You are here:
Strain-Specific Changes in Locomotor Behavior in Larval Zebrafish Elicited by Cholinergic Challenge
Citation:
Hedge, J., K. Jarema, D. Hunter, AND S. Padilla. Strain-Specific Changes in Locomotor Behavior in Larval Zebrafish Elicited by Cholinergic Challenge. Society of Toxicology, New Orleans, LA, March 13 - 17, 2016.
Impact/Purpose:
Some studies have compared the baseline behavior of different strains of larval zebrafish (Danio rerio), but there is sparse information on strain-specific responses to chemical challenges.
Description:
Some studies have compared the baseline behavior of different strains of larval zebrafish (Danio rerio), but there is sparse information on strain-specific responses to chemical challenges. The following study examines both the basal activity and response to a pharmacological challenge in five zebrafish strains: Streisinger AB (AB), Wild India Karyotype (WIK), Tupfel long fin (TL), Sanger AB Tübingen (SAT) and our in-house wild type, out-bred strain (Z); all strains, excepting our own, were obtained from Zebrafish International Resource Center (Eugene, OR). On day 0, zebrafish embryos of each strain were plated in one of two 96-well plates (n=16/strain/plate). At 6 days post fertilization (dpf) we examined both basal locomotor activity and activity after an acute chlorpyrifos (CPF; 11.5µM) challenge in a light:dark test paradigm. CPF is a pesticide that is activated by the liver to a potent cholinesterase inhibitor. The testing paradigm consisted of dosing with chlorpyrifos, then waiting for 30 minutes followed by a 6 minute basal period in the dark, 10 minutes of light and 10 minutes of dark. During the dark periods, the controls (DMSO vehicle treated) showed marked differences in activity, with the TL strain the most active and the WIK the least active; in the light period, the controls all showed comparable activity. All strains showed hyperactivity in response to the CPF challenge, indicating that all were capable of hepatic activation of the CPF and responsive to the behavioral disruption, but there were differences in the level of activity among the strains--most notable during the basal dark period and the light period. These results indicate strain type can influence baseline activity and also activity in response to a drug challenge, and that these interactions are dependent on the light level during the testing, making strain choice an important consideration in research planning. (This abstract may not necessarily reflect official Agency policy)