Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42030073›Full record

ArticleCurrent protocols2026

A Standardized Unpredictable Chronic Stress Protocol for Adult Zebrafish.

Matheus Gallas-Lopes, Ana P Herrmann, Angelo Piato

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Current protocols, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Matheus Gallas-LopesLaboratório de Neurobiologia e Psicofarmacologia Experimental (PsychoLab), Departamento de Farmacologia, ICBS, UFRGS, Brazil.
Ana P HerrmannLaboratório de Neurobiologia e Psicofarmacologia Experimental (PsychoLab), Departamento de Farmacologia, ICBS, UFRGS, Brazil.
Angelo PiatoLaboratório de Psicofarmacologia e Comportamento (LAPCOM), Departamento de Farmacologia, ICBS, UFRGS, Brazil.

Funding

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The unpredictable chronic stress (UCS) protocol, originating in the 1980s, has contributed to depression research by inducing behavioral and physiological changes in rodents that resemble the symptoms observed in patients. Its translational potential led to widespread adoption, but adaptations and variations to the protocol have raised concerns about reproducibility. Over a decade ago, our laboratory adapted the UCS protocol for zebrafish (Danio rerio), aiming to bridge species-specific gaps in stress research. Since then, several studies have reported alterations in outcomes related to the clinical manifestations of stress-related disorders, providing evidence on the applicability of the model for testing drugs and other therapeutic strategies. However, there is substantial heterogeneity in protocols and research findings, hindering comparability across studies. To address these challenges, we describe a 14-day UCS protocol for adult zebrafish in detail, involving a series of varied stressors administered twice daily. This comprehensive protocol includes stressors, such as tank changes, net chasing, overcrowding, low water levels, and temperature fluctuations. Each step is designed to ensure reproducibility and to mimic the unpredictable and varied nature of stress experienced by humans. By establishing standardized procedures, we aim to enhance the consistency, reliability, and translational potential of UCS research using zebrafish, ultimately contributing to more robust and comparable findings across studies. © 2026 The Author(s). Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol: UCS protocol for adult zebrafish.

Indexed as

Disease Models, AnimalStress, PsychologicalZebrafishAnimalsBehavior, AnimalReproducibility of ResultsStress, Physiologicalanxietystress‐induced alterationsstress‐related disordersunpredictable chronic stresszebrafish

Identifiers

PMID42030073
PMCPMC13108640

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.