Preferência Claro/Escuro em Danio rerio: Efeitos da Melatonina Sobre o Horário da Coleta e de Regime de Luz

Abstract

Danio rerio is a widely used animal model for behavioral experiments in white / black tanks. The white side of the aquarium seems to cause aversion and the preference seems to be to stay longer on the dark side. Melatonin is a indoleamine which influence the physiological functioning of fish. The aims of this work are: to survey the literature on melatonin and its correlation with fishes and Danio rerio; compare the efficiency of two apparatuses insulation in behavioral tests; testing the influence of four periods of the day and five photoperiods response variation in Zebrafish to light-dark test; compare the time spent on each side of the aquarium test period, subjects isolated on a photoperiod of 12/12 hours with exposure to seven different concentrations of melatonin; statistically comparing the sample into quartiles within each concentration; and statistically compare the sample into quartiles among the first, second and third quartiles of each concentration. The Zebrafish and the fishes seem to have their physiology and behavior influenced by melatonin (both endogenous as exogenous). Both apparatuses isolation proved to be equally effective for behavioral tests. Luminosity seems to drag the Zebrafish circadian cycle, reducing their aversion to the white side of the aquarium, photoperiod 12/12 hour period and night collection. Melatonin seems to influence the change caused by photoperiod, decreasing or canceling the dragging. In our sample seems to be subpopulations that respond differently to exposure to the same concentration of melatonin. Studies with specific strains of Zebrafish and with a wider range of concentrations of melatonin appear to be necessary to identify the specific dosage possible to counteract the performance in light entrainment of the circadian cycle in Danio rerio.