Behavioural
and Metabolical Changes Associated with the Pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s
Disease in Zebrafish
Mădălina GHIDERSA#1 , Diana MOCANU#1 , Mădălina ROBEA1 , Gabriel PLAVAN*1 , Iuliana LUCA1 , Alin CIOBICĂ1,2,3 , Ioannis MAVROUDIS4,5,6,7
1 Department of Research, Faculty of Biology,
Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, B-dul Carol I, no 11, Iasi, Romania
2 Academy of Romanian Scientists, Splaiul
Independentei nr. 54, sector 5, 050094 Bucuresti, Romania
3 Center of Biomedical Research, Romanian Academy,
Iasi, B dul Carol I, no 8, Romania
4 Laboratory of Neuropathology, Electron Microscopy
First Department of Neurology, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
5 Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Leeds LS97TF, UK
6 Institute for Research of Alzheimer’s Disease, Other
Neurodegenerative Diseases and Normal Aging, Heraklion Langada, 54123
Thessaloniki, Greece
7 Third Department of Neurology, Aristotle University
of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
# These authors equally contributed to this work
* Corresponding author at : gabriel.plavan@uaic.ro
Abstract
Background. Affecting 60% of the
people diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative
pathology that negatively impacts the cognitive function. It is characterised
by symptoms as memory loss, locomotor difficulties, behavioural changes, and
even rationalization issues. This disease has been studied on both rodents and
fishes. Rodents helped science people establish the basic neurobiology of
dementia, while fishes (Danio rerio – the zebra fish, especially) were more
appropriate as transgenic models. Recent studies proved that transgenically
induced Alzheimer’s disease at zebra fishes is not defined only by cognitive
decline but also by motor function disorders. Objectives. This study aims to
analyse how iron chloride and sucrose impact zebra fishes’ locomotion and
memory by using the T maze. Methods. 50 zebra fishes were purchased from a local
pisciculturist and randomly divided in 4 experimental groups. They were
accommodated in the Ecotoxicology laboratory at “Alexandru Ioan Cuza”
University for 3 weeks according to the European Union Commission and European
Union Council recommendations regarding experimental purposes animals'
protection and accommodation. Fishes’ possible behavioural changes were
analysed after they were given sucrose and iron chloride separately and in
their combination. Results. We observed that sucrose administration
negatively impacted the locomotory activity while iron chloride surprisingly
increased it. The possible explanation is the fact that iron chloride generated
anxiety - an early-stage Alzheimer's disease symptom, and therefore
improved fishes' swimming performance. Successive sucrose and iron chloride
administration also led to increased locomotor activity.
Keywords: : Alzheimer’s disease, dementia,
zebra fish, behaviour, sucrose, iron chloride
DOI https://doi.org/10.56082/annalsarscibio.2021.2.66