scholarly journals Differences in stress reactivity between zebrafish with alternative stress coping styles

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 181797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Y. Wong ◽  
Jeffrey French ◽  
Jacalyn B. Russ

Animals experience stress in a variety of contexts and the behavioural and neuroendocrine responses to stress can vary among conspecifics. The responses across stressors often covary within an individual and are consistently different between individuals, which represent distinct stress coping styles (e.g. proactive and reactive). While studies have identified differences in peak glucocorticoid levels, less is known about how cortisol levels differ between stress coping styles at other time points of the glucocorticoid stress response. Here we quantified whole-body cortisol levels and stress-related behaviours (e.g. depth preference, movement) at time points representing the rise and recovery periods of the stress response in zebrafish lines selectively bred to display the proactive and reactive coping style. We found that cortisol levels and stress behaviours are significantly different between the lines, sexes and time points. Further, individuals from the reactive line showed significantly higher cortisol levels during the rising phase of the stress response compared with those from the proactive line. We also observed a significant correlation between individual variation of cortisol levels and depth preference but only in the reactive line. Our results show that differences in cortisol levels between the alternative stress coping styles extend to the rising phase of the endocrine stress response and that cortisol levels may explain variation in depth preferences in the reactive line. Differences in the timing and duration of cortisol levels may influence immediate behavioural displays and longer lasting neuromolecular mechanisms that modulate future responses.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Meier ◽  
Ulrike U. Bentele ◽  
Annika Benz ◽  
Bernadette Denk ◽  
Stephanie J. Dimitroff ◽  
...  

The endocrine stress response helps to maintain homeostasis at times of increased demand and supports survival through energy mobilization. Paradoxically, low blood glucose levels impede the endocrine stress response, yet increasing blood glucose levels through sugar consumption prior to stress restores it. This suggests that glucose availability may play a causal role in the endocrine stress response. However, sugar has other distinct properties beyond the raise of blood glucose concentration. Here, we investigated the potential role of sweetness in restoring the cortisol stress reactivity after fasting. N=152 women (mean(age)=21.53, sd(age)=2.61) participated in a psychosocial stress test for groups in the morning after an overnight fast. Prior to stress induction, participants either consumed a drink that contained a caloric sweetener (sugar, n=51), an equally sweet drink containing non-caloric sweetener (sweetener, n=46), or water (n=56). Salivary cortisol and blood glucose levels were assessed repeatedly. Former studies suggested that sugar load prior to stress leads to increased cortisol responses compared to water, and sweetener. The effects of the consumed drinks on cortisol trajectories were tested using multilevel mixed models. Unexpectedly, we found that sugar and sweetener each significantly increased cortisol stress reactivity compared to water. Indeed, sweetener lead to cortisol increases comparable to sugar. Changes in blood glucose levels after drink consumption were not significantly associated with stress-induced increases in cortisol. This suggests that not the metabolic properties of sugar, but properties of sweet taste prior to stress are critical to boost the endocrine stress response to stress.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
M.F.S. Blazizza ◽  
S.C. Rahal ◽  
I.F.C. Santos ◽  
B.M. Silva ◽  
G.M. Ferreira ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a single-session of whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise on haematological and serum biochemical parameters and serum cortisol levels in healthy adult cats. Ten healthy neutered crossbred cats, five males and five females, aged 2 to 4 years and weighing 3.25-5.15 kg, were enrolled. All cats were tested in the same period starting at 12:00 a.m. and under same environmental conditions. A 1 h period of acclimatisation and rest was completed prior to the WBV session. During the WBV session, the cat was placed in a standing position on the centre of the vibrating platform. Each cat was exposed to a single WBV session. The protocol was 30 Hz for 5 min, followed by 50 Hz for 5 min and finishing with 30 Hz for 5 min. The peak displacements were 3.10 mm and 3.98 mm and the peak accelerations 55.0 m/s and 195.96 m/s. Complete blood cell count, serum biochemistry (alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, creatine phosphokinase) and serum cortisol were determined at three time-points: before (T0), immediately after (T1), and at 4 h after the end of the WBV session (T2). Immediately after increasing the frequency from 30 to 50 Hz, two cats (20%) tried to sit and showed signs of agitation that ceased after 15 s. No cat tried to jump out. The variables presented no statistically significant differences among the time-points. In conclusion, a 15 min session of WBV exercise at frequencies of 30, 50 and 30 Hz does not cause significant changes in haematological or serum biochemical parameters, nor in serum cortisol levels in healthy adult cats.


2012 ◽  
Vol 109 (12) ◽  
pp. 2166-2174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean Basic ◽  
Joachim Schjolden ◽  
Åshild Krogdahl ◽  
Kristine von Krogh ◽  
Marie Hillestad ◽  
...  

The brain monoamines serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) and dopamine (DA) both play an integrative role in behavioural and neuroendocrine responses to challenges, and comparative models suggest common mechanisms for dietary modulation of transmission by these signal substances in vertebrates. Previous studies in teleosts demonstrate that 7 d of dietary administration with l-tryptophan (Trp), the direct precursor of 5-HT, suppresses the endocrine stress response. The present study investigated how long the suppressive effects of a Trp-enriched feed regimen, at doses corresponding to two, three or four times the Trp levels in commercial feed, last in juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) when the fish are reintroduced to a diet with standard amino acid composition. We also wanted to determine whether Trp supplementation induced changes in brain monoaminergic neurochemistry in those forebrain structures innervated by DA- and 5-HTergic neurons, by measuring regional activity of DA and 5-HT in the lateral pallial regions (Dl) of the telencephalon and nucleus lateralis tuberis (NLT) of the hypothalamus. Dietary Trp resulted in a dose-dependent suppression in plasma cortisol among fish exposed to confinement stress on the first day following experimental diet; however, such an effect was not observed at 2 or 6 d after Trp treatment. Feeding the fish with moderate Trp doses also evoked a general increase in DA and 5-HT-ergic activity, suggesting that these neural circuits within the NLT and Dl may be indirectly involved in regulating the acute stress response.


Behaviour ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 149 (9) ◽  
pp. 977-1002 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Boulton ◽  
B. Sinderman ◽  
M.R. Pearce ◽  
R.L. Earley ◽  
A.J. Wilson

While many factors influence contest outcome and social dominance in animals, there is increasing interest in behavioural-physiological stress-coping styles. Causality, however, is often ambiguous; is physiological state determined by contest outcome or vice versa? Furthermore, experimental protocols may themselves induce stress responses that impact individual behaviour and, thus, potentially contest outcome. Here we test whether latency to recover from acute stress, measured both physiologically and behaviourally, predicts who initiates and who wins dyadic contests between pairs of male green swordtails (Xiphophorous helleri). In line with our predictions, animals that recovered faster (behaviourally) from disturbance created by the experimental protocol prior to meeting an opponent were more likely to initiate contests; however, they were not more likely to win and, contrary to expectations, had higher pre-contest cortisol levels than their opponents. They also showed greater physiological stress responses to the experiment as determined from the difference between pre- and post-contest cortisol levels. Moreover, stress response was independent of whether a contest escalated. In contradiction to evidence found in other taxa and fish systems, the suite of traits that we measured were not correlated in a manner that allowed classification of the animals into the usual reactive and proactive stress-coping styles. Our results suggest that coping style may play a key role in determining which individual initiates a contest, but that other factors govern contest outcome.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 618-633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kay Boulton ◽  
Elsa Couto ◽  
Andrew J. Grimmer ◽  
Ryan L. Earley ◽  
Adelino V. M. Canario ◽  
...  

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alia O. Alia ◽  
Maureen L. Petrunich-Rutherford

The current study investigated the independent and combined effects of caffeine and taurine on anxiety-like behavior and neuroendocrine responses in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylpurine-2,6-dione), the world’s most commonly used psychoactive drug, acts as an adenosine receptor blocker and a mild central nervous system stimulant. However, excessive use of caffeine is associated with heightened anxiety levels. Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid), a semi-essential amino acid synthesized within the human brain, has been hypothesized to play a role in regulating anxiolytic behavior. Caffeine and taurine are two common additives in energy drinks and are often found in high concentrations in these beverages. However, few studies have investigated the interaction of these two chemicals with regards to anxiety measures. A suitable vertebrate to examine anxiety-like behavior and physiological stress responses is the zebrafish, which has shown promise due to substantial physiological and genetic homology with humans. Anxiety-like behavior in zebrafish can be determined by analyzing habituation to novelty when fish are placed into a novel tank and scototaxis (light avoidance) behavior in the light-dark test. Stress-related neuroendocrine responses can be measured in zebrafish by analyzing whole-body cortisol levels. The goal of this study was to determine if exposure to caffeine, taurine, or a combination of the two compounds altered anxiety-like behavior and whole-body cortisol levels in zebrafish relative to control. Zebrafish were individually exposed to either caffeine (100 mg/L), taurine (400 mg/L), or both for 15 min. Zebrafish in the control group were handled in the same manner but were only exposed to system tank water. After treatment, fish were transferred to the novel tank test or the light-dark test. Behavior was tracked for the first 6 min in the novel tank and 15 min in the light-tark test. Fifteen min after introduction to the behavioral task, fish were euthanized for the analysis of whole-body cortisol levels. The results demonstrate that caffeine treatment decreased the amount of exploration in the top of the novel tank and increased scototaxis behavior in the light-dark test, which supports the established anxiogenic effect of acute exposure to caffeine. Taurine alone did not alter basal levels of anxiety-like behavioral responses nor ameliorated the anxiogenic effects of caffeine on behavior when the two compounds were administered concurrently. None of the drug treatments altered basal levels of whole-body cortisol. The current results of this study suggest that, at least at this dose and time of exposure, taurine does not mitigate the anxiety-producing effects of caffeine when administered in combination, such as with energy drink consumption.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander C. Goodman ◽  
Ryan Y. Wong

AbstractVariation in stress responses between individuals is linked to factors ranging from stress coping styles to sensitivity of neurotransmitter systems. Many anxiolytic compounds (e.g. ethanol) can increase stressor engagement through modulation of neurotransmitter systems and are used to investigate stress response mechanisms. Here we assessed the role of the GABAA system on the variation of the behavioral stress response by comparing individuals differing in stress coping styles that were chronically treated with ethanol. Specifically, we investigated resulting changes in stress-related behavior and whole-brain GABAA receptor subunits (gabra1, gabra2, gabrd, & gabrg2) in response to a novelty stressor. There were significant main and interaction effects on two stress-related behaviors, where the ethanol-treated proactive individuals showed lower stress-related behaviors than their reactive counterparts. Proactive individuals showed significantly higher expression of gabra1, gabra2, and gabrg2 compared to reactive individuals and ethanol treatment resulted in upregulation of gabra1 and gabrg2 in both stress coping styles. These results show that differences in stress-related behaviors between stress coping styles may be facilitated in part by expression of select GABAA receptor subunits.


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