IMPACT OF METHANOL TOXICITY ON STRESS AND SEXUAL BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS IN ZEBRAFISH
Swathi Priya Aiyavu Kannan and Sathya Narayanan Govindarajulu*
ABSTRACT
Methanol is the simplest toxic alcohol similar to that of ethanol and it is highly toxic for consumption. It has been
used as an adulterant in alcoholic beverages and its toxicity remains a common problem among lower
socioeconomic classes. This study was conducted to analyze the effect of methanol intoxication on stress and
sexual behavioral pattern in zebrafish. Sixty zebrafishes was divided into control group and methanol treated
group. Methanol group fishes were subjected to 1% methanol exposure for about one hour/day for 10 days. The
anxiety index of zebrafish was measured in novel and light and dark adaptation tank. In novel tank, the methanol
treated group showed a significant decrease in latency to reach upper portion of the tank and time spent in the
upper portion of the tank and showed a significant increase in the number of transitions to the upper portion of the
tank, duration of erratic movement and freezing compared with the control group. In light and dark adaptation,
methanol exposed fishes showed a significant increase in time spent in light and a significant decrease in time
spent in dark. In male sexual behavior the duration of male chasing the female has no significant change between
the two groups and number of times male hits the female showed significant decrease in methanol exposed group
when compared with the control group. In female sexual behaviour latency period for egg laying has no significant
change in methanol group when compared with the control group. Number of eggs laid showed significant
decrease in methanol treated group when compared with control group. The study of novel tank test, light and dark
adaptation showed an increased anxiogenicity in the methanol treatment group. Sexual behavior also showed
significant alterations due to methanol toxicity.
Keywords: Methanol Toxicity, Sexual Behavior, Zebrafish.
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