Abstract
We applied an acute stress model to zebra fish in order to measure the changes in
the metabolome due to biological stress. This was done by submitting the fish to fifteen
minutes of acute confinement (netting) stress, and then five minutes for the open
field and light/dark field tests. A polar extract of the zebra fish was then subjected
to 1H nuclear magnetic spectroscopy. Multivariate data analysis of the spectra showed
a clear separation associated to a wide range of metabolites between zebra fish that
were submitted to open field and light/dark field tests. Alanine, taurine, adenosine,
creatine, lactate, and histidine were high in zebra fish to which the light/dark field
test was applied, regardless of stress, while acetate and isoleucine/lipids appeared
to be higher in zebra fish exposed to the open field test. These results show that
any change in the environment, even for a small period of time, has a noticeable physiological
impact. This research provides an insight of how different mechanisms are activated
under different environments to maintain the homeostasis of the body. It should also
contribute to establish zebra fish as a model for metabolomics studies.
Key words
zebra fish - NMR - metabolomics - stress