Figure 1

Zebrafish selected for molecular analysis based on behaviourally determined stress reactivity. (a) Diagram of the novel tank assay: each fish is individually transferred from its home tank to a novel test tank. The time (seconds) spent in the bottom in each minute was used for analysis. (b) Entire population results for bottom dwelling by minute over the course of the novel tank test. (c) Population distribution of young (6–9 month) and aging (18 month) males and females based on their bottom dwelling in minute two (N = 256). (d) Bottom dwelling differences in minute two for the fish selected for molecular analysis (N = 64). Note that (d) corresponds to either extreme of the population distribution in (c). Error bars in (b) represent ± standard error mean (SEM). For (c) and (d) middle lines indicate median values and error bars represent interquartile range. YFL young female low stress reactivity, YFH young female high stress reactivity, YML young male low stress reactivity, YMH young male high stress reactivity, AFL aging female low stress reactivity, AFH aging female high stress reactivity, AML aging male low stress reactivity, AMH aging male high stress reactivity. ***p-value < 0.001.