What does this research mean for the field?

Acute and chronic stress induce divergent behavioral, molecular, and metabolic phenotypes in adult zebrafish, demonstrating their utility for modeling distinct affective disorders like anxiety and depression. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To compare behavioral, histopathological, molecular, and metabolic differences between acute stress-induced anxiety and chronic stress-induced depression in adult zebrafish.

August 23, 2026The World Journal of Biological PsychiatryOpen Access

Divergent neurobehavioral signatures of anxiety and depression: a multilevel comparative analysis in adult zebrafish

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Authors

MKMeryem KankaynarDepartment of Fisheries HCHacer Akgül CeyhunAtatürk University ESEkrem SulukanAtatürk University

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Implication

Preclinical comparative study reveals divergent neurobehavioral and metabolic profiles in zebrafish, indicating distinct mechanisms underlying acute anxiety versus chronic depression.

Key Points

To compare behavioral, histopathological, molecular, and metabolic differences between acute stress-induced anxiety and chronic stress-induced depression in adult zebrafish.
Modeled anxiety via acute predator exposure and depression via a 21-day chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) protocol in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio).
Evaluated outcomes using behavioral assays, brain histopathology, immunohistochemistry for stress markers (BDNF, BMAL1, 5HT4), untargeted metabolomic profiling, and gene expression analysis.
Anxiety-modeled zebrafish showed erratic movement and decreased exploration, whereas depression-modeled zebrafish exhibited decreased locomotor activity, impaired social behavior, cognitive deficits, and elevated immobility in the tail test.
Depression-modeled fish displayed more severe neuronal degeneration and higher accumulation of stress markers (BDNF, BMAL1, 5HT4) compared to anxiety models.
Untargeted metabolomics and gene expression revealed widespread upregulation of neurotransmitter metabolites, neuropeptides, and inflammatory cytokines in depression, contrasted with selective metabolic shifts and essential fatty acid depletion in anxiety.

Cite This Study

Kankaynar et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8aad667677a341144457d9 https://doi.org/10.1080/15622975.2026.2716667

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Implication

Preclinical comparative study reveals divergent neurobehavioral and metabolic profiles in zebrafish, indicating distinct mechanisms underlying acute anxiety versus chronic depression.

Divergent neurobehavioral signatures of anxiety and depression: a multilevel comparative analysis in adult zebrafish

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Divergent neurobehavioral signatures of anxiety and depression: a multilevel comparative analysis in adult zebrafish

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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