The roles of motile ciliated cell and CSF flow dynamics using behavior in zebrafish (2025)

Abstract

Motile cilia are essential for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow and brain ventricular signaling, yet their potential role in shaping behavior remains poorly understood. This thesis investigates whether dysfunction of motile cilia with mutations in the foxj1a and foxj1b genes impacts behavioral responses in zebrafish larvae. Using genetically modified zebrafish and a suite of non-invasive behavioral assays, we assessed sensory processing, locomotor activity, and early social behavior. High-throughput tracking was performed with the Zantiks MWP platform, and MATLAB-based scripts were used to analyze movement patterns, light zone preference, and social proximity. Behavioral metrics were visualized through heatmaps, histograms, and trajectory plots, with statistical comparisons made using Kruskal-Wallis tests. Across light/dark preference and vibration assays, mutant fish exhibited subtle but non-significant deviations in activity compared to controls, with no major disruptions to basic locomotion or light responsiveness. In social preference tests, foxj1b mutants, particularly double mutants, showed reduced proximity to conspecific cues across repeated light/dark cycles, though without statistical significance. Overall, while foxj1 mutations did not lead to strong behavioral deficits, this work highlights mild and variable effects on spatial orientation and social responsiveness, offering early insight into how cilia-related CSF dynamics may influence neural behavior pathways.