Aquatic toxicology of fluoxetine: understanding the knowns and the unknowns

Aquat Toxicol. 2014 Nov:156:269-73. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2014.08.014. Epub 2014 Sep 6.

Authors

Adam Michael Stewart¹, Leah Grossman², Michael Nguyen³, Caio Maximino⁴, Denis Broock Rosemberg⁵, David J Echevarria⁶, Allan V Kalueff⁷

Affiliations

¹ ZENEREI Institute, 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA; The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA.
² ZENEREI Institute, 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA; St. George's University School of Medicine, Grenada, WI, USA.
³ ZENEREI Institute, 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 415 Lane Road, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
⁴ The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA; Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Para, Maraba, Para, Brazil.
⁵ The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Ave, Santa Maria, Brazil.
⁶ The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA.
⁷ ZENEREI Institute, 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA; The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA; Research Institute of Marine Drugs and Nutrition, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524088, China. Electronic address: avkalueff@gmail.com.

PMID: 25245382
DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2014.08.014

Abstract

Fluoxetine is one of the most prescribed psychotropic medications, and is an agent of increasing interest for environmental toxicology. Fish and other aquatic organisms are excellent models to study neuroactive small molecules like fluoxetine. However, prone to variance due to experimental factors, data obtained in these models need to be interpreted with caution, using proper experimental protocols, study designs, validated endpoints as well as well-established models and tests. Choosing the treatment protocol and dose range for fluoxetine and other serotonergic drugs is critical for obtaining valid test results and correct data interpretation. Here we discuss the value of aquatic models to study fluoxetine effects, based on prior high-quality research, and outline the directions of future translational studies in the field. We review fluoxetine-evoked phenotypes in acute vs. chronic protocols, discussing them in the contact of complex role of serotonin in behavioral regulation. We conclude that zebrafish and other aquatic models represent a useful in-vivo tool for fluoxetine pharmacology and (eco)toxicology research.

Keywords: Antidepressants; Aquatic model; Ecotoxicology; Fluoxetine; Neuroscience; Zebrafish.

Publication types

Letter
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Aquatic Organisms / drug effects*
Behavior, Animal / drug effects*
Ecotoxicology / standards*
Fluoxetine / toxicity*
Models, Animal
Serotonin / metabolism
Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity
Zebrafish

Substances

Water Pollutants, Chemical
Fluoxetine
Serotonin