Behavioral screening for cocaine sensitivity in mutagenized zebrafish

T Darland, JE Dowling - Proceedings of the National …, 2001 - National Acad Sciences
T Darland, JE Dowling
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2001National Acad Sciences
Understanding the molecular basis of addiction could be greatly aided by using forward
genetic manipulation to lengthen the list of candidate genes involved in this complex
process. Here, we report that zebrafish exhibit cocaine-induced conditioned place
preference. In a pilot screen of 18 F2 generation families of mutagenized fish, we found
three with abnormally low responses to cocaine. This behavior was inherited by the F3
generation in a manner that suggests the abnormalities were because of dominant …
Understanding the molecular basis of addiction could be greatly aided by using forward genetic manipulation to lengthen the list of candidate genes involved in this complex process. Here, we report that zebrafish exhibit cocaine-induced conditioned place preference. In a pilot screen of 18 F2 generation families of mutagenized fish, we found three with abnormally low responses to cocaine. This behavior was inherited by the F3 generation in a manner that suggests the abnormalities were because of dominant mutations in single genes. Performance profiles in secondary behavioral screens measuring visual dark-adaptation and learning suggest that the defects were the result of mutations in distinct genes that affect dopaminergic signaling in the retina and brain.
National Acad Sciences