Nicotine increases fear responses and brain acetylcholinesterase activity in a context-dependent manner in zebrafish

Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
Paola R ZianiDenis B Rosemberg

Abstract

Nicotine is an alkaloid with positive effects on learning and memory processes. Exposure to conspecific alarm substance (CAS) elicits fear responses in zebrafish, but the effects of nicotine on aversive behaviors and associative learning in this species remain unclear. Here, we evaluated whether nicotine enhances contextual fear responses in zebrafish and investigated a putative involvement of brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in associative learning. Fish were exposed to 1 mg/L nicotine for 3 min and then kept in non-chlorinated water for 20 min. Later, animals were transferred to experimental tanks in the absence or presence of 3.5 mL/L CAS for 5 min (training session). After 24 h, fish were tested in tanks with similar or altered context in the absence of CAS (post-training session) and brain AChE activity was further assessed. At training, CAS increased freezing, erratic movements, and decreased the time spent in top area, while nicotine abolished the effects of CAS on erratic movements. Nicotine/CAS group tested in a similar context showed exacerbated freezing and reduced transitions to top area. Moreover, a decrease in distance traveled was observed in control, nicotine, and nicotine/CAS groups at post-training. Nicotine ...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 24, 2020·Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology·Jian-Yong ZengJie Zhang
May 24, 2020·Scientific Reports·Rachel DeanTrevor J Hamilton
Jan 26, 2020·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·Talise E MüllerDenis B Rosemberg
Feb 25, 2021·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·Victor L PicoloDenis B Rosemberg
Jul 12, 2021·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·Francini FranscesconDenis B Rosemberg
Mar 19, 2019·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·Kanandra T BertoncelloDenis B Rosemberg
May 22, 2019·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·Tâmie DuarteDenis B Rosemberg
Feb 28, 2020·Neurochemistry International·Francini FranscesconDenis B Rosemberg

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