Porcine placental extract enhances social behavior and alleviates anxiety-like responses in a zebrafish model
摘要
The symptoms of mental disorders are diverse, with prominent examples including impaired social behavior and heightened anxiety. This study investigated the effects of porcine placental extract on anxiety-like behavior and sociality in zebrafish, a validated model for neurobehavioral studies. The zebrafish were fed a diet supplemented with 0.12% placental extract for 12 weeks. Behavioral analyses revealed that placenta-treated zebrafish spent significantly more time approaching and interacting with conspecifics in the 3-chamber test, indicating enhanced social behavior. Additionally, in the novel tank test, the placental extract significantly reduced freezing behavior and thigmotaxis, which are behavioral indicators of anxiety. These behavioral changes occurred without alterations in locomotor performance or body size. Gene expression analysis of brain tissue revealed the upregulation of isotocin, homologous to mammalian oxytocin. These results suggest placental extract’s potential to support mental health and social engagement in individuals with emotional disorders and those at risk.