Physical exercise prevents behavioral alterations in a reserpine-treated zebrafish: A putative depression model

Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD) has increasingly reached the world population with an expressive increase in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we used adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model to verify the effects of reserpine on behavior and neurotransmitter levels. We observed an increase in the immobile time and time spent in the bottom zone of the tank in reserpine-exposed animals. The results demonstrated a decrease in distance traveled and velocity. Reserpine exposure did not induce changes in memory and social interaction compared to the control group. We also evaluated the influence of exposure to fluoxetine, a well-known antidepressant, on the behavior of reserpine-exposed animals. We observed a reversal of behavioral alterations caused by reserpine. To verify whether behavioral alterations in the putative depression model induced by reserpine could be prevented, the animals were subjected to physical exercise for 6 weeks. The results showed a protective effect of the physical exercise against the behavioral changes caused by reserpine in zebrafish. In addition, we observed a reduction in dopamine and serotonin levels and an increase in the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) levels in the brain. Physical exercise was able to prevent the changes in dopamine and serotonin levels, reinforcing that the preventive effect promoted by physical exercise is related to the modulation of neurotransmitter levels. Our findings showed that reserpine was effective in the induction of a putative depression model in zebrafish and that physical exercise may be an alternative to prevent the effects induced by reserpine.