Effects of early exposure to fluoxetine on behavioural development in zebrafish

Abstract: Many pharmaceuticals are stable molecules and after human excretion they enter the wastewater facilities where roughly 60 % is removed. The remaining residues will affect the concentration in close by streams and at the effluent, where fish like to spawn. Therefore, the development and behaviour of aquatic life is potentially at risk. I studied the effects of fluoxetine on zebrafish (Danio rerio) younger than 1 month which were exposed from fertilized egg until 6 days post fertilization (dpf). The concentrations tested were related to previous findings in the effluent waters, 1 µg/L and 100 µg/L. With Daniovision it was found that there were most differences at 10 dpf, all three variables tested (distance moved, velocity and time in zone) showed differences between the high and low exposure. These results shed light on the rising problem with anti-depressants in the aquatic environment, affecting fish behaviour, withpotential effect on fish population and in the species.