Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 17, 2025
Behavioral Approaches to Studying Innate Stress in Zebrafish
Published on: May 1, 2019
Dioclea Altissima Seed Lectin (DAL) Prevents Anxiety-like Behavioral Responses in Adult Zebrafish (Danio Rerio):
João Ronielly Campêlo Araújo1, Adriana Rolim Campos2, Maria Kueirislene Amâncio Ferreira2
1Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia (Renorbio), State University of Ceará (UECE), Fortaleza, Ceará,Brazil.
Background:
Plant lectins have shown promising neuropharmacological activities in animal models.
Objective:
This study evaluated the effect of Dioclea altissima seed lectin (DAL) on adult zebrafish behavior.
Method:
Zebrafish (n=6/group) were treated (i.p.; 20 μL) with DAL (0.025; 0.05 or 0.1 mg/mL), vehicle or diazepam (DZP) and submitted to several tests (open field, light/dark preference or novel tank). Flumazenil, pizotifen or granisetron were administered 15 min before DAL (0.05 mg/mL), and the animals were evaluated on light/dark preference test. It was also verified whether the DAL effect depended on its structural integrity and ability to interact with carbohydrates.
Results:
DAL decreased the locomotor activity of adult zebrafish (0.025; 0.05 or 0.1 mg/mL), increased the time spent in the upper region of the aquarium (0.025 mg/mL), and decreased the latency time of adult zebrafish to enter the upper region on the novel tank test. DAL (0.05 mg/mL) also increased their permanence in the light zone of the light/dark preference test. The effect of DAL was dependent on carbohydrate interaction and protein structure integrity and was prevented by pizotifen, granizetron and flumazenil.
Conclusion:
DAL was found to have an anxiolytic-like effect mediated by the 5-HT and GABAergic receptors.
