Alcohol-induced behavior change in zebrafish models

Rev Neurosci. 2011;22(1):85-93. doi: 10.1515/RNS.2011.010.

Abstract

Zebrafish are at the forefront of neurobiological research and have been gaining popularity as a viable and valid behavioral model in a variety of research applications (e.g., assessing drug induced behavioral changes). This model becomes even more attractive when considering the behavioral changes that follow exposure to compounds that are water-soluble. As such, several studies have implicated both acute and chronic ethanol exposure in the modulation of zebrafish behavior. Within this arena there appears to be a common trend across multiple studies. As with many drugs ethanol appears to influence behavior in a dose-dependent manner. In this review, we compare and contrast several studies that measure behavior as a result of alcohol exposure. Appended to this review are pilot data that report zebrafish blood alcohol concentrations as a function of acute exposure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aggression / drug effects
  • Alcohol Drinking
  • Alcohols / blood
  • Alcohols / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Anxiety / physiopathology
  • Behavior, Animal / classification
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects*
  • Central Nervous System Depressants / blood
  • Central Nervous System Depressants / pharmacology*
  • Fear / drug effects
  • Models, Animal
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Social Behavior
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • Alcohols
  • Central Nervous System Depressants