The behavioral effects of acute Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol and heroin (diacetylmorphine) exposure in adult zebrafish.
The use of psychotropic drugs in clinical and translational brain research continues to grow, and the need for novel experimental models and screens is becoming widely recognized. Mounting evidence supports the utility of zebrafish (Danio rerio) for studying various pharmacological manipulations, as an alternative model complementing the existing rodent paradigms in this field. Here, we explore the effects of acute 20-min exposure to two commonly abused psychotropic compounds, Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and heroin, on adult zebrafish behavior in the novel tank test. Overall, THC administration (30 and 50 mg/L) produces an anxiogenic-like reduction of top swimming, paralleled with a slower, continuous bottom swimming. In contrast, heroin exposure (15 and 25 mg/L) evoked a hyperlocomotor response (with rapid bouts of bottom swimming and frequent 'bouncing' motions) without altering anxiety-sensitive top/bottom endpoints. The behavioral effects of these two compounds in zebrafish seem to parallel the respective rodent and human findings. Collectively, this emphasizes the growing significance of novel emerging aquatic models in translational drug abuse research and small molecule screening.
Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC) and ZENEREI Institute, 309 Palmer Court, Slidell 70458, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, A210 Langley Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
Adam Michael
AM
Stewart
Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC) and ZENEREI Institute, 309 Palmer Court, Slidell 70458, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Program, Tulane University Medical School, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. Electronic address: avkalueff@gmail.com.
Allan V
AV
Kalueff
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D003932:Heroin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014741:Video Recording; D015027:Zebrafish
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D009294:Narcotics; D003932:Heroin; D013759:Dronabinol
Anxiety behavior; Cannabinoids; Heroin; Marijuana; Novel tank locomotion; Opioids; Psychotropic drugs; Zebrafish