PUBLICATION

Zebrafish Show Long-term Behavioral Impairments Resulting from Developmental Vitamin D Deficiency

Authors
Oliveri, A.N., Knuth, M., Glazer, L., Bailey, J., Kullman, S., Levin, E.D.
ID
ZDB-PUB-200621-2
Date
2020
Source
Physiology & behavior   224: 113016 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
Behavioral toxicology, Neurodevelopment, Vitamin D deficiency, Zebrafish, Anxiety
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Reflex, Startle
  • Swimming
  • Vitamin D Deficiency*/complications
  • Zebrafish*
PubMed
32561170 Full text @ Physiol. Behav.
Abstract
Vitamin D has been shown in a wide variety of species to play critical roles in neurodevelopment. Vitamin D deficiency disrupts development of the brain and can cause lasting behavioral dysfunction. Zebrafish have become an important model for the study of development in general and neurodevelopment in particular. Zebrafish were used in the current study to characterize the effects of developmental vitamin D deficiency on behavioral function. Adult zebrafish that had been chronically fed a vitamin D deficient or replete diets were bred and the offspring were continued on those diets. The offspring were behaviorally tested as adults. In the novel tank diving test the vitamin D deficient diet significantly lowered the vertical position of fish indicative of more anxiety-like behavior. In the novel tank diving test swimming activity was also significantly decreased by vitamin D deficiency. Startle response was increased by developmental vitamin D deficiency during the early part of the test. No significant effects of vitamin D deficiency were seen with social affiliation and predatory stimulus avoidance tests. These results indicate a phenotype of vitamin D deficiency characterized by more anxiety-like behavior. This result was relatively specific inasmuch as few or no behavioral effects were seen in other behavioral tests.
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Human Disease / Model
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