Anxiogenic effects of acute caffeine exposure on alternative stress coping styles in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Presenter Type
UNO Undergraduate Student
Major/Field of Study
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Other
Medicinal Chemistry and Neuroscience
Advisor Information
Dr. Ryan Wong
Location
MBSC Ballroom Poster # 409 - U
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
24-3-2023 2:30 PM
End Date
24-3-2023 3:45 PM
Abstract
Anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders and is caused in part by dysregulation of neurotransmitter systems. Specifically, the adenosine pathway has been correlated with anxiety disorders. Caffeine directly influences the adenosine pathway and can increase anxiety behavior by antagonizing adenosine receptors. It is not yet known if genetic differences in the adenosine pathway are responsible for differences in the amount of anxiety-related behavior. In this study, I investigated the role of the adenosine pathway in anxiety of zebrafish with different stress coping styles (proactive and reactive) with the use of caffeine. I hypothesize that the reactive zebrafish will have a significant increase in anxiety-related behavior with caffeine treatment compared to the proactive zebrafish and that lower gene expression within the adenosine pathway will be correlated with higher anxiety-related behavior. Using a between-subjects design, I acutely treated the proactive and reactive zebrafish with caffeine at the concentrations of 0, 50, 100, and 150 mg/L and quantified their behavior for two durations after caffeine exposure (6 and 30 minutes). I also quantified the expression of adenosine receptor subtypes adora1b, adora2aa, adora2ab, adora2b and enzymes adenosine deaminase and ecto-5-nucleotidase in the whole brain through qPCR. Both the 6 and 30 minute behavioral trials demonstrated a trend of increased anxiety in reactive zebrafish with the 50 mg/L caffeine concentration compared to the controls. The reactive zebrafish did not significantly increase their anxiety-related behaviors at either the 100 mg/L or 150 mg/L caffeine concentrations in both 6 and 30 minute trials. The proactive zebrafish did not display a trend of increased anxiety for any caffeine concentration and length of behavioral trial. The increased anxiety of the reactive zebrafish after caffeine treatment compared to the proactive zebrafish may indicate that there’s a difference in gene expression within the adenosine pathway that impacts anxiety. By uncovering the pathway’s role in anxiety, new drug targets may be discovered for treatment of anxiety disorders through further research.
Scheduling
9:15-10:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m.-Noon, 2:30 -3:45 p.m.
Anxiogenic effects of acute caffeine exposure on alternative stress coping styles in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
MBSC Ballroom Poster # 409 - U
Anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders and is caused in part by dysregulation of neurotransmitter systems. Specifically, the adenosine pathway has been correlated with anxiety disorders. Caffeine directly influences the adenosine pathway and can increase anxiety behavior by antagonizing adenosine receptors. It is not yet known if genetic differences in the adenosine pathway are responsible for differences in the amount of anxiety-related behavior. In this study, I investigated the role of the adenosine pathway in anxiety of zebrafish with different stress coping styles (proactive and reactive) with the use of caffeine. I hypothesize that the reactive zebrafish will have a significant increase in anxiety-related behavior with caffeine treatment compared to the proactive zebrafish and that lower gene expression within the adenosine pathway will be correlated with higher anxiety-related behavior. Using a between-subjects design, I acutely treated the proactive and reactive zebrafish with caffeine at the concentrations of 0, 50, 100, and 150 mg/L and quantified their behavior for two durations after caffeine exposure (6 and 30 minutes). I also quantified the expression of adenosine receptor subtypes adora1b, adora2aa, adora2ab, adora2b and enzymes adenosine deaminase and ecto-5-nucleotidase in the whole brain through qPCR. Both the 6 and 30 minute behavioral trials demonstrated a trend of increased anxiety in reactive zebrafish with the 50 mg/L caffeine concentration compared to the controls. The reactive zebrafish did not significantly increase their anxiety-related behaviors at either the 100 mg/L or 150 mg/L caffeine concentrations in both 6 and 30 minute trials. The proactive zebrafish did not display a trend of increased anxiety for any caffeine concentration and length of behavioral trial. The increased anxiety of the reactive zebrafish after caffeine treatment compared to the proactive zebrafish may indicate that there’s a difference in gene expression within the adenosine pathway that impacts anxiety. By uncovering the pathway’s role in anxiety, new drug targets may be discovered for treatment of anxiety disorders through further research.