Aquatic Light/Dark Plus Maze Novel Environment for Assessing Anxious Versus Exploratory Behavior in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Other Small Teleost Fish

Abstract

Initial introduction into novel environments produces in zebrafish behaviors consistent with predator evasion, fear, and/or anxiety. This protocol is for a light/dark plus maze novel environment test utilizing two elements of those behavioral responses, thigmotaxis and light avoidance, to assess “anxiety states” in zebrafish. The test is based upon the rodent elevated plus maze and is scored similarly, except for fish white arms replace opened arms, and black arms parallel closed arms. Several pharmaceuticals that reduce anxiety levels in patients and increase open arm exploration by rodents in the elevated plus maze also increase zebrafish entries into and time spent in white arms of the maze.