Psychedelic Zebrafish: the effects of LSD and MDMA on zebrafish behavior and physiology

In order to propel the acceptance of behavioral fish models, it is imperative to deconstruct the behavior of adult zebrafish into robust, quantifiable phenotypes. Our lab has extensively evaluated the novel tank test as a measure of affective behavior and the organization of locomotion. The use of zebrafish in pharmacological research has proved especially advantageous as it simplifies researchers’ abilities to hypothesize and observe behaviors comparable to those seen in rodents and humans.

Using the novel tank test, lysergic acid diethylamide (250 µg/L, 20 min exposure) and 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (10, 40, 80, 120 mg/L, 20 min exposure) were given to # adult zebrafish. Traditional manual endpoints, automated video-tracking technologies and endocrine profiles were utilized and provided data that substantiates and quantifies behavioral, locomotive, and physiological domains.