title: The role of taurine on anxiety-like behaviors in zebrafish: A comparative study using the novel tank and the light-dark tasks.
abstract: Taurine (TAU) is an amino sulfonic acid with several functions in central nervous system. Mounting evidence suggests that it acts in osmoregulation, neuromodulation and also as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. However, the effects of TAU on behavioral functions, especially on anxiety-related parameters, are limited. The adult zebrafish is a suitable model organism to examine anxiety-like behaviors since it presents neurotransmitter systems and behavioral functions evolutionary conserved. Anxiety in zebrafish can be measured by different tasks, analyzing the habituation to novelty, as well as the response to brightly lit environments. The aim of this study was to investigate whether acute TAU treatment alters anxiety-like behavior in zebrafish using the novel tank and the light-dark tests. Fish were individually treated with TAU (42, 150, and 400mg/L) for 1h and the behaviors were further analyzed for 6min in the novel tank or in the light-dark test. Control fish were handled in a similar manner, but kept only in home tank water. Although TAU did not alter locomotor and vertical activities, all concentrations significantly increased shuttling and time spent in lit compartment. Moreover, TAU 150 group showed a significant decrease in the number of risk assessment episodes. Overall, these data suggest that TAU exerts an anxiolytic-like effect in zebrafish and the comparative analysis of behavior using different tasks is an interesting strategy for neuropsychiatric studies related to anxiety in this species.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: nathanajamillemezzomo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nathana J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Mezzomo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giulie S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Quadros
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA. Electronic address: dbrosemberg@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Denis B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Rosemberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D003624:Darkness; D008027:Light; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D013654:Taurine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D013654:Taurine
keywords: Anxiety; Defensive behaviors; Light–dark test; Novel tank; Taurine; Zebrafish