Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2025

Experimental Protocol for Examining Behavioral Response Profiles in Larval Fish: Application to the Neuro-stimulant Caffeine
Published on: July 24, 2018
Dataset for clinical parameters and disease transcriptome networks associated with exposure to citalopram in
Kira J Kazi1, Cole D English1, Emma Ivantsova1
1Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
Abstract:
Citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is often detected in aquatic ecosystems. In this investigation, developing zebrafish were continuously exposed to one nominal concentration of either 0, 10, or 1000 µg/L citalopram for 7 days. Ribonucleic acids were then extracted from zebrafish for RNA-sequencing using the NovoSeq 6000 (Illumina). Clean reads were obtained following the removal of both the adapter and poly-N sequences. Alignment and differential gene expression analysis was conducted using programs HISAT2 and StringTie assembler. Data were converted to FPKM to quantify differentially expressed transcripts. Significant clinical subnetworks enriched following citalopram exposure included sympathetic nerve activity, blood pressure, vascular tone, and arterial pressure. Regulated transcripts were related to diseases such as mechanical hyperalgesia, pain, inflammatory pain, obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, fatigue, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Following exposure to 10 µg/L citalopram, several transcripts were linked to brain dysfunction like prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2, microtubule associated protein tau, cathepsin B, and dystrophin. Genes related to cardiac dysfunction were altered in zebrafish following exposure to 1000 µg/L citalopram. Using literature and databases that describe gene interactions, molecular networks (clinical and disease networks) were constructed to understand effects of citalopram.
Insights
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram impact aquatic life. Zebrafish exposed to citalopram showed altered gene expression linked to brain and cardiac dysfunction, highlighting environmental risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental toxicology
- Aquatic ecotoxicology
- Pharmacogenomics
Background:
- Selective serotonin reuptuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are frequently detected in aquatic environments.
- Understanding the molecular effects of SSRIs on aquatic organisms is crucial for environmental risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of citalopram exposure on gene expression in developing zebrafish.
- To identify molecular pathways and disease networks affected by citalopram in an aquatic model.
Main Methods:
- Developing zebrafish were exposed to 0, 10, or 1000 µg/L citalopram for 7 days.
- RNA-sequencing was performed to analyze differential gene expression.
- Bioinformatic tools were used to construct molecular networks and identify affected pathways.
Main Results:
- Citalopram exposure significantly altered gene expression in zebrafish.
- Affected pathways included those related to sympathetic nerve activity, blood pressure, and vascular tone.
- Transcripts linked to brain dysfunction (e.g., prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2) and cardiac dysfunction were identified.
Conclusions:
- Citalopram exposure induces significant molecular changes in developing zebrafish, affecting neurological and cardiovascular systems.
- The study highlights potential risks of SSRIs in aquatic ecosystems.
- Molecular network analysis provides insights into the mechanisms of citalopram toxicity.

