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.

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Apr 13th, 10:00 AM Apr 13th, 10:30 AM

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.