# Fluoxetine exposure alters behavior and morphology of Xenopus laevis tadpoles

## TL;DR

Exposure to fluoxetine, an antidepressant, changes the behavior and body size of tadpoles in some ways.

## Contribution

The study shows fluoxetine exposure affects tadpole behavior and morphology during development.

## Key findings

- Tadpoles exposed to fluoxetine lost preference for white backgrounds, possibly affecting anti-predation behavior.
- Tadpoles in higher fluoxetine concentrations were slightly larger in six morphological aspects.
- Developmental fluoxetine exposure may subtly alter tadpole morphology and behavior.

## Abstract

This study exposed developing
Xenopus
tadpoles to the common antidepressant fluoxetine (FLU). Behaviorally, stage 46 control (0 nM) tadpoles significantly preferred white over black backgrounds, a potential anti-predation behavior, while tadpoles reared in 0.3 or 300 nM FLU did not display this preference. Anatomically, stage 46 tadpoles reared in 300 nM FLU appeared similar to controls (0 nM) yet measured slightly and significantly larger in six of seven aspects of gross morphology measured (total length, tail length, body length, body height, eye diameter, internasal distance). Consequently, developmental FLU exposure may subtly alter specific aspects of tadpole morphology and behavior.