The effect of copper on behaviour, memory, and associative learning ability of zebrafish (Danio rerio). 2020

Ali Pilehvar, and Raewyn M Town, and Ronny Blust
Systemic, Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: ali.pilehvar@uantwerpen.be.

Copper is an essential element in many biological processes, but may exert toxic effects at levels surplus to metabolic requirements. Herein we assess the effect of copper on zebrafish behaviour using two assays, namely the novel tank diving test and a T-maze test with food reward. Novel tank diving tests were conducted on days 0, 4, and 10 of a 10 day Cu exposure (at concentrations of 0.77 μM (25% of the 240 h LC50) and 1.52 μM (50% of the 240 h LC50) to assess the alterations of behavioural responses in repeating novel tank diving assays and the effect of Cu on these patterns. Results demonstrate habituation to novelty, which is an indicator of spatial memory. Copper exposure had no effect on the latency of entry into the upper zones of the tank, nor on the total time spent therein, but did cause a greater number of freezing bouts in comparison to the control group. Additionally, Cu exposure had no effect on the habituation responses of zebrafish. Using the T-maze assay, we tested the effect of prior exposure to Cu for 10 days on subsequent behavioural trainings. The T-maze protocol was based on associative learning, where a visual stimulus (colour) was linked with a natural stimulus (food). Results of the control group showed that zebrafish are able to perform associative learning tasks. Moreover, Cu was found to negatively affect the associative learning capabilities. Specifically, while zebrafish in the control group achieved a significant number of correct choices (leading to food reward) throughout the T-maze training, such a trend was not observed for Cu exposed fish. Thus at the exposure concentrations and exposure times considered herein, Cu has no determinative impact on instinctual behavioural responses of zebrafish in repeated novel tank diving assays but does limit the associative learning capabilities.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009043 Motor Activity Body movements of a human or an animal as a behavioral phenomenon. Activities, Motor,Activity, Motor,Motor Activities
D001822 Body Burden The total amount of a chemical, metal or radioactive substance present at any time after absorption in the body of man or animal. Body Burdens,Burden, Body,Burdens, Body
D003300 Copper A heavy metal trace element with the atomic symbol Cu, atomic number 29, and atomic weight 63.55. Copper-63,Copper 63
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001245 Association Learning The principle that items experienced together enter into a connection, so that one tends to reinstate the other. Association Learnings,Learning, Association,Learnings, Association
D001522 Behavior, Animal The observable response an animal makes to any situation. Autotomy Animal,Animal Behavior,Animal Behaviors
D014874 Water Pollutants, Chemical Chemical compounds which pollute the water of rivers, streams, lakes, the sea, reservoirs, or other bodies of water. Chemical Water Pollutants,Landfill Leachate,Leachate, Landfill,Pollutants, Chemical Water
D015027 Zebrafish An exotic species of the family CYPRINIDAE, originally from Asia, that has been introduced in North America. Zebrafish is a model organism for drug assay and cancer research. Brachydanio rerio,Danio rerio,B. rerio,D. rerio,Zebra Fish,Zebra Fishes,Zebra danio,Zebrafishes,D. rerios,Fishes, Zebra,Zebra danios,danio, Zebra
D018782 Maze Learning Learning the correct route through a maze to obtain reinforcement. It is used for human or animal populations. (Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, 6th ed) Maze Test,Learning, Maze,Maze Learnings,Maze Tests
D065852 Spatial Memory Memory related to spatial information. Memories, Spatial,Memory, Spatial,Spatial Memories

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