近日，一項最新研究發(fā)現(xiàn)魚在不同環(huán)境下可以改變它們的行為,，以應(yīng)對環(huán)境的變化,。
倫敦大學(xué)科學(xué)家已經(jīng)證明斑馬魚可以用來研究精神疾病，以找出這種疾病的發(fā)病根源,。
這項研究發(fā)表在Behavioural Brain Research雜志,，研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)斑馬魚在不同環(huán)境情況下會改變自身行為。
生物和化學(xué)科學(xué)部Caroline Brennan醫(yī)生領(lǐng)導(dǎo)了這項研究,，她說：斑馬魚正在成為研究許多精神疾病的遺傳機制的最有用的動物模型之一,，斑馬魚繁殖力強，許多新的令人興奮的科學(xué)技術(shù)讓我們在實驗室就能探索斑馬魚的基因構(gòu)成,。
科學(xué)家們讓15條斑馬魚通過一系列涉及顏色選擇的實驗,，測試斑馬魚與精神疾病相關(guān)的行為。
魚被給予兩種顏色以供選擇,，斑馬魚會慢慢學(xué)會選擇能給它們帶來食物的顏色,。當顏色改變時，即斑馬魚發(fā)現(xiàn)選擇某一種顏色不會有食物時,，它們的選擇會有所改變,，學(xué)會重新選擇顏色。
然后，科學(xué)家運用了一套新的顏色,，并重新重復(fù)這一實驗過程,。斑馬魚能夠相應(yīng)地改變自己選擇顏色的行為，其改變的速度遠遠超過原來科學(xué)家設(shè)想的速度,。
我們的研究結(jié)果表明,，有可能在未來，斑馬魚可能是一個有用的模型來研究這些疾病的發(fā)病機制和預(yù)測疾病的預(yù)后情況,。（生物谷：Bioon.com）
doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2011.10.037
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Development and implementation of a three-choice serial reaction time task for zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Matthew O. Parker, Mollie E. Millington, Fraser J. Combe, Caroline H. Brennan
Zebrafish are an established and widely utilized developmental genetic model system, but limitations in developed behavioral assays have meant that their potential as a model in behavioral neuroscience has yet to be fully realized. Here, we describe the development of a novel operant behavioral assay to examine a variety of aspects of stimulus control in zebrafish using a 3 choice serial reaction time task (3 CSRTT). Fish were briefly exposed to three spatially distinct, but perceptually identical stimuli, presented in a random order after a fixed-time inter-trial interval (ITI). Entries to the correct response aperture either during the stimulus presentation, or within a brief limited hold period following presentation, were reinforced with illumination of the magazine light and delivery of a small food reward. Following training, premature responding was probed with a long-ITI session three times; once at baseline, once following a saline injection and once following an injection of a low dose of amphetamine (AMPH; 0.025 mg/kg). We predicted that if premature responding was related to impulsivity (as in rodents) it would be reduced following the AMPH injection. Results confirmed that zebrafish could learn to perform a complex operant task similar to tasks developed for rodents which are used to probe sustained attention and impulsivity, but the results from the AMPH trials were inconclusive. This study provides the foundations for development and further validation of this species as a model for some aspects of human attentional and impulse control disorders, such as substance abuse disorder.
