PUBLICATION

Effects of hallucinogenic agents mescaline and phencyclidine on zebrafish behavior and physiology

Authors
Kyzar, E.J., Collins, C., Gaikwad, S., Green, J., Roth, A., Monnig, L., El-Ounsi, M., Davis, A., Freeman, A., Capezio, N., Stewart, A.M., and Kalueff, A.V.
ID
ZDB-PUB-120125-8
Date
2012
Source
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry   37(1): 194-202 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Kalueff, Allan V.
Keywords
anxiety, mescaline, phencyclidine, social behavior, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal/drug effects*
  • Behavior, Animal/physiology
  • Hallucinogens/pharmacology*
  • Mescaline/pharmacology*
  • Models, Animal*
  • Motor Activity/drug effects*
  • Motor Activity/physiology
  • Phencyclidine/pharmacology*
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
22251567 Full text @ Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry
Abstract
Mescaline and phencyclidine (PCP) are potent hallucinogenic agents affecting human and animal behavior. As their psychotropic effects remain poorly understood, further research is necessary to characterize phenotypes they evoke in various animal models. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are rapidly emerging as a new model organism for neuroscience research. Here, we examine the effects of mescaline (5–20 mg/l) and PCP (0.5–3 mg/l) in several zebrafish paradigms, including the novel tank, open field and shoaling tests. Mescaline and PCP dose-dependently increased top activity in the novel tank test, also reducing immobility and disrupting the patterning of zebrafish swimming, as assessed by ethograms. PCP, but not mescaline, evoked circling behavior in the open field test. At the highest doses tested, mescaline increased, while PCP did not affect, zebrafish shoaling behavior. Finally, 20 mg/l mescaline did not alter, and 3 mg/l PCP elevated, whole-body cortisol levels. Overall, our studies indicate high sensitivity of zebrafish models to hallucinogenic compounds with complex behavioral and physiological effects.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
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Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping