PUBLICATION
Inhibitory Avoidance Learning in Zebrafish (Danio Rerio): Effects of Shock Intensity and Unraveling Differences in Task Performance
- Authors
- Manuel, R., Gorissen, M., Piza Roca, C., Zethof, J., Vis, H.V., Flik, G., Bos, R.V.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-140710-6
- Date
- 2014
- Source
- Zebrafish 11(4): 341-52 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Flik, Gert, Gorissen, Marnix, Manuel, Ing. Remy
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Anxiety
- Avoidance Learning*
- Electroshock*
- Fear
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation*
- Hydrocortisone/metabolism*
- Male
- Memory
- Reaction Time
- Stress, Physiological
- Zebrafish/physiology*
- PubMed
- 25004302 Full text @ Zebrafish
Citation
Manuel, R., Gorissen, M., Piza Roca, C., Zethof, J., Vis, H.V., Flik, G., Bos, R.V. (2014) Inhibitory Avoidance Learning in Zebrafish (Danio Rerio): Effects of Shock Intensity and Unraveling Differences in Task Performance. Zebrafish. 11(4):341-52.
Abstract
Abstract The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is increasingly used as a model in neurobehavioral and neuroendocrine studies. The inhibitory avoidance paradigm has been proposed as tool to study mechanisms underlying learning and memory in zebrafish. In this paradigm subjects receive a shock after entering the black compartment of a black-white box. On the next day, latency to enter the black compartment is assessed; higher latencies are indicative of increased avoidance learning. Here, we aimed to understand the effects of different shock intensities (0, 1, 3, and 9 V) and to unravel variation in inhibitory avoidance learning in an in-house reared Tuebingen Long-Fin zebrafish (D. rerio) strain. While median latencies had increased in the 1, 3, and 9 V groups, no increase in median latency was found in the 0 V group. In addition, higher shock intensities resulted in a higher number of avoiders (latency ≥180 s) over nonavoiders (latency <60 s). Both changes are indicative of increased avoidance learning. We assessed whole-body cortisol content and the expression levels of genes relevant to stress, anxiety, fear, and learning 2 h after testing. Shock intensity was associated with whole-body cortisol content and the expression of glucocorticoid receptor alpha [nr3c1(alpha)], cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (cart4), and mineralocorticoid receptor (nr3c2), while avoidance behavior was associated with whole-body cortisol content only. The inhibitory avoidance paradigm in combination with measuring whole-body cortisol content and gene expression is suitable to unravel (genetic) mechanisms of fear avoidance learning. Our data further show differences in brain-behavior relationships underlying fear avoidance learning and memory in zebrafish. These findings serve as starting point for further unraveling differences in brain-behavior relationships underlying (fear avoidance) learning and memory in zebrafish.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping