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Fanni, G., Kagios, C., Roman, E., Sundbom, M., Wikström, J., Haller, S. & Eriksson, J. (2023). Effects of gastric bypass surgery on brain connectivity responses to hypoglycemia. Endocrine, 79(2), 304-312
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Effects of gastric bypass surgery on brain connectivity responses to hypoglycemia
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2023 (English)In: Endocrine, ISSN 1355-008X, E-ISSN 1559-0100, Vol. 79, no 2, p. 304-312Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Introduction

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) leads to beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis, and attenuated hormonal counterregulatory responses to hypoglycemia are likely to contribute. RYGB also induces alterations in neural activity of cortical and subcortical brain regions. We aimed to characterize RYGB-induced changes in resting-state connectivity of specific brain regions of interest for energy homeostasis and behavioral control during hypoglycemia.

Method

Ten patients with BMI > 35 kg/m2 were investigated with brain PET/MR imaging during a hyperinsulinemic normo- and hypoglycemic clamp, before and 4 months after RYGB. Hormonal levels were assessed throughout the clamp. Resting-state (RS) fMRI scans were acquired in the glucose-lowering phase of the clamp, and they were analyzed with a seed-to-voxel approach.

Results

RS connectivity during initiation of hypoglycemia was significantly altered after RYGB between nucleus accumbens, thalamus, caudate, hypothalamus and their crosstalk with cortical and subcortical regions. Connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and the frontal pole was increased after RYGB, and this was associated with a reduction of ACTH (r = −0.639, p = 0.047) and cortisol (r = −0.635, p = 0.048) responses. Instead, connectivity between the caudate and the frontal pole after RYGB was reduced and this was associated with less attenuation of glucagon response during the hypoglycemic clamp (r = −0.728, p = 0.017), smaller reduction in fasting glucose (r = −0.798, p = 0.007) and less excess weight loss (r = 0.753, p = 0.012). No other significant associations were found between post-RYGB changes in ROI-to-voxel regional connectivity hormonal responses and metabolic or anthropometric outcomes.

Conclusion

RYGB alters brain connectivity during hypoglycemia of several neural pathways involved in reward, inhibitory control, and energy homeostasis. These changes are associated with altered hormonal responses to hypoglycemia and may be involved in the glucometabolic outcome of RYGB.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Nature, 2023
National Category
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
Research subject
Radiology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-489736 (URN)10.1007/s12020-022-03253-y (DOI)000914873500001 ()36459336 (PubMedID)
Funder
Diabetesfonden, 2019-490EXODIAB - Excellence of Diabetes Research in SwedenErnfors FoundationSwedish Society for Medical Research (SSMF)P.O. Zetterling FoundationNovo Nordisk Foundation, NNF20OC0063864EU, Horizon 2020, MSCA-ITN-721236Uppsala University
Available from: 2022-12-03 Created: 2022-12-03 Last updated: 2023-08-28Bibliographically approved
Vossen, L. E., Nilsson, E., Jansson, A. & Roman, E. (2023). Open field behavior in the house cricket (Acheta domesticus): effect of illumination, sex differences and individual consistency. JOURNAL OF INSECTS AS FOOD AND FEED, 9(3), 317-324
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Open field behavior in the house cricket (Acheta domesticus): effect of illumination, sex differences and individual consistency
2023 (English)In: JOURNAL OF INSECTS AS FOOD AND FEED, ISSN 2352-4588, Vol. 9, no 3, p. 317-324Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Edible insects are worldwide promoted as an alternative protein, trace mineral and lipid source in animal feed and human food. The house cricket (Acheta domesticus) is already being reared at an industrial scale, yet current massrearing practices and facility design may still leave room for improvement. Behavioral tests have been suggested as an important assessment tool at the whole-organism level that can be used to find optimal housing conditions (e.g. density, diet, temperature). Here, we adapt the widely used open field test to the house cricket. We tested 16 male and 16 female house crickets four times under two different light intensities. Videos were analysed with EthovisionT tracking software and variables distance moved, velocity, and duration and frequency in zone were extracted. Results showed that house crickets, like vertebrate model species, spent most time close to the walls of the arena, and crossed the center zone with high velocity. Brighter illumination was associated with increased velocity, in particular in the center zone during the first test occasion, suggesting avoidance of this zone. Male crickets had higher locomotory activity than females. Consistency repeatabilities and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were moderate to high, and the correlation between subsequent occasions became stronger over the four occasions at day 1, 2, 3 and 7. The first test occasion differed from subsequent occasions, therefore repeated testing may be necessary when analysing experimental manipulations of small effect size. Overall, the results are promising for use of the open field test as a precise phenotyping tool.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Wageningen Academic Publishers, 2023
Keywords
behaviour, thigmotaxis, animal welfare, repeatability
National Category
Zoology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-498151 (URN)10.3920/JIFF2022.0063 (DOI)000928573000006 ()
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 2016-00361Carl Tryggers foundation , CTS 20:352
Available from: 2023-03-17 Created: 2023-03-17 Last updated: 2023-03-17Bibliographically approved
Sen Sarma, O., Frymus, N., Axling, F., Thörnqvist, P.-O., Roman, E. & Winberg, S. (2023). Optimizing zebrafish rearing-Effects of fish density and environmental enrichment. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 17, Article ID 1204021.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Optimizing zebrafish rearing-Effects of fish density and environmental enrichment
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2023 (English)In: Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, ISSN 1662-5153, E-ISSN 1662-5153, Vol. 17, article id 1204021Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Introduction; Despite its popularity in research, there is very little scientifically validated knowledge about the best practices on zebrafish (Danio rerio) husbandry, which has led to several facilities having their own husbandry protocols. This study was performed to expand knowledge on the effects of enrichment and fish density on the welfare of zebrafish, with hopes of providing a scientific basis for future recommendations and legislations.

Methods: Zebrafish were reared at three different stocking densities, (1, 3 or 6 fish/L), in tanks with or without environmental enrichment. Agonistic behavior was observed twice a week for 9 weeks directly in the housing tanks. Aspects of welfare is known to be reflected in neuroendocrine stress responses. Thus, cortisol secretion in response to lowering the water level was analyzed for each group. In addition, we assessed cortisol secretion in response to confinement and risk-taking behavior (boldness) using the novel tank diving test for individual fish. At termination of the experiment fish were subjected to stress by transfer to a novel environment and brain tissue was sampled for analysis of brain monoaminergic activity.

Results: Fish kept at the lowest density (1 fish/L) showed a significantly higher level of aggression than fish kept at 3 or 6 fish/L. Moreover, fish kept at this low density showed significantly higher cortisol secretion on a group level than fish kept at the higher stocking densities, when subjected to lowering of the water level. Keeping fish at 1 fish/L also had effects on brain monoamines, these fish showing higher brain dopamine concentrations but lower dopamine turnover than fish kept at higher densities. Neither stocking density or enrichment had any clear effects on the behavior of individual fish in the novel tank diving test. However, fish kept at high densities showed lower and more variable growth rates than fish kept at 1 fish/L.

Discussion: Taken together these results suggest that zebrafish should not be kept at a density of 1 fish/L. The optimal stocking density is likely to be in the range of 3-6 fish/L.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Frontiers Media SA, 2023
Keywords
aggression, behavior, refinement, stress, tank size, welfare
National Category
Zoology Fish and Aquacultural Science Behavioral Sciences Biology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-508431 (URN)10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1204021 (DOI)001027938800001 ()37456810 (PubMedID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council, VR 2018-03234
Available from: 2023-08-02 Created: 2023-08-02 Last updated: 2023-08-02Bibliographically approved
Ceder, M. M., Weman, H. M., Johansson, E., Henriksson, K., Magnusson, K. A., Roman, E. & Lagerström, M. C. (2023). The glycine receptor alpha 3 subunit mRNA expression shows sex-dependent differences in the adult mouse brain. BMC Neuroscience, 24(1), Article ID 32.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>The glycine receptor alpha 3 subunit mRNA expression shows sex-dependent differences in the adult mouse brain
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2023 (English)In: BMC Neuroscience, E-ISSN 1471-2202, Vol. 24, no 1, article id 32Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background The glycinergic system plays an important inhibitory role in the mouse central nervous system, where glycine controls the excitability of spinal itch- and pain-mediating neurons. Impairments of the glycine receptors can cause motor and sensory deficits. Glycine exerts inhibition through interaction with ligand-gated ion channels composed of alpha and beta subunits. We have investigated the mRNA expression of the glycine receptor alpha 3 (Glra3) subunit in the nervous system as well as in several peripheral organs of female and male mice.

Results Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data analysis on the Zeisel et al. (2018) dataset indicated widespread but low expression of Glra3 in vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (Vglut2, Slc17a6) positive and vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter (Viaat, Slc32a1)positive neurons of the mouse central nervous system. Highest occurrence of Glra3 expression was identified in the cortex, amygdala, and striatal regions, as well as in the hypothalamus, brainstem and spinal cord. Bulk quantitative real-time-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis demonstrated Glra3 expression in cortex, amygdala, striatum, hypothalamus, thalamus, pituitary gland, hippocampus, cerebellum, brainstem, and spinal cord. Additionally, male mice expressed higher levels of Glra3 in all investigated brain areas compared with female mice. Lastly, RNAscope spatially validated Glra3 expression in the areas indicated by the single-cell and bulk analyses. Moreover, RNAscope analysis confirmed co-localization of Glra3 with Slc17a6 or Slc32a1 in the central nervous system areas suggested from the single-cell data.

Conclusions Glra3 expression is low but widespread in the mouse central nervous system. Clear sex-dependent differences have been identified, indicating higher levels of Glra3 in several telencephalic and diencephalic areas, as well as in cerebellum and brainstem, in male mice compared with female mice.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Nature, 2023
Keywords
Glycine, Glra3, brain, spinal cord, mice, sex-dependent differences
National Category
Neurosciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-499117 (URN)10.1186/s12868-023-00800-9 (DOI)000998581500001 ()37264306 (PubMedID)
Funder
The Swedish Brain FoundationSwedish Research Council, 2016-00851Swedish Research Council, 2022-00960Uppsala University
Available from: 2023-03-23 Created: 2023-03-23 Last updated: 2024-01-17Bibliographically approved
Lundberg, S., Roman, E. & Bell, R. L. (2022). Behavioral Profiles of Adolescent Alcohol-Preferring/Non-preferring (P/NP) and High/Low Alcohol-Drinking (HAD/LAD) Rats Are Dependent on Line but Not Sex. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 15, Article ID 811401.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Behavioral Profiles of Adolescent Alcohol-Preferring/Non-preferring (P/NP) and High/Low Alcohol-Drinking (HAD/LAD) Rats Are Dependent on Line but Not Sex
2022 (English)In: Frontiers in Neuroscience, ISSN 1662-4548, E-ISSN 1662-453X, Vol. 15, article id 811401Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Initial contact with alcohol generally occurs during adolescence, and high consumption during this period is associated with increased risk for later alcohol (AUDs) and/or substance use disorders (SUDs). Rodents selectively bred for high or low alcohol consumption are used to identify behavioral characteristics associated with a propensity for high or low voluntary alcohol intake. The multivariate concentric square field (TM) (MCSF) is a behavioral test developed to study rodents in a semi-naturalistic setting. Testing in the MCSF creates a comprehensive behavioral profile in a single trial. The current aim was to examine the behavioral profiles of adolescent, bidirectionally selectively bred male and female high alcohol-consuming (P and HAD1/2) and low alcohol-consuming (NP and LAD1/2) rat lines, and outbred Wistar rats. Alcohol-naive rats were tested once in the MCSF at an age between postnatal days 30 and 35. No common behavioral profile was found for either high or low alcohol-consuming rat lines, and the effect of sex was small. The P/NP and HAD2/LAD2 lines showed within pair-dependent differences, while the HAD1/LAD1 lines were highly similar. The P rats displayed high activity and risk-associated behaviors, whereas HAD2 rats displayed low activity, high shelter-seeking behavior, and open area avoidance. The results from P rats parallel clinical findings that denser family history and risk-taking behavior are strong predictors of future AUDs, often with early onset. Contrarily, the HAD2 behavioral profile was similar to individuals experiencing negative emotionality, which also is associated with a vulnerability to develop, often with a later onset, AUDs and/or SUDs.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Frontiers Media S.A.Frontiers Media SA, 2022
Keywords
adolescence, alcohol non-preferring rats, alcohol-preferring rats, high alcohol-drinking rats, low alcohol-drinking rats, multivariate concentric square field (MCSF)
National Category
Neurosciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-467389 (URN)10.3389/fnins.2021.811401 (DOI)000749880700001 ()35095406 (PubMedID)
Available from: 2022-02-14 Created: 2022-02-14 Last updated: 2024-01-15Bibliographically approved
Hultman, C., Tjernström, N., Vadlin, S., Rehn, M., Nilsson, K. W., Roman, E. & Åslund, C. (2022). Exploring decision-making strategies in the Iowa gambling task and rat gambling task. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 16, Article ID 964348.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Exploring decision-making strategies in the Iowa gambling task and rat gambling task
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2022 (English)In: Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, ISSN 1662-5153, E-ISSN 1662-5153, Vol. 16, article id 964348Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Decision-making requires that individuals perceive the probabilities and risks associated with different options. Experimental human and animal laboratory testing provide complimentary insights on the psychobiological underpinnings of decision-making. The Iowa gambling task (IGT) is a widely used instrument that assesses decision-making under uncertainty and risk. In the task participants are faced with a choice conflict between cards with varying monetary reinforcer/loss contingencies. The rat gambling task (rGT) is a pre-clinical version using palatable reinforcers as wins and timeouts mimicking losses. However, interspecies studies elaborating on human and rat behavior in these tasks are lacking. This study explores decision-making strategies among young adults (N = 270) performing a computerized version of the IGT, and adult outbred male Lister Hooded rats (N = 72) performing the rGT. Both group and individual data were explored by normative scoring approaches and subgroup formations based on individual choices were investigated. Overall results showed that most humans and rats learned to favor the advantageous choices, but to a widely different extent. Human performance was characterized by both exploration and learning as the task progressed, while rats showed relatively consistent pronounced preferences for the advantageous choices throughout the task. Nevertheless, humans and rats showed similar variability in individual choice preferences during end performance. Procedural differences impacting on the performance in both tasks and their potential to study different aspects of decision-making are discussed. This is a first attempt to increase the understanding of similarities and differences regarding decision-making processes in the IGT and rGT from an explorative perspective.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Frontiers Media S.A., 2022
Keywords
decision-making, Iowa gambling task, rat gambling task, uncertainty, risk
National Category
Neurosciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-490375 (URN)10.3389/fnbeh.2022.964348 (DOI)000885931100001 ()36408452 (PubMedID)
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2018-01127
Note

De två första författarna delar förstaförfattarskapet

De två sista författarna delar sistaförfattarskapet

Available from: 2022-12-15 Created: 2022-12-15 Last updated: 2023-04-17Bibliographically approved
Vossen, L. E., Roman, E. & Jansson, A. (2022). Fasting increases shelter use in house crickets (Acheta domesticus). JOURNAL OF INSECTS AS FOOD AND FEED, 8(1), 5-8
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Fasting increases shelter use in house crickets (Acheta domesticus)
2022 (English)In: JOURNAL OF INSECTS AS FOOD AND FEED, ISSN 2352-4588, Vol. 8, no 1, p. 5-8Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Fasting, i.e. depriving the animals of food prior to harvesting, has been practised in the production of house crickets (Acheta domesticus). However, the effectiveness of this method in reducing microbial loads is still unclear. In addition, there may be costs of fasting to the organism, which could compromise product quality and animal welfare. Here, we analysed spontaneous behaviour displayed after 0, 24 or 48 hours of fasting. We show that after 48 hours of fasting, shelter use was increased and the duration spent on the exposed area of the floor was decreased. The same trend was seen after 24 hours fasting. Moreover, in both fasting treatments, a strong reduction in grooming was seen. We conclude that, in the absence of a microbial lowering effect of fasting and considering the current finding that fasting induces behavioural responses in crickets, there is currently no scientific support for using fasting in cricket production.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Wageningen Academic PublishersWageningen Academic Publishers, 2022
Keywords
insect production, starvation, behaviour
National Category
Zoology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-463630 (URN)10.3920/JIFF2021.0053 (DOI)000735100600002 ()
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 2016-00361
Available from: 2022-01-12 Created: 2022-01-12 Last updated: 2024-01-15Bibliographically approved
Tjernström, N., Li, T.-Q., Holst, S. & Roman, E. (2022). Functional connectivity in reward-related networks is associated with individual differences in gambling strategies in male Lister hooded rats. Addiction Biology, 27(2), Article ID e13131.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Functional connectivity in reward-related networks is associated with individual differences in gambling strategies in male Lister hooded rats
2022 (English)In: Addiction Biology, ISSN 1355-6215, E-ISSN 1369-1600, Vol. 27, no 2, article id e13131Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Individuals with gambling disorder display deficits in decision-making in the Iowa Gambling Task. The rat Gambling Task (rGT) is a rodent analogue that can be used to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying gambling behaviour. The aim of this explorative study was to examine individual strategies in the rGT and investigate possible behavioural and neural correlates associated with gambling strategies. Thirty-two adult male Lister hooded rats underwent behavioural testing in the multivariate concentric square field™ (MCSF) and the novel cage tests, were trained on and performed the rGT and subsequently underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI). In the rGT, stable gambling strategies were found with subgroups of rats that preferred the suboptimal safest choice as well as the disadvantageous choice, that is, the riskiest gambling strategy. R-fMRI results revealed associations between gambling strategies and brain regions central for reward networks. Moreover, rats with risky gambling strategies differed from those with strategic and intermediate strategies in brain functional connectivity. No differences in behavioural profiles, as assessed with the MCSF and novel cage tests, were observed between the gambling strategy groups. In conclusion, stable individual differences in gambling strategies were found. Intrinsic functional connectivity using R-fMRI provides novel evidence to support the notion that individual differences in gambling strategies are associated with functional connectivity in brain regions important for reward networks.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2022
Keywords
behaviour, functional connectivity metrics, multivariate concentric square field, novel cage, rat gambling task, resting-state fMRI
National Category
Neurosciences
Research subject
Pharmaceutical Science
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-468516 (URN)10.1111/adb.13131 (DOI)000762366600017 ()35229946 (PubMedID)
Funder
The Swedish Brain Foundation, FO2016-0100
Available from: 2022-02-25 Created: 2022-02-25 Last updated: 2024-02-21Bibliographically approved
Tjernström, N. & Roman, E. (2022). Individual strategies in the rat gambling task are related to voluntary alcohol intake, but not sexual behavior, and can be modulated by naltrexone. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, Article ID 931241.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Individual strategies in the rat gambling task are related to voluntary alcohol intake, but not sexual behavior, and can be modulated by naltrexone
2022 (English)In: Frontiers in Psychiatry, E-ISSN 1664-0640, Vol. 13, article id 931241Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Introduction: Gambling disorder (GD) is the first non-substance or behavioral addiction to be included in substance-related and addictive disorders in DSM-5. Since GD is a younger phenomenon relative to alcohol and substance use disorders, little is known about potential unique features in GD and to what extent characteristics are shared with alcohol and substance use disorders. The rat gambling task (rGT) is used to study decision-making in rats. This study aimed to identify individual differences in rGT strategies and explore the stability of these strategies over time. Moreover, motor impulsivity, sexual behavior, and voluntary alcohol intake were examined in rats with different rGT strategies. Finally, the response to naltrexone on performance in rats with different rGT strategies was investigated.

Methods: Male Lister hooded rats (n = 40) underwent repeated testing in the rGT, repeated copulatory behavioral tests, and 7 weeks of voluntary alcohol intake through a modified intermittent two-bottle free-choice paradigm. Finally, rats were treated with naltrexone prior to testing in the rGT.

Results: The results revealed individual choice strategies in the rGT that were stable over time, even after multiple interruptions and other behavioral testing. The rats with a risky choice strategy displayed higher motor impulsivity and voluntary alcohol intake than the other groups. No difference in sexual behavior was found between the different rGT groups. Finally, in all rats irrespectively of rGT strategy, treatment with naltrexone decreased the number of completed trials and premature responses, and increased omissions, which indicates an overall lowered motivation.

Discussion: In conclusion, rats with risky rGT strategies had higher voluntary alcohol intake but not elevated sexual behavior, indicating shared underlying mechanisms between rGT strategies and alcohol intake but not natural rewards in terms of sexual behavior. Finally, naltrexone treatment resulted in an overall lowered motivation in the rGT.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Frontiers Media S.A., 2022
Keywords
copulatory test, ethanol, opioid antagonist, impulsivity, gambling disorder (GD)
National Category
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-494635 (URN)10.3389/fpsyt.2022.931241 (DOI)000901613900001 ()36569617 (PubMedID)
Available from: 2023-01-25 Created: 2023-01-25 Last updated: 2024-01-17Bibliographically approved
Vossen, L. E., Brunberg, R., Rådén, P., Winberg, S. & Roman, E. (2022). Sex-Specific Effects of Acute Ethanol Exposure on Locomotory Activity and Exploratory Behavior in Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio). Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, Article ID 853936.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Sex-Specific Effects of Acute Ethanol Exposure on Locomotory Activity and Exploratory Behavior in Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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2022 (English)In: Frontiers in Pharmacology, E-ISSN 1663-9812, Vol. 13, article id 853936Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an established model organism in pharmacology and biomedicine, including in research on alcohol use disorders and alcohol-related disease. In the past 2 decades, zebrafish has been used to study the complex effects of ethanol on the vertebrate brain and behavior in both acute, chronic and developmental exposure paradigms. Sex differences in the neurobehavioral response to ethanol are well documented for humans and rodents, yet no consensus has been reached for zebrafish. Here, we show for the first time that male zebrafish of the AB strain display more severe behavioral impairments than females for equal exposure concentrations. Adult zebrafish were immersed in 0, 1 or 2% (v/v) ethanol for 30 min, after which behavior was individually assessed in the zebrafish Multivariate Concentric Square Field (TM) (zMCSF) arena. Males exposed to 2% ethanol showed clear signs of sedation, including reduced activity, increased shelter seeking and reduced exploration of shallow zones. The 1% male group displayed effects in the same direction but of smaller magnitude; this group also explored the shallow areas less, but did not show a general reduction in activity nor an increase in shelter seeking. By contrast, 1 and 2% exposed females showed no alterations in explorative behavior. Females exposed to 2% ethanol did not display a general reduction in activity, rather activity gradually increased from hypoactivity to hyperactivity over the course of the test. This mixed stimulatory/depressant effect was only quantifiable when locomotory variables were analyzed over time and was not apparent from averages of the whole 30-min test, which may explain why previous studies failed to detect sex-specific effects on locomotion. Our results emphasize the importance of explicitly including sex and time as factors in pharmacological studies of zebrafish behavior. We hypothesize that the lower sensitivity of female zebrafish to ethanol may be explained by their greater body weight and associated larger distribution volume for ethanol, which may render lower brain ethanol concentrations in females.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Frontiers Media S.A.Frontiers Media SA, 2022
Keywords
alcohol, swimming kinematics, exploration, anxiety-like behavior, sex differences, multivariate concentric square field (MCSF), risk taking, shelter seeking behaviour
National Category
Psychiatry
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-479895 (URN)10.3389/fphar.2022.853936 (DOI)000811833900001 ()35721152 (PubMedID)
Available from: 2022-07-05 Created: 2022-07-05 Last updated: 2024-01-17Bibliographically approved
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ORCID iD: ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0001-5418-8289

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