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Persistent behavioral effects following early life exposure to retinoic acid or valproic acid in zebrafish.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bailey, JM; Oliveri, AN; Karbhari, N; Brooks, RAJ; De La Rocha, AJ; Janardhan, S; Levin, ED
Published in: Neurotoxicology
January 2016

BACKGROUND: Moderate to severe dysregulation in retinoid signaling during early development is associated with a constellation of physical malformations and/or neural tube defects, including spina bifida. It is thought that more subtle dysregulation of this system, which might be achievable via dietary (i.e. hypervitaminosis A) or pharmacological (i.e. valproic acid) exposure in humans, will manifest on behavioral domains including sociability, without overt physical abnormalities. METHODS: During early life, zebrafish were exposed to low doses of two chemicals that disrupt retinoid signaling. From 0 to 5dpf, larvae were reared in aqueous solutions containing retinoic acid (0, 0.02, 0.2 or 2nM) or valproic acid (0, 0.5, 5.0 or 50μM). One cohort of zebrafish was assessed using a locomotor activity screen at 6-dpf; another was reared to adulthood and assessed using a neurobehavioral test battery (startle habituation, novel tank exploration, shoaling, and predator escape/avoidance). RESULTS: There was no significant increase in the incidence of physical malformation among exposed fish compared to controls. Both retinoic acid and valproic acid exposures during development disrupted larval activity with persisting behavioral alterations later in life, primarily manifesting as decreased social affiliation. CONCLUSIONS: Social behavior and some aspects of motor function were altered in exposed fish; the importance of examining emotional or psychological consequences of early life exposure to retinoid acting chemicals is discussed.

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Published In

Neurotoxicology

DOI

EISSN

1872-9711

Publication Date

January 2016

Volume

52

Start / End Page

23 / 33

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Zebrafish
  • Valproic Acid
  • Tretinoin
  • Toxicology
  • Social Behavior
  • Reflex, Startle
  • Motor Activity
  • Larva
  • Habituation, Psychophysiologic
  • Exploratory Behavior
 

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Bailey, J. M., Oliveri, A. N., Karbhari, N., Brooks, R. A. J., De La Rocha, A. J., Janardhan, S., & Levin, E. D. (2016). Persistent behavioral effects following early life exposure to retinoic acid or valproic acid in zebrafish. Neurotoxicology, 52, 23–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2015.10.001
Bailey, Jordan M., Anthony N. Oliveri, Nishika Karbhari, Roy A. J. Brooks, Amberlene J. De La Rocha, Sheila Janardhan, and Edward D. Levin. “Persistent behavioral effects following early life exposure to retinoic acid or valproic acid in zebrafish.Neurotoxicology 52 (January 2016): 23–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2015.10.001.
Bailey JM, Oliveri AN, Karbhari N, Brooks RAJ, De La Rocha AJ, Janardhan S, et al. Persistent behavioral effects following early life exposure to retinoic acid or valproic acid in zebrafish. Neurotoxicology. 2016 Jan;52:23–33.
Bailey, Jordan M., et al. “Persistent behavioral effects following early life exposure to retinoic acid or valproic acid in zebrafish.Neurotoxicology, vol. 52, Jan. 2016, pp. 23–33. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2015.10.001.
Bailey JM, Oliveri AN, Karbhari N, Brooks RAJ, De La Rocha AJ, Janardhan S, Levin ED. Persistent behavioral effects following early life exposure to retinoic acid or valproic acid in zebrafish. Neurotoxicology. 2016 Jan;52:23–33.
Journal cover image

Published In

Neurotoxicology

DOI

EISSN

1872-9711

Publication Date

January 2016

Volume

52

Start / End Page

23 / 33

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Zebrafish
  • Valproic Acid
  • Tretinoin
  • Toxicology
  • Social Behavior
  • Reflex, Startle
  • Motor Activity
  • Larva
  • Habituation, Psychophysiologic
  • Exploratory Behavior