Ethanol and caffeine age-dependently alter brain and retinal neurochemical levels without affecting morphology of juvenile and adult zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Adolescent alcohol exposure in humans is predictive of adult development of alcoholism. In rodents, caffeine pre-exposure enhances adult responsiveness to ethanol via a pathway targeted by both compounds. Embryonic exposure to either compound adversely affects development, and both compounds can alt...

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Main Authors: Carly L Clayman, Christina Hwang, Victoria P Connaughton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2023-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286596
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author Carly L Clayman
Christina Hwang
Victoria P Connaughton
author_facet Carly L Clayman
Christina Hwang
Victoria P Connaughton
author_sort Carly L Clayman
collection DOAJ
description Adolescent alcohol exposure in humans is predictive of adult development of alcoholism. In rodents, caffeine pre-exposure enhances adult responsiveness to ethanol via a pathway targeted by both compounds. Embryonic exposure to either compound adversely affects development, and both compounds can alter zebrafish behaviors. Here, we evaluate whether co-exposure to caffeine and/or alcohol in adolescence exerts neurochemical changes in retina and brain. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) were given daily 20 min treatments to ethanol (1.5% v/v), caffeine (25-100 mg/L), or caffeine + ethanol for 1 week during mid-late adolescence (53-92 days post fertilization (dpf)) or early adulthood (93-142 dpf). Immediately after exposure, anatomical measurements were taken, including weight, heart rate, pigment density, length, girth, gill width, inner and outer eye distance. Brain and retinal tissue were subsequently collected either (1) immediately, (2) after a short interval (2-4d) following exposure, or (3) after a longer interval that included an acute 1.5% ethanol challenge. Chronic ethanol and/or caffeine exposure did not alter anatomical parameters. However, retinal and brain levels of tyrosine hydroxylase were elevated in fish sacrificed after the long interval following exposure. Protein levels of glutamic acid decarboxylase were also increased, with the highest levels observed in 70-79 dpf fish exposed to caffeine. The influence of ethanol and caffeine exposure on neurochemistry demonstrates specificity of their effects during postembryonic development. Using the zebrafish model to assess neurochemistry relevant to reward and anxiety may inform understanding of the mechanisms that reinforce co-addiction to alcohol and stimulants.
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spelling doaj-art-666a6741b078421eb540b264aa280da82025-08-20T02:48:58ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032023-01-01187e028659610.1371/journal.pone.0286596Ethanol and caffeine age-dependently alter brain and retinal neurochemical levels without affecting morphology of juvenile and adult zebrafish (Danio rerio).Carly L ClaymanChristina HwangVictoria P ConnaughtonAdolescent alcohol exposure in humans is predictive of adult development of alcoholism. In rodents, caffeine pre-exposure enhances adult responsiveness to ethanol via a pathway targeted by both compounds. Embryonic exposure to either compound adversely affects development, and both compounds can alter zebrafish behaviors. Here, we evaluate whether co-exposure to caffeine and/or alcohol in adolescence exerts neurochemical changes in retina and brain. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) were given daily 20 min treatments to ethanol (1.5% v/v), caffeine (25-100 mg/L), or caffeine + ethanol for 1 week during mid-late adolescence (53-92 days post fertilization (dpf)) or early adulthood (93-142 dpf). Immediately after exposure, anatomical measurements were taken, including weight, heart rate, pigment density, length, girth, gill width, inner and outer eye distance. Brain and retinal tissue were subsequently collected either (1) immediately, (2) after a short interval (2-4d) following exposure, or (3) after a longer interval that included an acute 1.5% ethanol challenge. Chronic ethanol and/or caffeine exposure did not alter anatomical parameters. However, retinal and brain levels of tyrosine hydroxylase were elevated in fish sacrificed after the long interval following exposure. Protein levels of glutamic acid decarboxylase were also increased, with the highest levels observed in 70-79 dpf fish exposed to caffeine. The influence of ethanol and caffeine exposure on neurochemistry demonstrates specificity of their effects during postembryonic development. Using the zebrafish model to assess neurochemistry relevant to reward and anxiety may inform understanding of the mechanisms that reinforce co-addiction to alcohol and stimulants.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286596
spellingShingle Carly L Clayman
Christina Hwang
Victoria P Connaughton
Ethanol and caffeine age-dependently alter brain and retinal neurochemical levels without affecting morphology of juvenile and adult zebrafish (Danio rerio).
PLoS ONE
title Ethanol and caffeine age-dependently alter brain and retinal neurochemical levels without affecting morphology of juvenile and adult zebrafish (Danio rerio).
title_full Ethanol and caffeine age-dependently alter brain and retinal neurochemical levels without affecting morphology of juvenile and adult zebrafish (Danio rerio).
title_fullStr Ethanol and caffeine age-dependently alter brain and retinal neurochemical levels without affecting morphology of juvenile and adult zebrafish (Danio rerio).
title_full_unstemmed Ethanol and caffeine age-dependently alter brain and retinal neurochemical levels without affecting morphology of juvenile and adult zebrafish (Danio rerio).
title_short Ethanol and caffeine age-dependently alter brain and retinal neurochemical levels without affecting morphology of juvenile and adult zebrafish (Danio rerio).
title_sort ethanol and caffeine age dependently alter brain and retinal neurochemical levels without affecting morphology of juvenile and adult zebrafish danio rerio
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286596
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