Moisan GJ, Kamath N, Apgar S, Schwehr M, Vedmurthy P, Conner O, Hayes K, Toro CP. Alternative Splicing and Nonsense-Mediated Decay of a Zebrafish GABA Receptor Subunit Transcript. Zebrafish 2024; 21:198-205. [PMID: 37751193 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2023.0044] [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] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The superfamily of Cys-loop ionotropic neurotransmitter receptors includes those that detect GABA, glutamate, glycine, and acetylcholine. There is ample evidence that many Cys-loop receptor subunit genes include alternatively spliced exons. In this study, we report a novel example of alternative splicing (AS): we show that the 68-bp exon 3 in the zebrafish gabrr2b gene-which codes for the ρ2b GABAAR subunit-is an alternative cassette exon. Skipping of gabrr2b exon 3 results in a downstream frame shift and a premature termination codon (PTC). We provide evidence in larval zebrafish that transcripts containing the PTC are subject to degradation through nonsense-mediated decay. We also compile reports of AS of homologous exons in other Cys-loop receptor genes in multiple species. Our data add to a large body of research demonstrating that exon 3 in Cys-loop receptor genes is a conserved site for AS, the effects of which can vary from novel splice-isoform generation to downregulation of gene expression through transcript degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia J Moisan
- Biology Department, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York, USA
| | - Nitika Kamath
- Biology Department, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York, USA
| | - Shannon Apgar
- Biology Department, Linfield University, McMinnville, Oregon, USA
| | - Megan Schwehr
- Biology Department, Linfield University, McMinnville, Oregon, USA
| | - Pooja Vedmurthy
- Biology Department, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York, USA
| | - Olivya Conner
- Biology Department, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York, USA
| | - Kyler Hayes
- Biology Department, Linfield University, McMinnville, Oregon, USA
| | - Cecilia Phillips Toro
- Biology Department, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York, USA
- Biology Department, Linfield University, McMinnville, Oregon, USA
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4
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Clevenger T, Paz J, Stafford A, Amos D, Hayes AW. An Evaluation of Zebrafish, an Emerging Model Analyzing the Effects of Toxicants on Cognitive and Neuromuscular Function. Int J Toxicol 2024; 43:46-62. [PMID: 37903286 DOI: 10.1177/10915818231207966] [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] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
An emerging alternative to conventional animal models in toxicology research is the zebrafish. Their accelerated development, regenerative capacity, transparent physical appearance, ability to be genetically manipulated, and ease of housing and care make them feasible and efficient experimental models. Nonetheless, their most esteemed asset is their 70% (+) genetic similarity with the human genome, which allows the model to be used in a variety of clinically relevant studies. With these attributes, we propose the zebrafish is an excellent model for analyzing cognitive and neuromuscular responses when exposed to toxicants. Neurocognition can be readily analyzed using visual discrimination, memory and learning, and social behavior testing. Neuromuscular function can be analyzed using techniques such as the startle response, assessment of activity level, and evaluation of critical swimming speed. Furthermore, selectively mutated zebrafish is another novel application of this species in behavioral and pharmacological studies, which can be exploited in toxicological studies. There is a critical need in biomedical research to discover ethical and cost-effective methods to develop new products, including drugs. Through mutagenesis, zebrafish models have become key in meeting this need by advancing the field in numerous areas of biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jakob Paz
- Florida College, Temple Terrace, FL, USA
| | | | | | - A Wallace Hayes
- College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Temple Terrace, FL, USA
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5
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Godino-Gimeno A, Thörnqvist PO, Chivite M, Míguez JM, Winberg S, Cerdá-Reverter JM. Obesity Impairs Cognitive Function with No Effects on Anxiety-like Behaviour in Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12316. [PMID: 37569692 PMCID: PMC10419065 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512316] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, the zebrafish has emerged as an important model organism for behavioural studies and neurological disorders, as well as for the study of metabolic diseases. This makes zebrafish an alternative model for studying the effects of energy disruption and nutritional quality on a wide range of behavioural aspects. Here, we used the zebrafish model to study how obesity induced by overfeeding regulates emotional and cognitive processes. Two groups of fish (n = 24 per group) were fed at 2% (CTRL) and 8% (overfeeding-induced obesity, OIO) for 8 weeks and tested for anxiety-like behaviour using the novel tank diving test (NTDT). Fish were first tested using a short-term memory test (STM) and then trained for four days for a long-term memory test (LTM). At the end of the experiment, fish were euthanised for biometric sampling, total lipid content, and triglyceride analysis. In addition, brains (eight per treatment) were dissected for HPLC determination of monoamines. Overfeeding induced faster growth and obesity, as indicated by increased total lipid content. OIO had no effect on anxiety-like behaviour. Animals were then tested for cognitive function (learning and memory) using the aversive learning test in Zantiks AD units. Results show that both OIO and CTRL animals were able to associate the aversive stimulus with the conditioned stimulus (conditioned learning), but OIO impaired STM regardless of fish sex, revealing the effects of obesity on cognitive processes in zebrafish. Obese fish did not show a deficiency in monoaminergic transmission, as revealed by quantification of total brain levels of dopamine and serotonin and their metabolites. This provides a reliable protocol for assessing the effect of metabolic disease on cognitive and behavioural function, supporting zebrafish as a model for behavioural and cognitive neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Godino-Gimeno
- Control of Food Intake Group, Department of Fish Physiology and Biotechnology, Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre de la Sal, IATS-CSIC, 12595 Castellon, Spain;
| | - Per-Ove Thörnqvist
- Behavioural Neuroendocrinology, Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden (S.W.)
- Behavioural Neuroendocrinology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mauro Chivite
- Centro de Investigación Mariña, Laboratorio de Fisioloxía Animal, Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional e Ciencias da Saúde, Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain; (M.C.)
| | - Jesús M. Míguez
- Centro de Investigación Mariña, Laboratorio de Fisioloxía Animal, Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional e Ciencias da Saúde, Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain; (M.C.)
| | - Svante Winberg
- Behavioural Neuroendocrinology, Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden (S.W.)
- Behavioural Neuroendocrinology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - José Miguel Cerdá-Reverter
- Control of Food Intake Group, Department of Fish Physiology and Biotechnology, Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre de la Sal, IATS-CSIC, 12595 Castellon, Spain;
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6
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Reemst K, Shahin H, Shahar OD. Learning and memory formation in zebrafish: Protein dynamics and molecular tools. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1120984. [PMID: 36968211 PMCID: PMC10034119 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1120984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Research on learning and memory formation at the level of neural networks, as well as at the molecular level, is challenging due to the immense complexity of the brain. The zebrafish as a genetically tractable model organism can overcome many of the current challenges of studying molecular mechanisms of learning and memory formation. Zebrafish have a translucent, smaller and more accessible brain than that of mammals, allowing imaging of the entire brain during behavioral manipulations. Recent years have seen an extensive increase in published brain research describing the use of zebrafish for the study of learning and memory. Nevertheless, due to the complexity of the brain comprising many neural cell types that are difficult to isolate, it has been difficult to elucidate neural networks and molecular mechanisms involved in memory formation in an unbiased manner, even in zebrafish larvae. Therefore, data regarding the identity, location, and intensity of nascent proteins during memory formation is still sparse and our understanding of the molecular networks remains limited, indicating a need for new techniques. Here, we review recent progress in establishing learning paradigms for zebrafish and the development of methods to elucidate neural and molecular networks of learning. We describe various types of learning and highlight directions for future studies, focusing on molecular mechanisms of long-term memory formation and promising state-of-the-art techniques such as cell-type-specific metabolic labeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kitty Reemst
- Migal—Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
| | - Heba Shahin
- Migal—Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
| | - Or David Shahar
- Migal—Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- *Correspondence: Or David Shahar,
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7
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Rocco L, Pisera-Fuster A, Faillace MP, Bernabeu R. Evaluation of drug seeking behavior on nicotine conditioned place preference in zebrafish. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 119:110593. [PMID: 35777525 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110593] [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: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Seeking of drugs is commonly evaluated in a specific environment for assessing drug preference. However, cognitive strategies involved in drug seeking are mostly unknown. To assess the strength of environmental cues that can be associated with nicotine in the zebrafish brain reward circuitry, we have designed herein a modified conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. This task was devised to identify salient environmental cues relevant for strong nicotine-environment association and drug seeking induction. During test sessions, background colors of the CPP tank chambers were shifted and preference for colors associated to nicotine was assessed. We have compared several tank designs and different compartment colors. Our findings indicated that zebrafish seeking behavior was strongly dependent on compartment color shades. Combination of red and yellow environments, which were preferred and avoided compartments, respectively, was the most effective design presenting the highest CPP-score. Interestingly, animals that stayed for longer periods in the environment conditioned to nicotine during a first testing interval were also able to follow the background color shade conditioned to nicotine to the other compartment immediately after background colors were relocated between compartments. During a second testing period, zebrafish also stayed for longer periods in the colored compartment paired to nicotine during conditioning. These findings suggest that under salient environmental conditions, zebrafish voluntarily followed a shifting visual cue previously associated with nicotine delivery. Furthermore, our findings indicate that zebrafish exhibit spatial associative learning and memory, which generates a repertoire of conspicuous locomotor behaviors induced by nicotine preference in the CPP task.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Rocco
- Department of Physiology and Institute of Physiology and Biophysics (IFIBIO-Houssay, UBA-CONICET), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Pisera-Fuster
- Department of Physiology and Institute of Physiology and Biophysics (IFIBIO-Houssay, UBA-CONICET), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M P Faillace
- Department of Physiology and Institute of Physiology and Biophysics (IFIBIO-Houssay, UBA-CONICET), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - R Bernabeu
- Department of Physiology and Institute of Physiology and Biophysics (IFIBIO-Houssay, UBA-CONICET), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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8
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Magnus G, Xing J, Zhang Y, Han VZ. Diversity of cellular physiology and morphology of Purkinje cells in the adult zebrafish cerebellum. J Comp Neurol 2022; 531:461-485. [PMID: 36453181 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
This study was designed to explore the functional circuitry of the adult zebrafish cerebellum, focusing on its Purkinje cells and using whole-cell patch recordings and single cell labeling in slice preparations. Following physiological characterizations, the recorded single cells were labeled for morphological identification. It was found that the zebrafish Purkinje cells are surprisingly diverse. Based on their physiology and morphology, they can be classified into at least three subtypes: Type I, a narrow spike cell, which fires only narrow Na+ spikes (<3 ms in duration), and has a single primary dendrite with an arbor restricted to the distal molecular layer; Type II, a broad spike cell, which fires broad Ca2+ spikes (5-7 ms in duration) and has a primary dendrite with limited branching in the inner molecular layer and then further radiates throughout the molecular layer; and Type III, a very broad spike cell, which fires very broad Ca2+ spikes (≥10 ms in duration) and has a dense proximal dendritic arbor that is either restricted to the inner molecular layer (Type IIIa), or radiates throughout the entire molecular layer (Type IIIb). The graded paired-pulse facilitation of these Purkinje cells' responses to parallel fiber activations and the all-or-none, paired-pulse depression of climbing fiber activation are largely similar to those reported for mammals. The labeled axon terminals of these Purkinje cells end locally, as reported for larval zebrafish. The present study provides evidence that the corresponding functional circuitry and information processing differ from what has been well-established in the mammalian cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Magnus
- Department of Biology University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
- Center for Integrative Brain Research Seattle Children's Research Institute Seattle Washington USA
| | - Junling Xing
- Department of Pediatrics and Neuroscience Xijing Hospital Xi'an China
| | - Yueping Zhang
- Center for Integrative Brain Research Seattle Children's Research Institute Seattle Washington USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Neuroscience Xijing Hospital Xi'an China
| | - Victor Z. Han
- Department of Biology University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
- Center for Integrative Brain Research Seattle Children's Research Institute Seattle Washington USA
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9
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Oxytocin receptors influence the development and maintenance of social behavior in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Sci Rep 2022; 12:4322. [PMID: 35279678 PMCID: PMC8918347 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07990-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish are highly social teleost fish and an excellent model to study social behavior. The neuropeptide Oxytocin is associated different social behaviors as well as disorders resulting in social impairment like autism spectrum disorder. However, how Oxytocin receptor signaling affects the development and expression kinetics of social behavior is not known. In this study we investigated the role of the two oxytocin receptors, Oxtr and Oxtrl, in the development and maintenance of social preference and shoaling behavior in 2- to 8-week-old zebrafish. Using CRISPR/Cas9 mediated oxtr and oxtrl knock-out fish, we found that the development of social preference is accelerated if one of the Oxytocin receptors is knocked-out and that the knock-out fish reach significantly higher levels of social preference. Moreover, oxtr−/− fish showed impairments in the maintenance of social preference. Social isolation prior to testing led to impaired maintenance of social preference in both wild-type and oxtr and oxtrl knock-out fish. Knocking-out either of the Oxytocin receptors also led to increased group spacing and reduced polarization in a 20-fish shoal at 8 weeks post fertilization, but not at 4. These results show that the development and maintenance of social behavior is influenced by the Oxytocin receptors and that the effects are not just pro- or antisocial, but dependent on both the age and social context of the fish.
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10
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Petersen BD, Bertoncello KT, Bonan CD. Standardizing Zebrafish Behavioral Paradigms Across Life Stages: An Effort Towards Translational Pharmacology. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:833227. [PMID: 35126165 PMCID: PMC8810815 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.833227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish is a prominent vertebrate model, with many of its advantages related to its development, life cycle, and translational ability. While a great number of behavioral phenotypes and tasks to evaluate them are available, longitudinal studies across zebrafish life stages are scarce and made challenging because of the differences between protocols and endpoints assessed at each life stage. In this mini review, we highlight the relevance that longitudinal studies could have for neurobehavioral pharmacology using this model. We also present possible strategies to standardize behavior endpoints in domains related to human diseases throughout the life cycle, especially between larvae and adult fish. Furthermore, we discuss the remaining difficulties of these analyses and explore future advances needed to bridge this knowledge gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Dutra Petersen
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Kanandra Taisa Bertoncello
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Carla Denise Bonan
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Carla Denise Bonan,
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11
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Dempsey WP, Du Z, Nadtochiy A, Smith CD, Czajkowski K, Andreev A, Robson DN, Li JM, Applebaum S, Truong TV, Kesselman C, Fraser SE, Arnold DB. Regional synapse gain and loss accompany memory formation in larval zebrafish. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2107661119. [PMID: 35031564 PMCID: PMC8784156 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2107661119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Defining the structural and functional changes in the nervous system underlying learning and memory represents a major challenge for modern neuroscience. Although changes in neuronal activity following memory formation have been studied [B. F. Grewe et al., Nature 543, 670-675 (2017); M. T. Rogan, U. V. Stäubli, J. E. LeDoux, Nature 390, 604-607 (1997)], the underlying structural changes at the synapse level remain poorly understood. Here, we capture synaptic changes in the midlarval zebrafish brain that occur during associative memory formation by imaging excitatory synapses labeled with recombinant probes using selective plane illumination microscopy. Imaging the same subjects before and after classical conditioning at single-synapse resolution provides an unbiased mapping of synaptic changes accompanying memory formation. In control animals and animals that failed to learn the task, there were no significant changes in the spatial patterns of synapses in the pallium, which contains the equivalent of the mammalian amygdala and is essential for associative learning in teleost fish [M. Portavella, J. P. Vargas, B. Torres, C. Salas, Brain Res. Bull 57, 397-399 (2002)]. In zebrafish that formed memories, we saw a dramatic increase in the number of synapses in the ventrolateral pallium, which contains neurons active during memory formation and retrieval. Concurrently, synapse loss predominated in the dorsomedial pallium. Surprisingly, we did not observe significant changes in the intensity of synaptic labeling, a proxy for synaptic strength, with memory formation in any region of the pallium. Our results suggest that memory formation due to classical conditioning is associated with reciprocal changes in synapse numbers in the pallium.
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Affiliation(s)
- William P Dempsey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Division of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Zhuowei Du
- Department of Biological Sciences, Division of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Anna Nadtochiy
- Translational Imaging Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Colton D Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Division of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Karl Czajkowski
- Information Sciences Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90292
| | - Andrey Andreev
- Translational Imaging Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Drew N Robson
- Systems Neuroscience & Neuroengineering, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jennifer M Li
- Systems Neuroscience & Neuroengineering, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Serina Applebaum
- Department of Biological Sciences, Division of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Thai V Truong
- Translational Imaging Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Carl Kesselman
- Information Sciences Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90292
- Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Scott E Fraser
- Department of Biological Sciences, Division of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089
- Translational Imaging Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Don B Arnold
- Department of Biological Sciences, Division of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089;
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12
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Gatto E, Bruzzone M, Maschio MD, Dadda M. Effects of environmental enrichment on recognition memory in zebrafish larvae. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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13
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de Abreu MS, Costa F, Giacomini ACVV, Demin KA, Zabegalov KN, Maslov GO, Kositsyn YM, Petersen EV, Strekalova T, Rosemberg DB, Kalueff AV. Towards Modeling Anhedonia and Its Treatment in Zebrafish. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 25:293-306. [PMID: 34918075 PMCID: PMC9017771 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyab092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mood disorders, especially depression, are a major cause of human disability. The loss of pleasure (anhedonia) is a common, severely debilitating symptom of clinical depression. Experimental animal models are widely used to better understand depression pathogenesis and to develop novel antidepressant therapies. In rodents, various experimental models of anhedonia have already been developed and extensively validated. Complementing rodent studies, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) is emerging as a powerful model organism to assess pathobiological mechanisms of affective disorders, including depression. Here, we critically discuss the potential of zebrafish for modeling anhedonia and studying its molecular mechanisms and translational implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murilo S de Abreu
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China,Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil,Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology and Neurobiology, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Fabiano Costa
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Natural and Exact Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Ana C V V Giacomini
- Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil,Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
| | - Konstantin A Demin
- Drug Screening Platform, School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China,Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia,Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | | | - Gleb O Maslov
- Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia,Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
| | - Yuriy M Kositsyn
- Neurobiology Program, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
| | - Elena V Petersen
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology and Neurobiology, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana Strekalova
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Maastricht Medical Center Annadal, Maastricht, Netherlands,Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, University of Maastricht, Maasticht, the Netherlands,Laboratory of Psychiatric Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Department of Normal Physiology, Sechenov 1st Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia,Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Denis B Rosemberg
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Natural and Exact Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Natural and Exact Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China,Drug Screening Platform, School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China,Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia,Russian Research Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia,Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg, Russia,Novosibirsk State University, Novosibisk, Russia,Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia,Correspondence: Allan V. Kalueff, PhD, School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China ()
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14
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Corradi L, Filosa A. Neuromodulation and Behavioral Flexibility in Larval Zebrafish: From Neurotransmitters to Circuits. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:718951. [PMID: 34335183 PMCID: PMC8319623 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.718951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals adapt their behaviors to their ever-changing needs. Internal states, such as hunger, fear, stress, and arousal are important behavioral modulators controlling the way an organism perceives sensory stimuli and reacts to them. The translucent zebrafish larva is an ideal model organism for studying neuronal circuits regulating brain states, owning to the possibility of easy imaging and manipulating activity of genetically identified neurons while the animal performs stereotyped and well-characterized behaviors. The main neuromodulatory circuits present in mammals can also be found in the larval zebrafish brain, with the advantage that they contain small numbers of neurons. Importantly, imaging and behavioral techniques can be combined with methods for generating targeted genetic modifications to reveal the molecular underpinnings mediating the functions of such circuits. In this review we discuss how studying the larval zebrafish brain has contributed to advance our understanding of circuits and molecular mechanisms regulating neuromodulation and behavioral flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Corradi
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Alessandro Filosa
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
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15
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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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16
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Luchiari AC, Málaga-Trillo E, Tran S, Gerlai R. Editorial: Zebrafish Cognition and Behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:659501. [PMID: 33796012 PMCID: PMC8007767 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.659501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina Luchiari
- Department of Physiology and Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | | | - Steven Tran
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Robert Gerlai
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
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17
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Bühler A, Carl M. Zebrafish Tools for Deciphering Habenular Network-Linked Mental Disorders. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11020324. [PMID: 33672636 PMCID: PMC7924194 DOI: 10.3390/biom11020324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Everything that we think, feel or do depends on the function of neural networks in the brain. These are highly complex structures made of cells (neurons) and their interconnections (axons), which develop dependent on precisely coordinated interactions of genes. Any gene mutation can result in unwanted alterations in neural network formation and concomitant brain disorders. The habenula neural network is one of these important circuits, which has been linked to autism, schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. Studies using the zebrafish have uncovered genes involved in the development of this network. Intriguingly, some of these genes have also been identified as risk genes of human brain disorders highlighting the power of this animal model to link risk genes and the affected network to human disease. But can we use the advantages of this model to identify new targets and compounds with ameliorating effects on brain dysfunction? In this review, we summarise the current knowledge on techniques to manipulate the habenula neural network to study the consequences on behavior. Moreover, we give an overview of existing behavioral test to mimic aspects of mental disorders and critically discuss the applicability of the zebrafish model in this field of research. Abstract The prevalence of patients suffering from mental disorders is substantially increasing in recent years and represents a major burden to society. The underlying causes and neuronal circuits affected are complex and difficult to unravel. Frequent disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, autism, and bipolar disorder share links to the habenular neural circuit. This conserved neurotransmitter system relays cognitive information between different brain areas steering behaviors ranging from fear and anxiety to reward, sleep, and social behaviors. Advances in the field using the zebrafish model organism have uncovered major genetic mechanisms underlying the formation of the habenular neural circuit. Some of the identified genes involved in regulating Wnt/beta-catenin signaling have previously been suggested as risk genes of human mental disorders. Hence, these studies on habenular genetics contribute to a better understanding of brain diseases. We are here summarizing how the gained knowledge on the mechanisms underlying habenular neural circuit development can be used to introduce defined manipulations into the system to study the functional behavioral consequences. We further give an overview of existing behavior assays to address phenotypes related to mental disorders and critically discuss the power but also the limits of the zebrafish model for identifying suitable targets to develop therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Bühler
- Correspondence: (A.B.); (M.C.); Tel.: +39-0461-282745 (A.B.); +39-0461-283931 (M.C.)
| | - Matthias Carl
- Correspondence: (A.B.); (M.C.); Tel.: +39-0461-282745 (A.B.); +39-0461-283931 (M.C.)
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18
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Buatois A, Gerlai R. Elemental and Configural Associative Learning in Spatial Tasks: Could Zebrafish be Used to Advance Our Knowledge? Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:570704. [PMID: 33390911 PMCID: PMC7773606 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.570704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial learning and memory have been studied for several decades. Analyses of these processes pose fundamental scientific questions but are also relevant from a biomedical perspective. The cellular, synaptic and molecular mechanisms underlying spatial learning have been intensively investigated, yet the behavioral mechanisms/strategies in a spatial task still pose unanswered questions. Spatial learning relies upon configural information about cues in the environment. However, each of these cues can also independently form part of an elemental association with the specific spatial position, and thus spatial tasks may be solved using elemental (single CS and US association) learning. Here, we first briefly review what we know about configural learning from studies with rodents. Subsequently, we discuss the pros and cons of employing a relatively novel laboratory organism, the zebrafish in such studies, providing some examples of methods with which both elemental and configural learning may be explored with this species. Last, we speculate about future research directions focusing on how zebrafish may advance our knowledge. We argue that zebrafish strikes a reasonable compromise between system complexity and practical simplicity and that adding this species to the studies with laboratory rodents will allow us to gain a better understanding of both the evolution of and the mechanisms underlying spatial learning. We conclude that zebrafish research will enhance the translational relevance of our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Buatois
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Robert Gerlai
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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19
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Shahar OD, Schuman EM. Large-scale cell-type-specific imaging of protein synthesis in a vertebrate brain. eLife 2020; 9:50564. [PMID: 32091983 PMCID: PMC7048392 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in methods to detect protein synthesis, it has not been possible to measure endogenous protein synthesis levels in vivo in an entire vertebrate brain. We developed a transgenic zebrafish line that allows for cell-type-specific labeling and imaging of nascent proteins in the entire animal. By replacing leucine with glycine in the zebrafish MetRS-binding pocket (MetRS-L270G), we enabled the cell-type-specific incorporation of the azide-bearing non-canonical-amino-acid azidonorleucine (ANL) during protein synthesis. Newly synthesized proteins were then labeled via 'click chemistry'. Using a Gal4-UAS-ELAV3 line to express MetRS-L270G in neurons, we measured protein synthesis intensities across the entire nervous system. We visualized endogenous protein synthesis and demonstrated that seizure-induced neural activity results in enhanced translation levels in neurons. This method allows for robust analysis of endogenous protein synthesis in a cell-type-specific manner, in vivo at single-cell resolution.
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20
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Abstract
Visual stimuli can evoke complex behavioral responses, but the underlying streams of neural activity in mammalian brains are difficult to follow because of their size. Here, I review the visual system of zebrafish larvae, highlighting where recent experimental evidence has localized the functional steps of visuomotor transformations to specific brain areas. The retina of a larva encodes behaviorally relevant visual information in neural activity distributed across feature-selective ganglion cells such that signals representing distinct stimulus properties arrive in different areas or layers of the brain. Motor centers in the hindbrain encode motor variables that are precisely tuned to behavioral needs within a given stimulus setting. Owing to rapid technological progress, larval zebrafish provide unique opportunities for obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the intermediate processing steps occurring between visual and motor centers, revealing how visuomotor transformations are implemented in a vertebrate brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johann H. Bollmann
- Developmental Biology, Institute of Biology I, Faculty of Biology, and Bernstein Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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21
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Yashina K, Tejero-Cantero Á, Herz A, Baier H. Zebrafish Exploit Visual Cues and Geometric Relationships to Form a Spatial Memory. iScience 2019; 19:119-134. [PMID: 31369985 PMCID: PMC6669324 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals use salient cues to navigate in their environment, but their specific cognitive strategies are largely unknown. We developed a conditioned place avoidance paradigm to discover whether and how zebrafish form spatial memories. In less than an hour, juvenile zebrafish, as young as 3 weeks, learned to avoid the arm of a Y-maze that was cued with a mild electric shock. Interestingly, individual fish solved this task in different ways: by staying in the safe center of the maze or by preference for one, or both, of the safe arms. In experiments in which the learned patterns were swapped, rotated, or replaced, the animals could transfer the association of safety to a different arm or to a different pattern using either visual cues or location as the conditioned stimulus. These findings show that juvenile zebrafish exhibit several complementary spatial learning modes, which generate a flexible repertoire of behavioral strategies. Zebrafish as young as 3 weeks learn to avoid one arm of a Y-maze within an hour The memory depends on the presence of visual cues and lasts for at least 10 min Fish use various safety seeking strategies: prefer the center, one or two safe arms Safety can be associated with a visual cue or with a location in the maze
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Affiliation(s)
- Ksenia Yashina
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried 82152, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Álvaro Tejero-Cantero
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University, Martinsried 82152, Germany; Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Andreas Herz
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Martinsried 82152, Germany; Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University, Martinsried 82152, Germany; Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Herwig Baier
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried 82152, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Martinsried 82152, Germany.
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22
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Colwill RM. Behavioral studies of stimulus learning in zebrafish larvae. Behav Processes 2019; 164:150-156. [PMID: 31054948 PMCID: PMC6744834 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2019.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Within a week of fertilization, a zebrafish larva has developed a robust behavioral repertoire that includes the ability to learn about noncontingent stimuli. I begin this paper with a brief review of the t1-t2 framework in which groups receive different experiences at the first time point (t1) followed by a common assessment at the second time point (t2) and the strengths of this framework for studying stimulus learning. I then describe assays that have been implemented within the t1-t2 framework to demonstrate stimulus learning in the developing zebrafish. I discuss how these assays have been used to address three fundamental questions about stimulus learning: What are the conditions for stimulus learning? What is the content of stimulus learning? How is stimulus learning reflected in behavior? For each of these three questions, I also identify those issues regarding stimulus learning in the developing zebrafish that warrant further analysis at the behavioral level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth M Colwill
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistic & Psychological Sciences, Box 1821, 190 Thayer Street, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
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23
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Yang W, Meng Y, Li D, Wen Q. Visual Contrast Modulates Operant Learning Responses in Larval Zebrafish. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:4. [PMID: 30733672 PMCID: PMC6353835 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The larval zebrafish is a promising vertebrate model organism to study neural mechanisms underlying learning and memory due to its small brain and rich behavioral repertoire. Here, we report on a high-throughput operant conditioning system for zebrafish larvae, which can simultaneously train 12 fish to associate a visual conditioned pattern with electroshocks. We find that the learning responses can be enhanced by the visual contrast, not the spatial features of the conditioned patterns, highlighted by several behavioral metrics. By further characterizing the learning curves as well as memory extinction, we demonstrate that the percentage of learners and the memory length increase as the conditioned pattern becomes darker. Finally, little difference in operant learning responses was found between AB wild-type fish and elavl3:H2B-GCaMP6f transgenic fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Yang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Center for Integrative Imaging, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Hefei, China
| | - Yutong Meng
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Center for Integrative Imaging, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Hefei, China
| | - Danyang Li
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Center for Integrative Imaging, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Hefei, China
| | - Quan Wen
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Center for Integrative Imaging, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Hefei, China
- Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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24
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Meshalkina DA, Kizlyk MN, Kysil EV, Collier AD, Echevarria DJ, Abreu MS, Barcellos LJ, Song C, Kalueff AV. Understanding zebrafish cognition. Behav Processes 2017; 141:229-241. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2016.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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25
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B. Orger
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal;,
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26
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Abstract
The striking patterns of collective animal behavior, including ant trails, bird flocks, and fish schools, can result from local interactions among animals without centralized control. Several of these rules of interaction have been proposed, but it has proven difficult to discriminate which ones are implemented in nature. As a method to better discriminate among interaction rules, we propose to follow the slow birth of a rule of interaction during animal development. Specifically, we followed the development of zebrafish, Danio rerio, and found that larvae turn toward each other from 7 days postfertilization and increase the intensity of interactions until 3 weeks. This developmental dataset allows testing the parameter-free predictions of a simple rule in which animals attract each other part of the time, with attraction defined as turning toward another animal chosen at random. This rule makes each individual likely move to a high density of conspecifics, and moving groups naturally emerge. Development of attraction strength corresponds to an increase in the time spent in attraction behavior. Adults were found to follow the same attraction rule, suggesting a potential significance for adults of other species.
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27
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Roberts AC, Pearce KC, Choe RC, Alzagatiti JB, Yeung AK, Bill BR, Glanzman DL. Long-term habituation of the C-start escape response in zebrafish larvae. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2016; 134 Pt B:360-8. [PMID: 27555232 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Revised: 08/10/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The cellular and molecular basis of long-term memory in vertebrates remains poorly understood. Knowledge regarding long-term memory has been impeded by the enormous complexity of the vertebrate brain, particularly the mammalian brain, as well as by the relative complexity of the behavioral alterations examined in most studies of long-term memory in vertebrates. Here, we demonstrate a long-term form of nonassociative learning-specifically, long-term habituation (LTH)-of a simple reflexive escape response, the C-start, in zebrafish larvae. The C-start is triggered by the activation of one of a pair of giant neurons in the zebrafish's hindbrain, the Mauthner cells. We show that LTH of the C-start requires the activity of NMDA receptors and involves macromolecular synthesis. We further show that the long-term habituated reflex can by rapidly dishabituated by a brief tactile stimulus. Our results set the stage for rigorous, mechanistic investigations of the long-term memory for habituation of a reflexive behavioral response, one that is mediated by a relatively simple, neurobiologically tractable, neural circuit. Moreover, the demonstration of NMDAR and transcriptionally dependent LTH in a translucent vertebrate organism should facilitate the use of optical recording, and optogenetic manipulation, of neuronal activity to elucidate the cellular basis of a long-term vertebrate memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam C Roberts
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kaycey C Pearce
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Ronny C Choe
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Joseph B Alzagatiti
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Anthony K Yeung
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Brent R Bill
- Center for Autism Research and Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, United States
| | - David L Glanzman
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, Brain Research Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
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28
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Mersereau EJ, Boyle CA, Poitra S, Espinoza A, Seiler J, Longie R, Delvo L, Szarkowski M, Maliske J, Chalmers S, Darland DC, Darland T. Longitudinal Effects of Embryonic Exposure to Cocaine on Morphology, Cardiovascular Physiology, and Behavior in Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17060847. [PMID: 27258254 PMCID: PMC4926381 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17060847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Revised: 04/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A sizeable portion of the societal drain from cocaine abuse results from the complications of in utero drug exposure. Because of challenges in using humans and mammalian model organisms as test subjects, much debate remains about the impact of in utero cocaine exposure. Zebrafish offer a number of advantages as a model in longitudinal toxicology studies and are quite sensitive physiologically and behaviorally to cocaine. In this study, we have used zebrafish to model the effects of embryonic pre-exposure to cocaine on development and on subsequent cardiovascular physiology and cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in longitudinal adults. Larval fish showed a progressive decrease in telencephalic size with increased doses of cocaine. These treated larvae also showed a dose dependent response in heart rate that persisted 24 h after drug cessation. Embryonic cocaine exposure had little effect on overall health of longitudinal adults, but subtle changes in cardiovascular physiology were seen including decreased sensitivity to isoproterenol and increased sensitivity to cocaine. These longitudinal adult fish also showed an embryonic dose-dependent change in CPP behavior, suggesting an increased sensitivity. These studies clearly show that pre-exposure during embryonic development affects subsequent cocaine sensitivity in longitudinal adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Mersereau
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Cody A Boyle
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Shelby Poitra
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Ana Espinoza
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
| | - Joclyn Seiler
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Robert Longie
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Lisa Delvo
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Megan Szarkowski
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Joshua Maliske
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Sarah Chalmers
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Diane C Darland
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Tristan Darland
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
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29
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30
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Dreosti E, Lopes G, Kampff AR, Wilson SW. Development of social behavior in young zebrafish. Front Neural Circuits 2015; 9:39. [PMID: 26347614 PMCID: PMC4539524 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2015.00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult zebrafish are robustly social animals whereas larva is not. We designed an assay to determine at what stage of development zebrafish begin to interact with and prefer other fish. One week old zebrafish do not show significant social preference whereas most 3 weeks old zebrafish strongly prefer to remain in a compartment where they can view conspecifics. However, for some individuals, the presence of conspecifics drives avoidance instead of attraction. Social preference is dependent on vision and requires viewing fish of a similar age/size. In addition, over the same 1–3 weeks period larval zebrafish increasingly tend to coordinate their movements, a simple form of social interaction. Finally, social preference and coupled interactions are differentially modified by an NMDAR antagonist and acute exposure to ethanol, both of which are known to alter social behavior in adult zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Dreosti
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London London, UK
| | - Gonçalo Lopes
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Adam R Kampff
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Stephen W Wilson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London London, UK
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Andersson MÅ, Ek F, Olsson R. Using visual lateralization to model learning and memory in zebrafish larvae. Sci Rep 2015; 5:8667. [PMID: 25727677 PMCID: PMC4345346 DOI: 10.1038/srep08667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Impaired learning and memory are common symptoms of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. Present, there are several behavioural test employed to assess cognitive functions in animal models, including the frequently used novel object recognition (NOR) test. However, although atypical functional brain lateralization has been associated with neuropsychiatric conditions, spanning from schizophrenia to autism, few animal models are available to study this phenomenon in learning and memory deficits. Here we present a visual lateralization NOR model (VLNOR) in zebrafish larvae as an assay that combines brain lateralization and NOR. In zebrafish larvae, learning and memory are generally assessed by habituation, sensitization, or conditioning paradigms, which are all representatives of nondeclarative memory. The VLNOR is the first model for zebrafish larvae that studies a memory similar to the declarative memory described for mammals. We demonstrate that VLNOR can be used to study memory formation, storage, and recall of novel objects, both short and long term, in 10-day-old zebrafish. Furthermore we show that the VLNOR model can be used to study chemical modulation of memory formation and maintenance using dizocilpine (MK-801), a frequently used non-competitive antagonist of the NMDA receptor, used to test putative antipsychotics in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madelene Åberg Andersson
- 1] Chemical Biology &Therapeutics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden [2] Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Ek
- Chemical Biology &Therapeutics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Roger Olsson
- 1] Chemical Biology &Therapeutics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden [2] Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Ahrens MB, Engert F. Large-scale imaging in small brains. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2015; 32:78-86. [PMID: 25636154 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2015.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Accepted: 01/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The dense connectivity in the brain means that one neuron's activity can influence many others. To observe this interconnected system comprehensively, an aspiration within neuroscience is to record from as many neurons as possible at the same time. There are two useful routes toward this goal: one is to expand the spatial extent of functional imaging techniques, and the second is to use animals with small brains. Here we review recent progress toward imaging many neurons and complete populations of identified neurons in small vertebrates and invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misha B Ahrens
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA.
| | - Florian Engert
- Harvard University, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Feierstein CE, Portugues R, Orger MB. Seeing the whole picture: A comprehensive imaging approach to functional mapping of circuits in behaving zebrafish. Neuroscience 2014; 296:26-38. [PMID: 25433239 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.11.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Revised: 11/07/2014] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the zebrafish has emerged as an appealing model system to tackle questions relating to the neural circuit basis of behavior. This can be attributed not just to the growing use of genetically tractable model organisms, but also in large part to the rapid advances in optical techniques for neuroscience, which are ideally suited for application to the small, transparent brain of the larval fish. Many characteristic features of vertebrate brains, from gross anatomy down to particular circuit motifs and cell-types, as well as conserved behaviors, can be found in zebrafish even just a few days post fertilization, and, at this early stage, the physical size of the brain makes it possible to analyze neural activity in a comprehensive fashion. In a recent study, we used a systematic and unbiased imaging method to record the pattern of activity dynamics throughout the whole brain of larval zebrafish during a simple visual behavior, the optokinetic response (OKR). This approach revealed the broadly distributed network of neurons that were active during the behavior and provided insights into the fine-scale functional architecture in the brain, inter-individual variability, and the spatial distribution of behaviorally relevant signals. Combined with mapping anatomical and functional connectivity, targeted electrophysiological recordings, and genetic labeling of specific populations, this comprehensive approach in zebrafish provides an unparalleled opportunity to study complete circuits in a behaving vertebrate animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Feierstein
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Avenida Brasília, Doca de Pedrouços, Lisbon 1400-038, Portugal
| | - R Portugues
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Germany
| | - M B Orger
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Avenida Brasília, Doca de Pedrouços, Lisbon 1400-038, Portugal.
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Zhang Y, Shan B, Boyle M, Liu J, Liao L, Xu T, Yates JR. Brain Proteome Changes Induced by Olfactory Learning in Drosophila. J Proteome Res 2014; 13:3763-3770. [PMID: 24983411 DOI: 10.1021/pr500325q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
For more than 30 years, the study of learning and memory in Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) has used an olfactory learning paradigm and has resulted in the discovery of many genes involved in memory formation. By varying learning programs, the creation of different memory types can be achieved, from short-term memory formation to long-term. Previous studies in the fruit fly used gene mutation methods to identify genes involved in memory formation. Presumably, memory creation involves a combination of genes, pathways, and neural circuits. To examine memory formation at the protein level, a quantitative proteomic analysis was performed using olfactory learning and 15N-labeled fruit flies. Differences were observed in protein expression and relevant pathways between different learning programs. Our data showed major protein expression changes occurred between short-term memory (STM) and long-lasting memory, and only minor changes were found between long-term memory (LTM) and anesthesia-resistant memory (ARM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoyang Zhang
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Bing Shan
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Monica Boyle
- Dart NeuroScience LLC , San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Jacqueline Liu
- Dart NeuroScience LLC , San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Lujian Liao
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Tao Xu
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - John R Yates
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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Blaser R, Vira D. Experiments on learning in zebrafish (Danio rerio): A promising model of neurocognitive function. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2014; 42:224-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2014] [Revised: 03/02/2014] [Accepted: 03/04/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Shen W, Liu HH, Schiapparelli L, McClatchy D, He HY, Yates JR, Cline HT. Acute synthesis of CPEB is required for plasticity of visual avoidance behavior in Xenopus. Cell Rep 2014; 6:737-47. [PMID: 24529705 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2013] [Revised: 12/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural plasticity requires protein synthesis, but the identity of newly synthesized proteins generated in response to plasticity-inducing stimuli remains unclear. We used in vivo bio-orthogonal noncanonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) with the methionine analog azidohomoalanine (AHA) combined with the multidimensional protein identification technique (MudPIT) to identify proteins that are synthesized in the tadpole brain over 24 hr. We induced conditioning-dependent plasticity of visual avoidance behavior, which required N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and Ca(2+)-permeable α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors, αCaMKII, and rapid protein synthesis. Combining BONCAT with western blots revealed that proteins including αCaMKII, MEK1, CPEB, and GAD65 are synthesized during conditioning. Acute synthesis of CPEB during conditioning is required for behavioral plasticity as well as conditioning-induced synaptic and structural plasticity in the tectal circuit. We outline a signaling pathway that regulates protein-synthesis-dependent behavioral plasticity in intact animals, identify newly synthesized proteins induced by visual experience, and demonstrate a requirement for acute synthesis of CPEB in plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanhua Shen
- Key Lab of Organ Development and Regeneration of Zhejiang Province, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310036, China; The Dorris Neuroscience Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Han-Hsuan Liu
- The Dorris Neuroscience Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Kellogg School of Science and Technology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Lucio Schiapparelli
- The Dorris Neuroscience Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Daniel McClatchy
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Hai-Yan He
- The Dorris Neuroscience Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - John R Yates
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Hollis T Cline
- The Dorris Neuroscience Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Kellogg School of Science and Technology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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Schirmer A, Jesuthasan S, Mathuru AS. Tactile stimulation reduces fear in fish. Front Behav Neurosci 2013; 7:167. [PMID: 24319415 PMCID: PMC3837339 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Accepted: 11/01/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Being groomed or touched can counter stress and negative affect in mammals. In two experiments we explored whether a similar phenomenon exists in non-mammals like zebrafish. In Experiment 1, we exposed zebrafish to a natural stressor, a chemical alarm signal released by injured conspecifics. Before moving them into an observation tank, one group of fish was washed and then subjected to a water current that served as the tactile stimulus. The other group was simply washed. Fish with tactile treatment demonstrated fewer fear behaviors (e.g., bottom dwelling) and lower cortisol levels than fish without. In Experiment 2, we ascertained a role of somatosensation in these effects. Using a similar paradigm as in Experiment 1, we recorded fear behaviors of intact fish and fish with damaged lateral line hair cells. Relative to the former, the latter benefited less from the tactile stimulus during fear recovery. Together these findings show that tactile stimulation can calm fish and that tactile receptors, evolutionarily older than those present in mammals, contribute to this phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annett Schirmer
- Department of Psychology, National University of SingaporeSingapore, Singapore
- Duke/NUS Graduate Medical SchoolSingapore, Singapore
- LSI Neurobiology/Ageing Programme, National University of SingaporeSingapore, Singapore
| | - Suresh Jesuthasan
- Duke/NUS Graduate Medical SchoolSingapore, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell BiologySingapore, Singapore
- Department of Physiology, National University of SingaporeSingapore, Singapore
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