assessing-influence-personality-on-sensitivity-to-magnetic-fields

Assessing the Influence of Personality on Sensitivity to Magnetic Fields in Zebrafish

To orient themselves in their environment, animals integrate a wide array of external cues, which interact with several internal factors, such as ...

University of Naples Federico II

This study was designed to investigate the short-term effects of cortisol and 17-beta-estradiol on the intact coronary tree of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). A non-working, isolated, and perfused heart preparation was used. The coronary pressure was monitored together with the coronary flow in order to calculate the coronary resistance. The drug effects were expressed as percent change in coronary resistance. At concentrations higher than 10(-5) mol l(-1), cortisol elicited a significant vasoconstriction (p<0.001) within 10 min of perfusion. The simultaneous administration of cortisol and adenosine (both at 10(-4) mol l(-1)) induced a significant reduction (p<0.001) of the coronary tree response elicited by each drug alone. The perfusion of the intact coronary trout system with 20 ng ml(-1) of 17-beta-estradiol elicited a significant vasodilative response (p<0.001) within 5-15 min of perfusion. This vasodilation did not involve nitric oxide, because no significant effect of Nomega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) in presence of the estrogen was observed. 17-beta-estradiol was also able to reduce the vasoconstriction induced by 10(-3) mol l(-1) acetylcholine. From these results it is possible to suggest that the steroid hormones, cortisol and 17-beta-estradiol, expound their action on the trout coronary tree through a non-genomic mechanism.

Short-term responses of coronary circulation to cortisol and estrogen in trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

In mammals, the in vivo coronary blood flow and myocardial oxygen consumption are closely related via changes in coronary resistance in response to the metabolic demands of the myocardium. A fine neurohumoral regulation of coronary resistance holds true also in fish, and particularly in teleosts, where several vasoconstrictive and vasodilative mechanisms have been described, with numerous putative effectors, including prostanoids, acetylcholine, adrenaline, serotonin, adenosine, steroid hormones. Here, a resume is reported of the available evidence on the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in the control of coronary resistance in teleosts and particularly in salmonids. Most of the evidence reported is from a comprehensive study performed on a Langedorff-type preparation of the isolated trout heart. Using a physio-pharmacological approach, the experiments performed on this preparation have demonstrated that trout coronary resistance is reduced by l-arginine (NOS substrate), nitroprusside and SNAP (NO donors) and is increased by the NOS inhibitors l-NNA and l-NAME. The vasodilation induced by nitroprusside is blocked by the guanylate cyclase inhibitor methylene blue. l-arginine increases NO release in the perfusate, while l-NNA reduces the release. NO release is inversely related with the coronary resistance. l-NNA inhibits the vasodilatory effects of acetylcholine, serotonin and adenosine. The vasodilation induced by adenosine is accompanied by NO release and involves stretch receptors. Hypoxia induces vasodilation and both adenosine and NO release in the preparation; the NO release under hypoxia is blocked by theophylline. On the whole these data indicate that NO plays a central role in the control of coronary resistance in trout. In particular, a main role for NO as an amplifier of the adenosine-mediated vasodilation under hypoxia can be hypothesized.

Role of nitric oxide in the control of coronary resistance in teleosts.

Rheotaxis, the unconditioned orienting response to water currents, is a main component of fish behavior. Rheotaxis is achieved using multiple sensory systems, including visual and tactile cues. Rheotactic orientation in open or low-visibility waters might also benefit from the stable frame of reference provided by the geomagnetic field, but this possibility has not been explored before. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) form shoals living in freshwater systems with low visibility, show a robust positive rheotaxis, and respond to geomagnetic fields. Here, we investigated whether a static magnetic field in the Earth-strength range influenced the rheotactic threshold of zebrafish in a swimming tunnel. The direction of the horizontal component of the magnetic field relative to water flow influenced the rheotactic threshold of fish as part of a shoal, but not of fish tested alone. Results obtained after disabling the lateral line of shoaling individuals with Co suggest that this organ system is involved in the observed magneto-rheotactic response. These findings constitute preliminary evidence that magnetic fields influence rheotaxis and suggest new avenues for further research.

Claudio Agnisola

Department of Biology,
MSA Campus,
Department of Biology, MSA Campus

University of Naples Federico II

Assessing the Influence of Personality on Sensitivity to Magnetic Fields in Zebrafish

Claudio Agnisola

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Department of Biology,MSA Campus,Department of Biology, MSA Campus

University of Naples Federico II

Assessing the Influence of Personality on Sensitivity to Magnetic Fields in Zebrafish

Department of Biology,
MSA Campus,
Department of Biology, MSA Campus