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Aluminum exposure alters behavioral parameters and increases acetylcholinesterase activity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) brain

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Abstract

Aluminum is a metal that is known to impact fish species. The zebrafish has been used as an attractive model for toxicology and behavioral studies, being considered a model to study environmental exposures and human pathologies. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of aluminum exposure on brain acetylcholinesterase activity and behavioral parameters in zebrafish. In vivo exposure of zebrafish to 50 μg/L AlCl3 for 96 h at pH 5.8 significantly increased (36%) acetylthiocholine hydrolysis in zebrafish brain. There were no changes in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity when fish were exposed to the same concentration of AlCl3 at pH 6.8. In vitro concentrations of AlCl3 varying from 50 to 250 μM increased AChE activity (28% to 33%, respectively). Moreover, we observed that animals exposed to AlCl3 at pH 5.8 presented a significant decrease in locomotor activity, as evaluated by the number of line crossings (25%), distance traveled (14.1%), and maximum speed (24%) besides an increase in the absolute turn angle (12.7%). These results indicate that sublethal levels of aluminum might modify behavioral parameters and acetylcholinesterase activity in zebrafish brain.

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Abbreviations

ACh:

Acetylcholine

AChE:

Acetylcholinesterase

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by DECIT/SCTIEMS through Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS, Proc. 10/0036-5–PRONEX/Conv. 700545/2008), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), and by the FINEP research grant “Rede Instituto Brasileiro de Neurociência (IBN-Net)” # 01.06.0842-00. M.R.S was the recipient of a fellowship PAPDRJ–CAPES/FAPERJ. G.C.G was the recipient of a fellowship from FAPERGS. K.J.S was the recipient of a fellowship from PROBOLSAS/PUCRS.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Proteins and Peptides Biochemistry, Oswaldo Cruz Institute–FIOCRUZ, Brasil Avenue, 4365, Leonidas Deanne Hall, Room 309, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Mario Roberto Senger

  2. Post-Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Health and Basic Sciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos Street, 2600, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Mario Roberto Senger

  3. Post-Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Neurochemistry and Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ipiranga Avenue, 6681, 90619-900, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Kelly Juliana Seibt, Gabriele Cordenonzi Ghisleni, Renato Dutra Dias & Carla Denise Bonan

  4. Post-Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Molecular and Genomics Biology laboratory, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ipiranga Avenue, 6681, 90619-900, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Mauricio Reis Bogo

  5. National Institute of Science and Technology for Translational Medicine, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Kelly Juliana Seibt, Renato Dutra Dias, Mauricio Reis Bogo & Carla Denise Bonan

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  1. Mario Roberto Senger
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Correspondence to Carla Denise Bonan.

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Senger, M.R., Seibt, K.J., Ghisleni, G.C. et al. Aluminum exposure alters behavioral parameters and increases acetylcholinesterase activity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) brain. Cell Biol Toxicol 27, 199–205 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10565-011-9181-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10565-011-9181-y

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