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Developing zebrafish models of depression?: Effects of reserpine on zebrafish behavior and physiology
Author(s) -
Kyzar Evan,
Roth Andrew,
Green Jeremy,
Gaikwad Siddharth,
Monnig Louis,
Kalueff Allan
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.1045.12
Subject(s) - zebrafish , reserpine , danio , monoamine neurotransmitter , anxiety , depression (economics) , psychology , neuroscience , biology , medicine , endocrinology , physiology , pharmacology , psychiatry , serotonin , receptor , biochemistry , gene , macroeconomics , economics
Reserpine is well‐known for its ability to deplete brain monoamines and cause depression‐like symptoms in humans and animals. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are rapidly emerging as a promising, high‐throughput model for translational neurobehavioral research. Here, we have examined the acute (20 min) and long‐term (7 day) effects of reserpine exposure on zebrafish behavior and physiology. Several behavioral paradigms (the novel tank, light–dark box, social preference and shoaling tests) were used to characterize the effects of these treatments. Reserpine did not evoke overt behavioral effects acutely, but affected activity 7 days later, resulting in robust hypolocomotion without affecting anxiety‐related top/bottom preference. Fish treated chronically with reserpine for 2 h/day for 7 days displayed marked hypolocomotion, including an overall reduction in distance traveled. The global reduction in activity without altering anxiety strikingly resembles motor retardation observed in clinically depressed patients. Additionally, elevations in cortisol and the gene c‐fos were found in fish treated with reserpine. The long‐term depression‐like effects of reserpine in zebrafish parallel its effect in both rodent and clinical studies, emphasizing the utility of zebrafish models to study a wide spectrum of drug‐evoked affective states. This study was supported by Tulane University intramural funds.