title: Chronic Treatment with Paraquat Induces Brain Injury, Changes in Antioxidant Defenses System, and Modulates Behavioral Functions in Zebrafish.
abstract: Paraquat (PQ) administration consists in a chemical model that mimics phenotypes observed in Parkinson's disease (PD), due to its ability to induce changes in dopaminergic system and oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the actions of PQ in behavioral functions of adult zebrafish and its influence on oxidative stress biomarkers in brain samples. PQ (20 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally with six injections for 16 days (one injection every 3 days). PQ-treated group showed a significant decrease in the time spent in the bottom section and a shorter latency to enter the top area in the novel tank test. Moreover, PQ-exposed fish showed a significant decrease in the number and duration of risk assessment episodes in the light-dark test, as well as an increase in the agonistic behavior in the mirror-induced aggression (MIA) test. PQ induced brain damage by decreasing mitochondrial viability. Concerning the antioxidant defense system, PQ increased catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, as well as the non-protein sulfhydryl content (NPSH), but did not change ROS formation and decreased lipid peroxidation. We demonstrate, for the first time, that PQ induces an increase in aggressive behavior, alters non-motor patterns associated to defensive behaviors, and changes redox parameters in zebrafish brain. Overall, our findings may serve as useful tools to investigate the interaction between behavioral and neurochemical impairments triggered by PQ administration in zebrafish.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica e Biodiversidade Animal, Laboratório de Toxicologia Aquática, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mauro E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica e Biodiversidade Animal, Laboratório de Toxicologia Aquática, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Talise E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica e Biodiversidade Animal, Laboratório de Toxicologia Aquática, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica e Biodiversidade Animal, Laboratório de Toxicologia Aquática, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Barbara D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica e Biodiversidade Animal, Laboratório de Toxicologia Aquática, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Quadros
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marins
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica e Biodiversidade Animal, Laboratório de Toxicologia Aquática, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cíntia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Charlene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica e Biodiversidade Animal, Laboratório de Toxicologia Aquática, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denis B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Rosemberg
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica e Biodiversidade Animal, Laboratório de Toxicologia Aquática, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil. vania.loro@gmail.com.|Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. vania.loro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vania Lucia
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Loro
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010269:Paraquat / Q000633:toxicity*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010269:Paraquat
keywords: Aggression; Anxiety-like behavior; Chronic exposure; Paraquat; Zebrafish