title: Effects of carbamazepine on cortisol levels and behavioral responses to stress in the fish Jenynsia multidentata.
abstract: Carbamazepine (CBZ) is an anticonvulsant drug, prescribed worldwide for the treatment of epilepsy, bipolar disorder and trigeminal neuralgia, which has been frequently detected in aquatic environments. The objective of this study was to analyze if CBZ modifies scototaxis and shoaling behaviors and/or whole-body cortisol levels of the one-sided livebearing fish Jenynsia multidentata under stress condition. Female adults of J. multidentata were exposed to 0, 10, 50 and 200μgCBZ/L during 14days. After CBZ exposure, fish were subjected to restraint stress during 15min. Control animals were not exposed to CBZ or stress. In the light/dark preference test (scototaxis), the individuals under acute restraint stress (without CBZ) exhibited a significant increase in the mean speed and in the time spent both in the light compartment and in the bottom of the tank with respect to controls. They also showed a tendency to stay longer frozen in the light compartment. Fish exposed to 10 and 50μgCBZ/L showed a significant reduction in mean speed compared to stressed fish without CBZ. A reduction in the time spent in the bottom of the tank was also observed in fish exposed to 10μgCBZ/L. Fish exposed to 200μgCBZ/L showed a decreasing tendency in all behavioral endpoints (time spent in the light compartment, mean speed, time spent at the bottom and freezing) in comparison to stressed fish not exposed to CBZ. Considering whole-body cortisol results, fish under acute restraint stress (without CBZ) significantly increased their hormone levels with respect to the control group, while fish exposed to CBZ and acute restraint stress, significantly decreased their whole-body cortisol levels. There were no significant changes in shoaling behavior due to either stress or CBZ exposure and no significant differences in whole-body cortisol levels between experimental groups. Considering that the light/dark and shoaling tests measure different stress response behaviors regulated by different neuroendocrine systems, these results could indicate that CBZ has a differential effect on fish behavioral stress response and cortisol levels, depending on the behavioral test used and stressor applied.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299, X2500HUA Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calcagno
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ing. Agr. Félix Aldo Marrone 746, X2500HUA Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: pdurando@agro.unc.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Durando
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI), CONICET-UNC, Medina Allende y Haya de la Torre, Ciudad Universitaria, X2500HUA Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: M Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Valdés
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Medina Allende y Haya de la Torre, Ciudad Universitaria, X2500HUA Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Franchioni
authors.affiliation: IDEA-Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal, CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299, X2500HUA Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: mbistoni@com.uncor.edu.
authors.forename: María de los Ángeles
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Bistoni
mesh_terms: D000221:Adaptation, Ocular / Q000187:drug effects; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D046352:Freezing Reaction, Cataleptic / Q000187:drug effects; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Carbamazepine; Cortisol; Jenynsia multidentata; Scototaxis; Shoaling behavior