PUBLICATION

The dose makes the poison: Non-linear behavioural response to CO2-induced aquatic acidification in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Authors
Hamilton, T.J., Radke, N.H., Bajwa, J., Chaput, S., Tresguerres, M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-210317-18
Date
2021
Source
The Science of the total environment   778: 146320 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Hamilton, Trevor
Keywords
Carbon dioxide, GABA-A receptor, Novel object approach test, Open field test, Zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Carbon Dioxide/toxicity
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Poisons*
  • Zebrafish*
PubMed
33725593 Full text @ Sci. Total Environ.
Abstract
CO2-induced aquatic acidification is predicted to affect fish neuronal GABAA receptors leading to widespread behavioural alterations. However, the large variability in the magnitude and direction of behavioural responses suggests substantial species-specific CO2 threshold differences, life history and parental acclimation effects, experimental artifacts, or a combination of these factors. As an established model organism, zebrafish (Danio rerio) can be reared under stable conditions for multiple generations, which may help control for some of the variability observed in wild-caught fishes. Here, we used two standardized tests to investigate the effect of 1-week acclimatization to four pCO2 levels on zebrafish anxiety-like behaviour, exploratory behaviour, and locomotion. Fish acclimatized to 900 μatm CO2 demonstrated increased anxiety-like behaviour compared to control fish (~480 μatm), however, the behaviour of fish exposed to 2200 μatm CO2 was indistinguishable from that of controls. In addition, fish acclimatized to 4200 μatm CO2 had decreased anxiety-like behaviour; i.e. the opposite response than the 900 μatm CO2 treatment. On the other hand, exploratory behaviour did not differ among any of the pCO2 exposures that were tested. Thus, zebrafish behavioural responses to elevated pCO2 are not linear; with potential important implications for physiological, environmental, and aquatic acidification studies.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping