PUBLICATION

Effects of piracetam on behavior and memory in adult zebrafish

Authors
Grossman, L., Stewart, A., Gaikwad, S., Utterback, E., Wu, N., Dileo, J., Frank, K., Hart, P., Howard, H., and Kalueff, A.V.
ID
ZDB-PUB-110317-21
Date
2011
Source
Brain research bulletin   85(1-2): 58-63 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Kalueff, Allan V.
Keywords
Piracetam, Anxiolytic action, Zebrafish, Behavioral testing, Memory, Nootropic effects
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal/drug effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Maze Learning/drug effects
  • Memory/drug effects*
  • Nootropic Agents/pharmacology*
  • Piracetam/pharmacology*
  • Zebrafish/physiology*
PubMed
21371538 Full text @ Brain Res. Bull.
Abstract
Piracetam, a derivative of γ-aminobutyric acid, exerts memory-enhancing and mild anxiolytic effects in human and rodent studies. To examine the drug's behavioral profile further, we assessed its effects on behavioral and endocrine (cortisol) responses of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) - a novel model species rapidly gaining popularity in neurobehavioral research. Overall, acute piracetam did not affect zebrafish novel tank and light-dark box behavior at mild doses (25-400mg/L), but produced nonspecific behavioral inhibition at 700mg/L. No effects on cortisol levels or inter-/intra-session habituation in the novel tank test were observed for acute or chronic mild non-sedative dose of 200mg/L. In contrast, fish exposed to chronic piracetam at this dose performed significantly better in the cued learning plus-maze test. This observation parallels clinical and rodent literature on the behavioral profile of piracetam, supporting the utility of zebrafish paradigms for testing nootropic agents.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping