Advisory Committee Chair
Stephen A Watts
Advisory Committee Members
Robert Sorge
Mickie Powell
Ken Marion
Thane Wibbels
Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
2020
Degree Name by School
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) College of Arts and Sciences
Abstract
Here we demonstrate the utility of a zebrafish-based model of nociception to serve as a novel screening tool for analgesic drugs. Zebrafish swimming behavior was measured following administration of various algogens used in rodent research. All compounds reduce distance traveled, thought to be an expression of nociception. Furthermore, we undertook to investigate the contribution of sex and feeding history on the acetic acid-evoked nociceptive response in zebrafish. Data suggest that male fish were more sensitive to pain than females, and that females recovered from pain faster than males. Dietary restriction increased pain sensitivity in zebrafish. We then tested the viability of adult zebrafish as a model for thermal hyperalgesia. Our secondary objective was to confirm the existence of a stress induced hyperthermic response which may be an indicator of sentience. Zebrafish chose to spend the most time in water over 33°C no matter their sex or drug treatment. Cortisol levels were lower when fish in the nociceptive treatment were held at 34°C rather than 24°C. These data support the use of zebrafish as a cost‐effective high-throughput model for tests of nociception with results comparable to rodent models. We do not suggest adult zebrafish are an appropriate model for thermal hyperalgesia and it remains unknown if zebrafish are capable of experiencing stress induced hyperthermia.
Recommended Citation
Taylor, Chris, "Novel Methods For Establishing The Capacity For Nociception And Cognition In The Zebrafish Danio Rerio" (2020). All ETDs from UAB. 3112.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/3112