Alterations in the brain serotonin system and serotonin-regulated behavior during aging in zebrafish males and females.

The brain serotonin (5-HT) system performs a neurotrophic function and supports the plasticity of the nervous system, while its age-related changes can increase the risk of senile neurodegeneration. Zebrafish brain is highly resistant to damage and neurodegeneration due to its high regeneration potential and it is a promising model object in searching for molecular factors preventing age-related neurodegeneration. In the present study alterations in 5-HT-related behavior in the home tank and the novel tank diving test, as well as 5-HT, 5-HIAA levels, tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and the expression of genes encoding TPH, MAO, 5-HT transporter and 5-HT receptors in the brain of 6, 12, 24 and 36 month old zebrafish males and females are investigated.

Long-Term Continuous Computer Registration and Analysis of Motor Activity of a Group of Zebrafish Danio rerio.

A new algorithm for long-term continuous computer recording and analysis of motor activity of a group of zebrafish in the home tank has been developed. The movements of a group of Danio rerio during the entire light period and for several days are recorded at a frequency of 1 frame/sec in the form of short (15 min) files. Then these files are analyzed by the unique DanioStudo software, which, using a threshold algorithm and appropriate masks, calculates for each frame the sum of pixels associated with fish (the sum of fish silhouettes), and for two consecutive frames, the sum of altered pixels (the sum of altered fish silhouettes).

Age-Related Alterations in the Level and Metabolism of Serotonin in the Brain of Males and Females of Annual Turquoise Killifish ().

The annual turquoise killifish () is a laboratory model organism for neuroscience of aging. In the present study, we investigated for the first time the levels of serotonin and its main metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, as well as the activities of the key enzymes of its synthesis, tryptophan hydroxylases, and degradation, monoamine oxidase, in the brains of 2-, 4- and 7-month-old male and female . The marked effect of age on the body mass and the level of serotonin, as well as the activities of tryptophan hydroxylases and monoamine oxidase in the brain of killifish were revealed.

Tryptophan Hydroxylase 2 Deficiency Modifies the Effects of Fluoxetine and Pargyline on the Behavior, 5-HT- and BDNF-Systems in the Brain of Zebrafish ().

The mechanisms of resistance to antidepressant drugs is a key and still unresolved problem of psychopharmacology. Serotonin (5-HT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) play a key role in the therapeutic effect of many antidepressants. Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) is the rate-limiting enzyme in 5-HT synthesis in the brain.

Age-Related Alterations in the Behavior and Serotonin-Related Gene mRNA Levels in the Brain of Males and Females of Short-Lived Turquoise Killifish ().

Short-lived turquoise killifish () have become a popular model organism for neuroscience. In the present paper we study for the first time their behavior in the novel tank diving test and the levels of mRNA of various 5-HT-related genes in brains of 2-, 4- and 6-month-old males and females of . The marked effect of age on body mass, locomotor activity and the mRNA level of , , , , , , , , , genes in the brains of males was shown.

Effects of Sex and Group Size on Behavior and Brain Biogenic Amines in Short-Lived Turquoise Killifish ().

Short-lived turquoise killifish () becomes a popular model species for neuroscience. However, the effects of sex and rearing conditions on behavior and brain monoamines in are unknown. In this article, we study the body mass, behavior in the novel tank diving test, levels of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the brain of 108 day-old males and females reared in small (one male and one or two females in 4-L tanks) and large (four males and four females in 25-L tanks) groups.