低pH、铝和钙离子对菌根菌赭丝膜伞的毒性和超氧化物歧化酶的影响

应用急性毒性生物测试方法,研究了低pH和铝离子对菌根菌赭丝膜伞(Cortinariusrussus)的毒性效应.试验表明,在pH为6.8、5.5和4.3,铝离子在低pH(4.3)时对菌根菌毒性最强,96h EC₅₀为5.05mg·L^-1,菌根生长受到明显的抑制;低pH和铝离子能诱导菌根菌体内SOD,与对照组相比,菌根菌体内SOD活性明显升高;加入钙离子后,SOD活性下降,并随Ca的投加浓度增加,SOD活性逐渐降低,表明在低pH条件下,钙离子和铝离子对菌根的影响具有拮抗作用.     

低pH,铝和钙离子对菌根菌赭丝膜伞的毒性和超氧化物歧化酶的影响

应用急性毒性生物测试方法 ,研究了低 pH和铝离子对菌根菌赭丝膜伞 (Corti nariusrussus)的毒性效应 .试验表明 ,在pH为 6.8、5.5和 4.3,铝离子在低 pH( 4 .3)时对菌根菌毒性最强 ,96hEC50 为 5.0 5mg·L- 1 ,菌根生长受到明显的抑制 ;低 pH和铝离子能诱导菌根菌体内SOD ,与对照组相比 ,菌根菌体内SOD活性明显升高 ;加入钙离子后 ,SOD活性下降 ,并随Ca的投加浓度增加 ,SOD活性逐渐降低 ,表明在低 pH条件下 ,钙离子和铝离子对菌根的影响具有拮抗作用 .     

氯丙嗪在斑马鱼胚胎和早期幼鱼发育过程中的神经毒性作用

目的 采用模式动物斑马鱼作为研究对象,观察氯丙嗪（chlorpromazine,CPZ）暴露对胚胎和幼鱼早期神经发育的影响.方法 在一般毒性评价的基础上,通过整体胚胎细胞凋亡检测和脑组织病理学检查,了解CPZ对神经发育的器质性改变;采用神经行为学方法,包括幼鱼触动逃避反应、自发运动以及惊恐逃避反射等,研究氯丙嗪暴露所致的神经发育功能性障碍.结果斑马鱼胚胎受精后6 h（6 hpf）～72 hpf暴露于CPZ（≥5 mg/L）可引起胚胎和幼鱼死亡、致畸和幼鱼孵化延迟,并呈浓度和时间依赖性;采用吖啶橙染色检测36 hpf整体胚胎凋亡细胞,发现凋亡细胞主要集中在胚胎中脑、后脑、丘脑以及中后脑连接区、脊索和尾部等处;脑组织病理学检测发现,7dpf幼鱼颅腔增大、脑体积减小、脑细胞缩小且细胞间隙增宽.6～72 hpf CPZ（≥0.0625 mg/L）暴露后,幼鱼神经行为学研究发现,CPZ（≥0.125 mg/L）可引起3dpf幼鱼触觉运动能力下降;CPZ（≥0 5 mg/L）可浓度依赖性地抑制幼鱼自发运动,并出现僵直不动、震颤或快速刻板式转圈运动等行为改变;光惊恐实验中,暗环境下各暴露组幼鱼对突发强光刺激均表现为惊跳逃避,并且暗-光交替期运动加速度变化与对照组无显著差异;在撤除光源后,1mg/L和2 mg/L暴露组幼鱼暗适应时程缩短,而0.125 mg/L和0.25 mg/L暴露组暗适应时程延长,提示CPZ对外界刺激引发的幼鱼活跃游动有抑制和促进双重毒性作用.结论 CPZ暴露对斑马鱼胚胎和幼鱼具有明显的神经发育毒性作用.模式动物斑马鱼作为一种高通量筛选模型在外源性化合物神经发育毒性评价中具有较好的应用前景.     

慢性镉暴露对斑马鱼卵巢组织的氧化损伤和子代发育的母源影响

目的:采用半静态毒性实验方法,研究慢性镉暴露对性成熟斑马鱼卵巢组织抗氧化酶活性、脂质过氧化水平的影响及其母源传递毒性效应。方法:依据前期测定的96 h LC50,参考国家渔业标准,设置5个镉处理组(0.058、0.116、0.232、0.580、1.160 mg/L)和1个对照组,镉暴露21 d后,对卵巢组织超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPx)活性及脂质过氧化物丙二醛(MDA)含量进行测定,并对其受精率、F1代胚胎孵化率及96 hpf幼鱼体长进行统计分析。结果:不同浓度镉暴露均导致卵巢组织SOD、CAT和GPx活性显著降低、MDA含量显著升高并呈浓度依赖效应。子代母源毒性分析显示,与对照组相比,0.232和0.580 mg/L浓度组受精率均显著下降,0.232 mg/L浓度组F1代胚胎孵化率显著降低;各浓度组受精后96 h幼鱼体长与对照组相比有显著性差异,且随着镉浓度的增加体长显著变短。结论:慢性镉暴露导致斑马鱼卵巢组织抗氧化酶活性受到显著抑制,对组织和细胞造成严重氧化损伤,并通过母源传递导致子代发育的毒性效应。     

铅和邻苯二甲酸二丁酯联合暴露对斑马鱼胚胎的影响

为了研究铅(Pb)和邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)单独及联合暴露对斑马鱼胚胎神经发育和细胞凋亡相关基因表达的影响,考察两者对斑马鱼胚胎神经系统的毒性作用。将720个斑马鱼胚胎按3×3析因设计随机分为9组,以Pb(0、0.01 mg/L和1 mg/L)和DBP(0、0.005 mg/L和0.5 mg/L)单独及联合对斑马鱼胚胎暴露120 h。观察、记录胚胎的孵化、死亡情况,采用荧光定量PCR测定斑马鱼胚胎神经发育相关基因(NR1A、NR2A、NR2D)和神经细胞凋亡相关基因(bcl-2、c-fos)的表达变化情况。与空白对照组相比,各暴露组均可致斑马鱼胚胎孵化率降低、死亡率增高(P0.05);联合暴露组NR1A、NR2A、NR2D、c-fos基因表达水平显著升高,bcl-2基因表达水平显著下降(P0.05)。Pb和DBP均可影响斑马鱼胚胎的发育,且具有一定的神经毒性,而二者联合暴露毒性复杂,对斑马鱼胚胎孵化率和死亡率的影响有交互作用,对神经发育和细胞凋亡相关基因无交互作用,其机制有待进一步研究。     

双酚A对斑马鱼肝脏和性腺的作用

为了阐明内分泌干扰物双酚A(BPA)对水生动物的毒理作用机制,本文研究了BPA对斑马鱼急性毒性及组织学损伤作用。结果表明:BPA对斑马鱼具有急性毒性效应,96h半致死浓度为6.3mg·mL-1,96h暴露对斑马鱼的肝脏产生了浓度依赖性损伤;在高浓度组,精巢结构损伤,卵泡萎缩严重(闭锁率35%);在0.2mg·mL-1亚致死浓度BPA组中,暴露96h后,斑马鱼肝脏受到轻微损伤,性腺组织结构没有受到明显损伤,卵巢中处于第Ⅲ时相晚期和第Ⅳ时相配子数比率增加,单个卵母细胞直径增加(P0.05);在2mg·mL-1亚致死浓度BPA组中,暴露96h,斑马鱼的肝脏组织受到了一定损伤,细胞核萎缩变形,细胞肿胀,核固缩,性腺组织受损不明显,卵巢中第Ⅲ时相晚期和第Ⅳ时相配子数比率有所增加;在6.1mg·mL-1BPA组中,暴露96h,斑马鱼肝脏产生了极大的损伤,细胞空泡化,大面积的组织坏死,空洞产生,精巢组织结构受到一定损伤,卵巢中发现大量细胞萎缩现象;BPA对斑马鱼肝脏具有靶器官毒性,对性腺作用值得进一步研究。     

0#柴油对斑马鱼基因组DNA和环境DNA遗传毒性的RAPD比较

研究利用随机扩增多态性DNA (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA, RAPD)技术, 以斑马鱼基因组DNA和其养殖水体中的环境DNA (environmental DNA, eDNA)为模板, 检测0#柴油可溶性组分对斑马鱼(Danio rerio)遗传毒性的影响。结果显示, 通过基因组DNA和eDNA扩增的RAPD图谱均可检测到0#柴油对斑马鱼的遗传毒性。在未受到柴油暴露时, 斑马鱼基因组DNA和水环境中eDNA在96h内的RAPD图谱均无明显变化; 在不同浓度的柴油暴露下, 随着暴露时间(0、24h、48h、72h、96h)延长, 基因组DNA和eDNA的多态性位点减少, 模板稳定性降低; 随着柴油浓度(15%、50%、100%)的增加, 基因组DNA和eDNA的多态性位点也减少, 模板稳定性降低。这表明0#柴油对斑马鱼基因组DNA和eDNA的遗传毒性均呈现时间-效应和浓度-效应关系, 并且无论以斑马鱼基因组DNA还是eDNA为模板, 柴油暴露组和未进行暴露的对照组的RAPD扩增图谱条带变化趋势一致。研究结果为通过RAPD技术检测柴油对水生生物的遗传毒性提供了新的研究思路和技术手段。     

慢性铝暴露对大鼠海马神经元PKC、CaMKⅡ、Ng 的影响

通过研究慢性铝暴露对大鼠学习记忆和海马长时程增强 (long-term potentiation, LTP) 的影响,并检测海马神经元蛋白激酶Ｃ(protein kinase c, PKC) 活性及Ca²⁺钙调蛋白激酶Ⅱ(Ca²⁺calmodulin dependent protein kinase Ⅱ, CaMK Ⅱ) 和神经颗粒素(neurogranin, Ng) 蛋白表达的变化,探讨铝暴露损害学习记忆的作用机制.选用断乳后 Wistar 大鼠,以含有不同浓度 AlCl₃ 的蒸馏水进行饲养.3 个月后,测定铝暴露组大鼠脑内和血中的铝含量;测量记录大鼠海马群体峰电位(population spike,PS)LTP;用改良 Takai 法测定海马神经元 PKC 活性变化;Western 印迹法检测 CaMK Ⅱ和Ng的蛋白表达.结果显示,与对照组相比,铝暴露组的 PKC 活性降低,差异有统计学意义 (P<0.01);与对照组相比,铝暴露组的CaM Ⅱ蛋白表达降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);与对照组相比,铝暴露组的 Ng 蛋白表达降低,且差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).实验结果说明：慢性铝暴露可以降低大鼠海马神经元 PKC 的活性及 Ng 和 CaMKⅡ 的蛋白表达,可能影响 Ng 磷酸化水平,从而影响 CaM 与 Ng 之间的亲和性,也影响 Ca²⁺CaM 对 CaMKⅡ 的调节,抑制 LTP 的形成,损害学习记忆的功能.     

迷迭香酸对硫酸铜致斑马鱼胚胎毒性的抑制作用

本文探讨硫酸铜(CuSO_4)对斑马鱼(Danio rerio)胚胎发育的毒性效应,使用迷迭香酸(RA)抑制CuSO_4对斑马鱼胚胎发育的毒性并探讨其作用机制。收集受精后1 h(1 hpf)的斑马鱼胚胎暴露于不同浓度的CuSO_4溶液,或含有不同浓度迷迭香酸的CuSO_4溶液,对照组培养在E3培养液中,观察胚胎死亡、孵化及畸形情况,计算胚胎死亡率、孵化率和畸形率;以活性氧(ROS)荧光探针DCFH-DA染色法检测迷迭香酸保护下胚胎的活性氧水平。对实验数据进行方差分析。结果显示:(1)CuSO_4浓度超过一定量时能诱导斑马鱼胚胎死亡和畸形,胚胎孵化率也降低。CuSO_4对96 hpf斑马鱼胚胎的半致死浓度(LC50)为7.7μmol/L,半致畸浓度(EC50)为1.9μmol/L。(2)在96 hpf,迷迭香酸与8μmol/L CuSO_4共同处理组斑马鱼胚胎的死亡率明显降低,孵化率升高。迷迭香酸与1.6μmol/LCuSO_4共同处理组斑马鱼胚胎的畸形率降低。(3)CuSO_4单独处理组的活性氧含量明显高于迷迭香酸与CuSO_4共同处理组和对照组。结果表明,CuSO_4暴露对斑马鱼胚胎发育的毒性效应可能与活性氧升高导致的氧化应激相关;迷迭香酸抑制CuSO_4对斑马鱼胚胎发育的毒性作用,可能与减少活性氧生成有关。     

活性铝对小麦根生长及酶活性的影响

利用铝形态分布与环境pH的相关性,通过改变染毒液pH条件,研究了不同浓度活性铝对小麦根生长、蛋白质含量及酸性磷酸酶活性的影响,并探讨了不同形态活性铝植物毒性的差异.本实验染毒液中总铝浓度设置为0(CK)、25(T₁)和75μmol·L^-1(T₂)3组,各组pH分别调至4.0、4.5、5.0和5.5.结果表明,微量Al_a与Al_b对小麦根生长均具有抑制作用.但随染毒液中活性铝组分的改变,小麦根蛋白质含量和酸性磷酸酶活性显现相反变化趋势:T₁和T₂组在pH4.0,活性铝主要成分为Al_a时(Al_a浓度高于活性铝浓度的90%),小麦根细胞蛋白质含量显著下降,酸性磷酸酶活性显著上升;T₁和T₂组在pH5.0,Al_a浓度降低至与Al_b浓度接近,且Al_a和Al_b浓度均低于10μmol·L^-1时,根细胞蛋白质含量显著上升,酸性磷酸酶活性显著下降.     

Aluminum exposure alters behavioral parameters and increases acetylcholinesterase activity in zebrafish <Emphasis Type="Italic">(Danio rerio)</Emphasis> brain

Aluminum is a metal that is known to impact fish species. The zebrafish has been used as an attractive model for toxicology and behavioral studies, being considered a model to study environmental exposures and human pathologies. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of aluminum exposure on brain acetylcholinesterase activity and behavioral parameters in zebrafish. In vivo exposure of zebrafish to 50 μg/L AlCl₃ for 96 h at pH 5.8 significantly increased (36%) acetylthiocholine hydrolysis in zebrafish brain. There were no changes in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity when fish were exposed to the same concentration of AlCl₃ at pH 6.8. In vitro concentrations of AlCl₃ varying from 50 to 250 μM increased AChE activity (28% to 33%, respectively). Moreover, we observed that animals exposed to AlCl₃ at pH 5.8 presented a significant decrease in locomotor activity, as evaluated by the number of line crossings (25%), distance traveled (14.1%), and maximum speed (24%) besides an increase in the absolute turn angle (12.7%). These results indicate that sublethal levels of aluminum might modify behavioral parameters and acetylcholinesterase activity in zebrafish brain.     

阿魏酸对拟痴呆小鼠学习记忆和海马胶质纤维酸性蛋白表达的影响

目的:探讨阿魏酸对阿尔茨海默病(AD)模型小鼠神经行为学和海马胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)表达的影响,分析阿魏酸对小鼠脑的保护作用。方法:海马CA1区注射微量红藻氨酸(KA)建立痴呆模型,然后对痴呆小鼠用不同剂量的阿魏酸(FA)灌胃治疗。Morris水迷宫实验观察小鼠行为学变化,免疫组织化学方法观察GFAP的表达。结果:与假手术组相比,模型组学习记忆能力明显降低(P<0.01),GFAP阳性细胞表达明显增多(P<0.01);与模型组相比,阿魏酸治疗组学习记忆能力均明显提高(P<0.01),GFAP阳性细胞表达均明显减少(P<0.01)。结论:用不同剂量的阿魏酸治疗拟AD小鼠后,小鼠学习记忆能力得到明显改善,GFAP表达得到明显抑制,起到保护脑的作用。     

胰岛素对AD模型大鼠空间学习记忆能力的影响

目的:探讨胰岛素对阿尔茨海默氏病(AD)模型大鼠学习记忆能力影响及其可能机制。方法:大鼠海马微量注射Okadaic acid(OA),胰岛素侧脑室注射。水迷宫实验检测大鼠学习记忆能力;Western blotting实验检测大鼠海马烟碱型胆碱能受体的表达;免疫组化观察大鼠脑内胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)的表达。结果:与对照组比较,模型组大鼠学习记忆能力明显下降(P<0.01),烟碱型胆碱能受体表达减少(P<0.05),GFAP免疫阳性星形胶质细胞增多(P<0.05)。与模型组相比,胰岛素组大鼠学习记忆能力明显提高(P<0.01),烟碱型胆碱能受体表达增多(P<0.05),GFAP免疫阳性星形胶质细胞减少(P<0.05)。结论:胰岛素提高AD模型大鼠的学习记忆能力可能与其改善模型鼠胆碱能系统功能及减少星形胶质细胞增生有关。     

Sodium benzoate exposure downregulates the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporter in dopaminergic neuronsin developing zebrafish

BACKGROUND: Recent data have demonstrated that treatment with sodium benzoate (SB) leads to significant developmental defects in motor neuron axons and neuromuscular junctions in zebrafish larvae, thereby implying that SB can be neurotoxic. This study examined whether SB affects the development of dopaminergic neurons in the zebrafish brain. METHODS: Zebrafish embryos were exposed to different concentrations of SB for various durations, during which the survival rates were recorded, the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine transporter (DAT) in the neurons in the ventral diencephalon were detected by in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence, and the locomotor activity of larval zebrafish was measured. RESULTS: The survival rates were significantly decreased with the increase of duration and dose of SB-treatment. Compared to untreated clutch mates (untreated controls), treatment with SB significantly downregulated expression of TH and DAT in neurons in the ventral diencephalon of 3-day post-fertilization (dpf) zebrafish embryos in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, there was a marked decrease in locomotor activity in zebrafish larvae at 6dpf in response to SB treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that SB exposure can cause significantly decreased survival rates of zebrafish embryos in a time- and dose-dependent manner and downregulated expression of TH and DAT in dopaminergic neurons in the zebrafish ventral diencephalon, which results in decreased locomotor activity of zebrafish larvae. This study may provide some important information for further elucidating the mechanism underlying SB-induced developmental neurotoxicity. Birth Defects Res (Part B)86: 85-91, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Arsenic alters behavioral parameters and brain ectonucleotidases activities in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Arsenic (As) exposure has been associated with serious chronic health risk to humans including cancer and neurological disturbances. However, there are limited studies about the mechanisms behind its toxicity. In this study, adult zebrafish were exposed to several concentrations of As (0.05, 5, and 15 mg As/L; Na(2)HAsO(4) as As(V)) during 96 h to evaluate the zebrafish locomotor activity, anxiety, and brain extracellular nucleotide hydrolysis. We showed that 5 mg/L As is able to promote significant decrease in the locomotor activity as evaluated by the number of line crossings. In addition, animals treated with 5mg/L As presented an increase in time spent in the lower zone of the tank test, suggesting an anxiogenic effect. Considering that behavioral parameters, such as anxiety and locomotion, might be modulated by the purinergic system, we also evaluated the ectonucleotidase activities in zebrafish brain after a 96-h As exposure. A significant decrease in ATP, ADP, and AMP hydrolysis was observed at 0.05, 5, and 15 mg/L when compared to control group. These findings demonstrated that As might affect behavioral parameters and the ectonucleotidase activities in zebrafish, suggesting this enzyme pathway is a target for neurotoxic effects induced by As.     

The Nicotine-Evoked Locomotor Response: A Behavioral Paradigm for Toxicity Screening in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryos and Eleutheroembryos Exposed to Methylmercury

This study is an adaptation of the nicotine-evoked locomotor response (NLR) assay, which was originally utilized for phenotype-based neurotoxicity screening in zebrafish embryos. Zebrafish embryos do not exhibit spontaneous swimming until roughly 4 days post-fertilization (dpf), however, a robust swimming response can be induced as early as 36 hours post-fertilization (hpf) by means of acute nicotine exposure (30–240μM). Here, the NLR was tested as a tool for early detection of locomotor phenotypes in 36, 48 and 72 hpf mutant zebrafish embryos of the non-touch-responsive maco strain; this assay successfully discriminated mutant embryos from their non-mutant siblings. Then, methylmercury (MeHg) was used as a proof-of-concept neurotoxicant to test the effectiveness of the NLR assay as a screening tool in toxicology. The locomotor effects of MeHg were evaluated in 6 dpf wild type eleutheroembryos exposed to waterborne MeHg (0, 0.01, 0.03 and 0.1μM). Afterwards, the NLR assay was tested in 48 hpf embryos subjected to the same MeHg exposure regimes. Embryos exposed to 0.01 and 0.03μM of MeHg exhibited significant increases in locomotion in both scenarios. These findings suggest that similar locomotor phenotypes observed in free swimming fish can be detected as early as 48 hpf, when locomotion is induced with nicotine.     

Effects of the phytoestrogen coumestrol on locomotor and fear-related behaviors in female mice

Effects of the estrogenic plant isoflavonoid coumestrol (COUM) on locomotor activity and fear-related behaviors in both the absence and the presence of estradiol benzoate (EB) were examined in adult ovariectomized Swiss-Webster mice. In a running wheel paradigm conducted over 10 days, with treatment beginning 12 days prior to testing, daily subcutaneous (sc) injections of 10 microg of COUM did not influence locomotor activity, whereas even the low dose of EB supplied by sc Silastic implant (2.5 microg lasting 5 weeks) produced a significant increase in locomotor activity over animals receiving vehicle alone. In animals receiving both COUM and EB, locomotor activity was significantly diminished compared to the activity observed in animals receiving EB alone. The same animals were also tested in three behavioral paradigms having known activity and fear components (open field, dark/light transition, elevated plus-maze). COUM did not produce significant effects in these assays. However, in an associative fear learning paradigm (fear conditioning), COUM produced significantly less freezing ("fearfulness") in the conditioned fear task than with animals receiving vehicle or a low dose of EB, which did not differ from each other. Unlike EB, which has comparable affinities for estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and ER beta, COUM has a higher affinity for ER beta than for ER alpha. COUM might disrupt estrogen-enhanced locomotor activity by altering the dynamic by which EB acts on the brain through these two ER isoforms. The conditioned fear result suggests that COUM may produce additional effects through alternative pathways.     

Associative learning and memory in Drosophila: beyond olfactory conditioning

The associative learning abilities of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, have been demonstrated in both classical and operant conditioning paradigms. Efforts to identify the neural pathways and cellular mechanisms of learning have focused largely on olfactory classical conditioning. Results derived from various genetic and molecular manipulations provide considerable evidence that this form of associative learning depends critically on neural activity and cAMP signaling in brain neuropil structures called mushroom bodies. Three other behavioral learning paradigms in Drosophila serve as the main subject of this review. These are (1) visual and motor learning of flies tethered in a flight simulator, (2) a form of spatial learning that is independent of visual and olfactory cues, and (3) experience-dependent changes in male courtship behavior. The present evidence suggests that at least some of these modes of learning are independent of mushroom bodies. Applying targeted genetic manipulations to these behavioral paradigms should allow for a more comprehensive understanding of neural mechanisms responsible for diverse forms of associative learning and memory.     

pH-dependent inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase by N-substituted N-nitrosohydroxylamines

Several synthetic N-substituted N-nitrosohydroxylamines were found to inhibit mushroom tyrosinase in a pH-dependent manner regardless of the N-substituent. The inhibitory activity, or pI(50) ( - log [IC(50), M]) value, linearly decreased as the pH of the media increased. The inhibitory activities of tested N-substituted N-nitrosohydroxylamines at pH 6.8 and 5.8 were found to be almost 10 times and 100 times greater than at pH 7.8, respectively. The types of inhibition were different at pH 6.8 and 5.8. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of N-substituted N-nitrosohydroxylamines is caused by the non-ionized form of the inhibitor. Furthermore, the mechanism of inhibition depends on the interaction between the inhibitor and the active site of tyrosinase at different pH values.     

The Difference between Anxiolytic and Anxiogenic Effects Induced by Acute and Chronic Alcohol Exposure and Changes in Associative Learning and Memory Based on Color Preference and the Cause of Parkinson-Like Behaviors in Zebrafish

We describe an interdisciplinary comparison of the effects of acute and chronic alcohol exposure in terms of their disturbance of light, dark and color preferences and the occurrence of Parkinson-like behavior in zebrafish through computer visual tracking, data mining, and behavioral and physiological analyses. We found that zebrafish in anxiolytic and anxious states, which are induced by acute and chronic repeated alcohol exposure, respectively, display distinct emotional reactions in light/dark preference tests as well as distinct learning and memory abilities in color-enhanced conditional place preference (CPP) tests. Additionally, compared with the chronic alcohol (1.0%) treatment, acute alcohol exposure had a significant, dose-dependent effect on anxiety, learning and memory (color preference) as well as locomotive activities. Acute exposure doses (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%) generated an “inverted V” dose-dependent pattern in all of the behavioral parameters, with 1.0% having the greatest effect, while the chronic treatment had a moderate effect. Furthermore, by measuring locomotive activity, learning and memory performance, the number of dopaminergic neurons, tyrosine hydroxylase expression, and the change in the photoreceptors in the retina, we found that acute and chronic alcohol exposure induced varying degrees of Parkinson-like symptoms in zebrafish. Taken together, these results illuminated the behavioral and physiological mechanisms underlying the changes associated with learning and memory and the cause of potential Parkinson-like behaviors in zebrafish due to acute and chronic alcohol exposure.