Figure 2. CUS in zebrafish mimics established molecular markers of rodent mood disorder models and attenuates adult neurogenesis.

Effects of the 15-day chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) protocol on the levels of CRF, ppp3r1a (calcineurin) and BDNF, which are known molecular markers in rodent mood disorder models. There is significant upregulation in the transcript level of these genes in stressed group, compared to control (a & b). Neurogenesis in the optic tectum (highly proliferating neurogenic niche) of the zebrafish brain (c, d & e) is adversely affected after CUS, as BrdU positive cells are rarely observed in the stressed sample.