Neurobiochemical Analysis of Abnormal Fish Behavior Caused by Copper and Fluoranthene Toxicity

The goal of this study is to develop a biomarker used in monitoring abnormal behaviors of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) as a model organism caused by hazardous chemicals. Japanese medaka was treated by copper and fluoranthene of appropriate sublethal concentrations after starvation for 48 hr. In this study we investigated neural toxicity of copper and fluoranthene in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) along with comparative analysis of corresponding behavioral responses. The untreated individuals showed common behavioral characteristics (i.e., smooth and linear movements). Locomotive activity of the fish was monitored using an image processing and automatic data acquisition system. When treated with copper (100 ppb), the fish showed shaking patterns more frequently. As the concentration of copper increased to 1,000 ppb, activity decreased, and the fish showed an erratic movement. The treated with fluoranthene, however, showed stopping and abrupt change of orientation (100 ppb), and severely reduced locomotive activity and enhanced surfacing activity (1,000 ppb).