Probiotics reduce anxiety-related behavior in zebrafish

David G Valcarce; Juan M Martínez-Vázquez; Marta F Riesco; Vanesa Robles

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03973

Probiotics reduce anxiety-related behavior in zebrafish

Heliyon. 2020 May 14;6(5):e03973. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03973. eCollection 2020 May.

Authors

David G Valcarce¹, Juan M Martínez-Vázquez¹, Marta F Riesco¹, Vanesa Robles^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ IEO, Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Planta de Cultivos El Bocal, Barrio Corbanera, Monte, 39012, Santander, Spain.
² Cell Biology Area, Department of Molecular Biology, Universidad de León, 24071, León, Spain.

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that gut microbiome could have effects on neurological processes and on behavior. In this study we used the novel tank test (NTT) to analyze zebrafish exploring behavior after four months' supplementation with probiotics with probed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Results showed that prolonged ingestion of Lactobacillus rhamnosus CECT8361 and Bifidobacterium longum CECT7347 significantly alters the swimming pattern and mean swimming speed in the zebrafish model. After treatment, zebrafish strongly reduced their bottom-dwelling geotactic behavior when placed in a new tank, which could be correlated to a lower state of anxiety.

Keywords: Animal behavior; Anxiety; Behaviour; Biological sciences; Diet; Neuroscience; Probiotics; Swimming pattern; Swimming speed; Veterinary medicine; Zebrafish; Zoology.