Activation of NOS-cGMP pathways promotes stress-induced sensitization of behavioral responses in zebrafish.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule involved in plasticity across levels and systems. The role of NOergic pathways in stress-induced sensitization (SIS) of behavioral responses, in which a particular stressor triggers a state of hyper-responsiveness to other stressors after an incubation period, was assessed in adult zebrafish. In this model, adult zebrafish acutely exposed to a fear-inducing conspecific alarm substance (CAS) and left undisturbed for an incubation period show increased anxiety-like behavior 24 h after exposure.