scholarly journals Anxiety-like behavior and whole-body cortisol responses to components of energy drinks in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alia O. Alia ◽  
Maureen L. Petrunich-Rutherford

The current study investigated the independent and combined effects of caffeine and taurine on anxiety-like behavior and neuroendocrine responses in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylpurine-2,6-dione), the world’s most commonly used psychoactive drug, acts as an adenosine receptor blocker and a mild central nervous system stimulant. However, excessive use of caffeine is associated with heightened anxiety levels. Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid), a semi-essential amino acid synthesized within the human brain, has been hypothesized to play a role in regulating anxiolytic behavior. Caffeine and taurine are two common additives in energy drinks and are often found in high concentrations in these beverages. However, few studies have investigated the interaction of these two chemicals with regards to anxiety measures. A suitable vertebrate to examine anxiety-like behavior and physiological stress responses is the zebrafish, which has shown promise due to substantial physiological and genetic homology with humans. Anxiety-like behavior in zebrafish can be determined by analyzing habituation to novelty when fish are placed into a novel tank and scototaxis (light avoidance) behavior in the light-dark test. Stress-related neuroendocrine responses can be measured in zebrafish by analyzing whole-body cortisol levels. The goal of this study was to determine if exposure to caffeine, taurine, or a combination of the two compounds altered anxiety-like behavior and whole-body cortisol levels in zebrafish relative to control. Zebrafish were individually exposed to either caffeine (100 mg/L), taurine (400 mg/L), or both for 15 min. Zebrafish in the control group were handled in the same manner but were only exposed to system tank water. After treatment, fish were transferred to the novel tank test or the light-dark test. Behavior was tracked for the first 6 min in the novel tank and 15 min in the light-tark test. Fifteen min after introduction to the behavioral task, fish were euthanized for the analysis of whole-body cortisol levels. The results demonstrate that caffeine treatment decreased the amount of exploration in the top of the novel tank and increased scototaxis behavior in the light-dark test, which supports the established anxiogenic effect of acute exposure to caffeine. Taurine alone did not alter basal levels of anxiety-like behavioral responses nor ameliorated the anxiogenic effects of caffeine on behavior when the two compounds were administered concurrently. None of the drug treatments altered basal levels of whole-body cortisol. The current results of this study suggest that, at least at this dose and time of exposure, taurine does not mitigate the anxiety-producing effects of caffeine when administered in combination, such as with energy drink consumption.

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-78
Author(s):  
Andrei A. Lebedev ◽  
Aleksandr S. Devyashin ◽  
Aleksandra A. Blazhenko ◽  
Sergei V. Kazakov ◽  
Viktor A. Lebedev ◽  
...  

We studied the effect of benzodiazepine anxiolytic phenazepam after the predator presentation to Danio rerio. The test of novelty was used: the fish was placed first in a beaker with a dissolved pharmacological substance (or H2O) and then into a novel tank for 6 min, where the trajectory, the path length, the number of movements to the upper part of the novel tank, the number and time of the pattern of freezing were measured. It is shown that, in response to the novelty of tank, the fish are reacted by submerging to the bottom, increasing the frizing, and reducing the number of movements to the upper half of the novel tank. After phenazepam administration, the fish were not only in the lower, but also in the upper part of the novel tank. The average path length did not change significantly in the range of doses used. The number and time of the frizing, as well as the time spent in the lower part of the novel tank, decreased more than 2 times compared to the control group of animals and showed a dose-dependent effect. The number of movements to the upper part of the novel tank for the experiment increased significantly from 1 in the control to 57 after phenazepam in a dose of 1 mg/l. At the same time, the number of movements of fish to the upper part of the novel tank significantly increased more than 2 times from 3th min of the experiment with the use of phenazepam in a dose of 1 mg/l. Predator presentation (Hypsophrys nicaraguensis) caused an increase in the number of freezing (temporary immobilization) and a decrease in the length of the trajectory of movement in the novel tank as compared with the Danio rerio control group. Phenazapam at a dose of 1 mg/l removed the effects of a predator, while exhibiting a typical effect: the number of movements to the upper part of the tank during the experiment significantly increased to 30; the time at the bottom of the tank was halved. It was concluded that the novelty stress test and the test with a predator are highly sensitive for studying anxiety-phobic reactions in Danio rerio.


PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Nemeth ◽  
Elisabeth Pschernig ◽  
Bernard Wallner ◽  
Eva Millesi

Non-invasive measurements of glucocorticoid (GC) concentrations, including cortisol and corticosterone, serve as reliable indicators of adrenocortical activities and physiological stress loads in a variety of species. As an alternative to invasive analyses based on plasma, GC concentrations in saliva still represent single-point-of-time measurements, suitable for studying short-term or acute stress responses, whereas fecal GC metabolites (FGMs) reflect overall stress loads and stress responses after a species-specific time frame in the long-term. In our study species, the domestic guinea pig, GC measurements are commonly used to indicate stress responses to different environmental conditions, but the biological relevance of non-invasive measurements is widely unknown. We therefore established an experimental protocol based on the animals’ natural stress responses to different environmental conditions and compared GC levels in plasma, saliva, and fecal samples during non-stressful social isolations and stressful two-hour social confrontations with unfamiliar individuals. Plasma and saliva cortisol concentrations were significantly increased directly after the social confrontations, and plasma and saliva cortisol levels were strongly correlated. This demonstrates a high biological relevance of GC measurements in saliva. FGM levels measured 20 h afterwards, representing the reported mean gut passage time based on physiological validations, revealed that the overall stress load was not affected by the confrontations, but also no relations to plasma cortisol levels were detected. We therefore measured FGMs in two-hour intervals for 24 h after another social confrontation and detected significantly increased levels after four to twelve hours, reaching peak concentrations already after six hours. Our findings confirm that non-invasive GC measurements in guinea pigs are highly biologically relevant in indicating physiological stress responses compared to circulating levels in plasma in the short- and long-term. Our approach also underlines the importance of detailed investigations on how to use and interpret non-invasive measurements, including the determination of appropriate time points for sample collections.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (02) ◽  
pp. 84-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romeu P.M. Silva ◽  
Alexandre Vilaça ◽  
Fredy D. Guerra ◽  
Antonio V. Mundim ◽  
Guilherme G. de Agostini ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In order to provide additional information on the behaviour of biochemical parameters related to stress responses to a specific long-term competition, we aimed to compare the stressful effects of a long-lasting competition on physiological variables in men and women. Methods This is a prospective observational analytical study. Twenty-five professional athletes, 15 men and 10 women, travelled 460 km for 4 days in an international edition of the Ecomotion/Pro AR World. Results After the competition, we detected an increase in α-amylase and cortisol levels and a decrease in salivary immunoglobulin A (lgA) levels. The relative percentage changes in α-amylase, IgA and cortisol levels were significantly higher in women than in men, whereas women had lower relative percentage changes in glucose and lactate levels compared with men. There was a decrease in lymphocyte, eosinophil and monocyte counts, with relative percentage decreases in lymphocytes and monocytes being significantly higher in female athletes than in males. There were increases in the serum activities of total creatine kinase (CK), the creatine kinase myocardial isoform (CKMB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) at the end of the test, with significantly higher elevations of total CK, CKMB and LDH in men and ALT in women. Conclusion Long-lasting competition induced stress, muscle damage, anaemia and changes in the immune system. Women had more intense responses of cortisol and leukocytes.


2020 ◽  
pp. 194173812094918
Author(s):  
Ibrahim M. Nadeem ◽  
Ajaykumar Shanmugaraj ◽  
Seaher Sakha ◽  
Nolan S. Horner ◽  
Olufemi R. Ayeni ◽  
...  

Context: Energy drinks are the fastest growing product in the beverage industry. However, there is concern regarding potential for adverse effects with use. Objective: To evaluate the reported adverse effects of energy drink consumption. Data Sources: The electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed were searched for relevant studies from inception to November 2019, and pertinent data were abstracted. Study Selection: Only clinical studies reporting adverse events after energy drink consumption were included. Study Design: Systematic review. Level of Evidence: Level 4. Data Extraction: Data regarding sample size characteristics, energy drink characteristics, comparators, and all adverse events were extracted in duplicate and recorded. Results: A total of 32 studies and 96,549 individuals were included. Frequently reported adverse events in the pediatric population were insomnia (35.4%), stress (35.4%), and depressive mood (23.1%). Frequently reported adverse events in the adult population were insomnia (24.7%), jitteriness/restlessness/shaking hands (29.8%), and gastrointestinal upset (21.6%). Alcohol mixed with energy drinks significantly reduced the likelihood of sedation effects but increased the likelihood of stimulatory effects. Energy drink consumption significantly increased the odds of insomnia (OR, 5.02; 95% CI, 1.72-14.63) and jitteriness/activeness (OR, 3.52; 95% CI, 1.28-9.67) compared with the control group. Conclusion: The authors recommend that individuals avoid frequent energy drink consumption (5-7 energy drinks/week) and avoid co-consumption with alcohol; increased regulatory standards should be placed in the sale of energy drinks, particularly with regard to the pediatric population.


Behaviour ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 149 (9) ◽  
pp. 977-1002 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Boulton ◽  
B. Sinderman ◽  
M.R. Pearce ◽  
R.L. Earley ◽  
A.J. Wilson

While many factors influence contest outcome and social dominance in animals, there is increasing interest in behavioural-physiological stress-coping styles. Causality, however, is often ambiguous; is physiological state determined by contest outcome or vice versa? Furthermore, experimental protocols may themselves induce stress responses that impact individual behaviour and, thus, potentially contest outcome. Here we test whether latency to recover from acute stress, measured both physiologically and behaviourally, predicts who initiates and who wins dyadic contests between pairs of male green swordtails (Xiphophorous helleri). In line with our predictions, animals that recovered faster (behaviourally) from disturbance created by the experimental protocol prior to meeting an opponent were more likely to initiate contests; however, they were not more likely to win and, contrary to expectations, had higher pre-contest cortisol levels than their opponents. They also showed greater physiological stress responses to the experiment as determined from the difference between pre- and post-contest cortisol levels. Moreover, stress response was independent of whether a contest escalated. In contradiction to evidence found in other taxa and fish systems, the suite of traits that we measured were not correlated in a manner that allowed classification of the animals into the usual reactive and proactive stress-coping styles. Our results suggest that coping style may play a key role in determining which individual initiates a contest, but that other factors govern contest outcome.


Author(s):  
Fahad I. Al-Saikhan

The recent years have seen a significant increase in the individual consumption of energy drinks across the globe. As a result, notable concerns continue to rise both among the public and among the scientific community, concerning the health effects that energy drinks pose to individuals. This study therefore examines the adverse effects of energy drinks on health, using ten normal albino rats as specimens. The specimen was then divided into two groups consisting of five rats each, with one group was given energy drinks while the control group was given normal drinking water days for a period of 21 days. The specimen was then sacrificed and their blood samples used for biochemical and histological studies. The study findings reveal that energy drink consumption significantly increased the serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), urea and creatinine levels when compared with the control group. In addition, the study demonstrates that energy drink consumption significantly decreased body weight and organ to body weight ratios when compared with the control group. The study further recognizes that the consumption of energy drink is associated with significant alterations in serum toxicity markers, bodyweight, organ body weight and histopathological changes. The study therefore recommends that need for public health education to educate individuals; especially youths about the risks of consuming highly caffeinated energy drinks. The study also recommends the need for further studies in order to minimize the harm excess and long-term consumption of energy drinks presented to the public. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Budi Santo ◽  
Dorta Simamora

The energy drink is a beverage that is increasingly being used by the community with the aim to improve work performance, vitality, and concentration. The energy drink is also suspected to affect kidney function. This study aims to determine whether there is influence of various brands of energy drinks (M1, M2, M3, M4) of the serum creatinine levels in male rats Rattus norvegicus.This is a study with randomized post test only control group design. The study used male rats Rattus norvegicus as many as 25 animals that were divided into 5 groups. The control group, the group P1 = M1 energy drinks, group P2 = M2 energy drinks, group P3 = M3 energy drinks, group P4 = M4 energy drinks. The energy drinks were given as many as 2.5 ml / 200 g weight / day for 1 month. Cardiac blood sampling performed to measure the levels of serum creatinine and then the results were analyzed using One-Way Anova to compare the levels of serum creatinine in each group of this study. Results of One-Way Anova test obtained by sig α = 0.000 which means there is significant difference between the treatment group and the control group. It can be concluded that the administration of energy drinks to the Rattus norvegicus would be altered the kidney function. It is caused by various substances contained in energy drinks such as taurine, sugar, vitamin B, caffeine, and other supplementary materials.


The aim of the research was to study the features of the morphofunctional state of the pineal gland, neurohypophysis and adrenal medulla, as well as the сontent of serotonin and catecholamine in the blood serum of rats against the background of energy drink administration during two weeks. In animals that consumed energy drinks during two weeks at a dose of 6 ml per kg of body weight, serum serotonin and catecholamine levels were determined. Histological, including morphometric, studies of the epiphysis, posterior pituitary and adrenal medulla were performed. Against the background of energy drink administration, an increase in the content of blood serum serotonin, norepinephrine and epinephrine was detected. The morphofunctional state of the endocrine glands investigated in the present study is strongly stimulated. Indirect signs of apoptosis of parenchymal cells in the pineal gland, neurohypophysis and adrenal medulla were established. The studied stress-associated endocrine glands in animals against the background of the two-week intake of energy drinks have signs of a sharp stimulation of hormone production (serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and vasopressin). Oral consumption of energy drinks during two weeks by experimental animals led to morphological changes in the pineal gland (prevalence of indolamine-producing pinealocytes), an increased load on these cells and probably their faster and frequent apoptosis. The number of pinealocytes in the pineal gland decreases and their morpho-functional load increases.2. Short-term administration (14 days) of caffeinated energy drinks affects the morphofunctional state of posterior pituitary, which can be highly likely interpreted as a result of overproduction of vasopressin.3. Overproduction of serotonin by pynea-locytes and catecholamine by adrenal glands is confirmed by their higher levels in blood serum of animals after the two-week-long intake of energy drinks compared to the control group.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document