Behavioral profile of adult zebrafish acutely exposed to a selective dopamine uptake inhibitor, GBR 12909

Background: The dopamine transporter (DAT) is the main regulator of dopamine concentration in the extrasynaptic space. The pharmacological inhibition of the DAT results in a wide spectrum of behavioral manifestations, which have been identified so far in a limited number of species, mostly in rodents. Aim: Here, we used another well-recognized model organism, the zebrafish (Danio rerio), to explore the behavioral effects of GBR 12909, a highly-affine selective DAT blocker. Methods: We evaluated zebrafish locomotion, novelty-related exploration, spatial cognition, and social phenotypes in the novel tank, habituation and shoaling tests, following acute 20-min water immersion in GBR 12909. Results: Our findings show hypolocomotion, anxiety-like state, and impaired spatial cognition in fish acutely treated with GBR 12909. This behavioral profile generally parallels that of the DAT knockout rodents and zebrafish, and it overlaps with behavioral effects of other DAT-inhibiting drugs of abuse, such as cocaine and D-amphetamine. Conclusion: Collectively, our data support the utility of zebrafish in translational studies on DAT targeting neuropharmacology and strongly implicate DAT aberration as an important mechanisms involved in neurological and psychiatric diseases.