Cognitive aging in zebrafish.
BACKGROUND
Age-related impairments in cognitive functions represent a growing clinical and social issue. Genetic and behavioral characterization of animal models can provide critical information on the intrinsic and environmental factors that determine the deterioration or preservation of cognitive abilities throughout life.


RESULTS
Behavior of wild-type, mutant and gamma-irradiated zebrafish (Danio rerio) was documented using image-analysis technique. Conditioned responses to spatial, visual and temporal cues were investigated in young, middle-aged and old animals. The results demonstrate that zebrafish aging is associated with changes in cognitive responses to emotionally positive and negative experiences, reduced generalization of adaptive associations, increased stereotypic and reduced exploratory behavior and altered temporal entrainment. Genetic upregulation of cholinergic transmission attenuates cognitive decline in middle-aged achesb55/+ mutants, compared to wild-type siblings. In contrast, the genotoxic stress of gamma-irradiation accelerates the onset of cognitive impairment in young zebrafish.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings would allow the use of powerful molecular biological resources accumulated in the zebrafish field to address the mechanisms of cognitive senescence, and promote the search for therapeutic strategies which may attenuate age-related cognitive decline.
Yu
Lili
L
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Tucci
Valter
V
Kishi
Shuji
S
Zhdanova
Irina V
IV
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D023421:Models, Animal; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D009154:Mutation; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase