Behavioral Responses of Javanese Medaka (Oryzias Javanicus) Versus Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) in Open Field Test.
Abstract Background: Locomotion is integral for animal survivability. However, the understandings of locomotor that lead to exhibition of multiple complex behaviors of fish models in response to an open field environment still remain unresolved. To determine whether two different fish models, Javanese medaka and zebrafish have similar baseline locomotor activity in open field paradigm, an open field test was used. Results: Results showed that Javanese medaka exhibit increased in exploratory activity with lower anxiety responses; exhibit a steady habituation response in OFT paradigm and vice versa in zebrafish. Medaka also took longer duration to establish home-base in comparison to the zebrafish. Although no other motor responses were observed, both fish species displayed strong preference of left eye used to assess the OFT tank. Conclusion: Medaka exhibits slower locomotors activity, lower anxiety responses and steadily maintains its locomotion once they reached habituation. In comparison, zebrafish demonstrated bolder behavioral phenotypes where they showed faster locomotors activity, higher anxiety responses with similar habituation response to the Javanese medaka. Thus, this present study revealed that two different teleost aquatic model organisms, Javanese medaka and zebrafish have different behavioral phenotypes in open field test.