Meeting Abstract

P3.33  Thursday, Jan. 6  Dietary lipids increase behavioral stress and activity levels in zebrafish Danio rerio exposed to a social stimulus BELLINGHERI, Kaisha*; RUIZ, Mayté; MARTINS, Emília P.; Alabama A&M University; Indiana University; Indiana University kaishab@yahoo.com

Lipids decrease social stress and stabilize mood in humans. We tested for a similar effect in male zebrafish by measuring whether supplemental dietary lipids decreased stress in fish exposed to a social stimulus. We manipulated social stimulus by allowing short daily visual interactions with a focal pair of stimulus fish. Within each of these groups, we manipulated dietary lipids by adding sesame oil to fish flakes fed to some fish but not others. In contrast to our prediction, we found that supplemental lipids increased both time to recover from a mild disturbance and activity levels, regardless of social treatment. Repeated visual exposure to novel fish increased activity levels of male zebrafish but did not alter time to recover from disturbance, our behavioral measures of stress. Urinary cortisol analyses showed no difference between fish with or without a social stimulus, suggesting that our social manipulation may not be a strong social stressor. These results imply that although male zebrafish behavior is influenced by dietary lipids, the specific direction and interaction with social context may differ from that in humans.