Neurobehavioral Effects of Methylmercury Exposure in Young Zebrafish
Presentation Type
Oral and/or Visual Presentation
Presenter Major(s)
Psychology, German
Mentor Information
Xandra Xu, xux@gvsu.edu
Department
Psychology
Location
Kirkhof Center 2263
Start Date
13-4-2011 10:00 AM
End Date
13-4-2011 10:30 AM
Keywords
Life Science
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg), a ubiquitous environmental toxin, has been implicated in neuropsychological disorders in humans, particularly when exposure occurs while the nervous system is undergoing development. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become a useful vertebrate model to investigate the effects of developmental exposure to environmental toxins. The current study investigates the neurobehavioral effects of MeHg exposure in young adult zebrafish using an active avoidance paradigm. Young adult zebrafish were exposed to 0.0 µM, 0.003 µM, 0.01 µM, 0.03 µM, and 0.1 µM of MeHg and then conditioned to swim from a lighted (CS) compartment to a dark compartment to avoid receiving a body shock (US) in a shuttle-box with opaque, manually raised dividers. The training session took place on Day 1 of the experiment. To assess the zebrafish's learning and memory of the training session, zebrafish were then tested during a second session on Day 3 of the experiment.
Neurobehavioral Effects of Methylmercury Exposure in Young Zebrafish
Kirkhof Center 2263
Methylmercury (MeHg), a ubiquitous environmental toxin, has been implicated in neuropsychological disorders in humans, particularly when exposure occurs while the nervous system is undergoing development. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become a useful vertebrate model to investigate the effects of developmental exposure to environmental toxins. The current study investigates the neurobehavioral effects of MeHg exposure in young adult zebrafish using an active avoidance paradigm. Young adult zebrafish were exposed to 0.0 µM, 0.003 µM, 0.01 µM, 0.03 µM, and 0.1 µM of MeHg and then conditioned to swim from a lighted (CS) compartment to a dark compartment to avoid receiving a body shock (US) in a shuttle-box with opaque, manually raised dividers. The training session took place on Day 1 of the experiment. To assess the zebrafish's learning and memory of the training session, zebrafish were then tested during a second session on Day 3 of the experiment.