Pharmacological modulation of anxiety-like phenotypes in adult zebrafish behavioral models

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are becoming increasingly popular in neurobehavioral research. Here, we summarize recent data on behavioral responses of adult zebrafish to a wide spectrum of putative anxiolytic and anxiogenic agents. Using the novel tank test as a sensitive and efficient behavioral assay, zebrafish anxiety-like behavior can be bi-directionally modulated by drugs affecting the gamma-aminobutyric acid, monoaminergic, cholinergic, glutamatergic and opioidergic systems. Complementing human and rodent data, zebrafish drug-evoked phenotypes obtained in this test support this species as a useful model for neurobehavioral and psychopharmacological research.

Research Highlights
► Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is becoming increasingly popular in neurobehavioral research.
► Data on behavioral responses of adult fish to anxiotropic drugs is summarized.
► The novel tank test is sensitive to drug-evoked zebrafish anxiety-like behavior.
► Zebrafish behavioral phenotypes parallel human and rodent data.
► Zebrafish models are a useful tool for neurobehavioral research.