Preliminary Data Regarding the Effects of Oxytocin Administration on the Oxidative Stress Status of Zebrafish (Danio Rerio)

Zebrafish are important animal models widely used in molecular biology research. To our best knowledge, no previous study on OT effects in zebrafishes' oxidative stress status was performed. Moreover, while the zebrafish are naturally producing isotocin, the investigation of its homologue OT effects may provide consistent evidence of the possible influence of oxytocin in isotocin naturally producing teleosteens. In this way, we aimed to analyse the influence of water exposure (e.g. branchial and tegmental exposure) on two different doses of OT (33.2 ng/mL and 66.4 ng/mL) on the adult zebrafish (n = 15) oxidative stress markers. Significant differences and correlations were found in the zebrafish exposed to a higher OT concentration, although lipid peroxidation tended to decrease as the OT concentration increased. Thus, it seems that oxytocin is cross reacting and exerts clear effect on oxidative stress status main parameters in zebrafish.