Light-Dark Preference Test: A Method to Study Anxiety-Related Behavior in Zebrafish

Abstract

Source: Holcombe, A., et al. A Novel Method of Drug Administration to Multiple Zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the Quantification of Withdrawal. J. Vis. Exp. (2014)

The video describes the light-dark preference assay to study the anxiety-related behavior in zebrafish following the exposure to ethanol.

Protocol

1. Behavioral Testing

1. Obtain a light/dark arena 9.5 cm wide by 55 cm long and 9.5 cm deep with a white waterproof floor (Figure 1B). Affix white and black waterproof non-reflective paper to the inside walls of the arena using velcro, with half of the arena covered in white and half covered in black. Fill the arena to a depth of 5 cm with habitat water at a temperature of 25-28 °C. Maintain this temperature throughout testing.
2. Minimalize external visual stimuli by constructing a white three-sided enclosure for the arena to be situated in. Ensure the testing area has diffuse overhead lighting that does not cause reflections on....

Results

Figure 1: Transfer Procedure and the Light/Dark arena. These photos illustrate the transfer procedure. (A) First, the fish are situated in the transfer tank (left). Dosing tank containing ethanol is pictured (right). (B-C) Moving the fish from.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Light/Dark Arena 	Custom		Construct as per procedure description. 9.5 cm wide, 9.5 cm deep, 55 cm long.
Three shelf benchtop housing system	Aquatic Habitats	N/A
1.5 L Spawning tank w/400 μm baffle	Aquatic Habitats	N/A
Ethovision XT Motion tracking software	Noldus Information Technology
Pure Grain Ethanol	Luxco, INC 	N/A