When you consider all the possible treatments for opioid addiction, you probably think about behavioral therapy, support groups, prescription medications, or maybe even something derived from a plant. One new potential treatment, however, sounds like something right off the pages of a satire website or tabloid – a freshwater fish called the zebrafish might hold the key to fighting opioid addiction.
The zebrafish is native to the Himalayas, and it’s commonly kept in aquariums. It’s also frequently used in research as a model organism, meaning it’s studied to understand biological processes in other vertebrate organisms. It’s even got its own online database of genetic, genomic, and developmental information, called the Zebrafish Information Network. Previous research has yielded advances in the fields of developmental biology, oncology, toxicology, reproductive studies, teratology, genetics, neurobiology, environmental sciences, stem cell research, regenerative medicine, muscular dystrophy, and evolutionary theory.
Now, a study by researchers at the University of Utah shows that zebrafish, which share 70 percent of the same genes as humans and have similar neurological structures, can also show signs of addiction to drugs. The fish, like humans, have a m-opioid receptor and two neurotransmitters, dopamine, and glutamate, that trigger the natural reward system in the brain. The researchers devised a system that allowed the zebrafish to self-administer doses of hydrocodone, an opioid commonly prescribed for pain. After one week, the fish increased their drug-seeking behavior, even going so far as to swim through dangerously shallow water to reach it.
Some fish later received a lower dose of hydrocodone, and they increased their drug-seeking behavior, proving that they were willing to work harder for their fix. 48 hours after the last exposure, the conditioned fish showed signs of anxiety, which is a classic symptom of withdrawal.
The study also tested opioid inhibitors on the fish. A group of them were treated with naloxone, which blocks the m-opioid receptor and dopamine in the brain and can reverse overdoses. Currently, naloxone is one of the few available treatments for opioid addiction, along with substitution therapies involving other opioids like methadone and buprenorphine. Too often, these treatments help a person with one addiction but leave them with a second one when the treatment ends. As a result, relapse rates are high.
Researchers hope that by studying the zebrafish, they’ll be able to develop new therapies that could block drug-seeking behavior. One way to do this is to find a new use for an existing drug that is already approved for another purpose.
Using zebrafish, scientists could rapidly test many different treatments and get some idea of how they would work on humans. Because the genetic makeup of zebrafish can be manipulated, they can alter them in order to examine the specific biological pathways associated with drug-seeking behavior.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504 to get started.
