title: Effects of hallucinogenic agents mescaline and phencyclidine on zebrafish behavior and physiology.
abstract: Mescaline and phencyclidine (PCP) are potent hallucinogenic agents affecting human and animal behavior. As their psychotropic effects remain poorly understood, further research is necessary to characterize phenotypes they evoke in various animal models. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are rapidly emerging as a new model organism for neuroscience research. Here, we examine the effects of mescaline (5-20mg/l) and PCP (0.5-3mg/l) in several zebrafish paradigms, including the novel tank, open field and shoaling tests. Mescaline and PCP dose-dependently increased top activity in the novel tank test, also reducing immobility and disrupting the patterning of zebrafish swimming, as assessed by ethograms. PCP, but not mescaline, evoked circling behavior in the open field test. At the highest doses tested, mescaline markedly increased, while PCP did not affect, zebrafish shoaling behavior. Finally, 20mg/l mescaline did not alter, and 3mg/l PCP elevated, whole-body cortisol levels. Overall, our studies indicate high sensitivity of zebrafish models to hallucinogenic compounds with complex behavioral and physiological effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Program, Tulane Neurophenotyping Platform, Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium, Tulane University Medical School, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Evan J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kyzar
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Siddharth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gaikwad
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Louie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Monnig
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Ounsi
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Capezio
authors.forename: Adam Michael
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Allan V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Kalueff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008635:Mescaline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023421:Models, Animal; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010622:Phencyclidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens; D010622:Phencyclidine; D008635:Mescaline