PUBLICATION
Sublethal ammonia induces alterations of emotions, cognition, and social behaviors in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
- Authors
- Lin, L.Y., Horng, J.L., Cheng, C.A., Chang, C.Y., Cherng, B.W., Liu, S.T., Chou, M.Y.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-220920-16
- Date
- 2022
- Source
- Ecotoxicology and environmental safety 244: 114058 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Chou, Ming-Yi, Horng, Jiun-Lin
- Keywords
- Ammonia neurotoxicity, Behavioral maladjustment, Social behavior, Zebrafish
- MeSH Terms
-
- Ammonia/metabolism
- Ammonia/toxicity
- Animals
- Anxiety/chemically induced
- Cognition
- Glutamate Dehydrogenase/metabolism
- Glutamates/metabolism
- Glutaminase/metabolism
- Neurotoxins/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Sewage
- Social Behavior
- Wastewater
- Water Pollutants, Chemical*/metabolism
- Water Pollutants, Chemical*/toxicity
- Zebrafish*/metabolism
- PubMed
- 36108432 Full text @ Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf.
Citation
Lin, L.Y., Horng, J.L., Cheng, C.A., Chang, C.Y., Cherng, B.W., Liu, S.T., Chou, M.Y. (2022) Sublethal ammonia induces alterations of emotions, cognition, and social behaviors in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Ecotoxicology and environmental safety. 244:114058.
Abstract
Ammonia pollutants were usually found in aquatic environments is due to urban sewage, industrial wastewater discharge, and agricultural runoff and concentrations as high as 180 mg/L (NH4+) have been reported in rivers. High ammonia levels are known to impair multiple tissue and cell functions and cause fish death. Although ammonia is a potent neurotoxin, how sublethal concentrations of ammonia influence the central nervous system (CNS) and the complex behaviors of fish is still unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that acute sublethal ammonia exposure can change social behavior of adult zebrafish. The exposure to 90 mg /L of (NH4+) for 4 h induced a strong fear response and lower shoaling cohesion; exposure to 180 mg /L of (NH4+) for 4 h reduced the aggressiveness, and social recognition, while the anxiety, social preference, learning, and short-term memory were not affected. Messenger RNA expressions of glutaminase and glutamate dehydrogenase in the brain were induced, suggesting that ammonia exposure altered glutamate neurotransmitters in the CNS. Our findings in zebrafish provided delicate information of ammonia neurotoxicity in complex higher-order social behaviors, which has not been revealed previously. In conclusion, sublethal and acute ammonia exposure can change specific behaviors of fish, which might lead to reductions in individual and population fitness levels.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping