The Efficacy of Melatonin as an Anxiolytic Treatment in Stressed Zebrafish

Overview

Nearly 20% of the population of the United States suffers from some form of anxiety, and nearly a third of the United States Mental healthcare budget is devoted to treating anxiety. Anti-anxiety medications come with debilitating side effects, such as tremors and addiction. Therefore, finding an alternative to popular anxiety medications is desirable. Melatonin is a naturally occurring, sleep-promoting hormone with few side effects, and has shown anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects in some vertebrate organisms, such as mice. This study tested the efficacy of melatonin as a treatment for stress in zebrafish, compared to buspirone, an anxiolytic drug. This was assayed through scoring average swimming depth, which is inversely correlated with stress levels in zebrafish; with higher levels of stress being associated with lower levels in the tank. Through the course of the study, it was found that zebrafish treated with buspirone were located significantly higher in the tank, relative to control (Tukey’s HSD), confirming buspirone’s efficacy as a stress-reducing pharmacological treatment. In addition, it was found that melatonin tended to cause zebrafish to be located slightly higher in the tank, compared to control; however, this was not statistically significant (Tukey’s HSD). The path of an individual fish was also plotted over time, showing that the fish treated with melatonin were at times much more localized in their position, whereas the fish treated with control and buspirone had larger swimming ranges. While melatonin was not as effective as buspirone, it does appear to be a mild anxiolytic with few side effects and warrants further research.

Competition history

• AJAS 2018 Category not listed

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