Silver and silver nanoparticles are used in several consumer products, particularly sterilizing agents. Ag⁺ released from the particles causes physiological damages of aquatic organisms. However, the effects of silver on neural and behavioral functions of fish remain unclear. Here, we used zebrafish as a model to investigate the impacts of silver on learning and memory behaviors in teleost. Adult zebrafish showed mortality rates of 12.875% and 100% on 72-h exposure to 30 and ≥50 ppb of silver nitrate, respectively. Silver accumulation in the brain increased on exposure to 10 and 30 ppb of AgNO₃. The physical fitness of the zebrafish, measured by novel tank diving test and swimming performance, decreased after 72-h incubation in 30 ppb of AgNO₃. Exposure to 10 ppb of AgNO₃ impaired social preference, social recognition, learning, and memory, but did not affect anxiety level, aggressiveness, and shoaling behavior. In situ hybridization of c-fos mRNA showed that AgNO₃ treatment decreased neural activity in the brain areas crucial for learning, memory, and social behaviors, including the medial and dorsal zones of the dorsal telencephalic area. In conclusion, 72-h exposure to AgNO₃ in a sublethal level impaired learning and social behaviors, indicating neurotoxicity in adult zebrafish.

银和银纳米颗粒用于几种消费产品，尤其是消毒剂。从颗粒中释放的Ag ⁺对水生生物造成生理损害。但是，银对鱼类神经和行为功能的影响尚不清楚。在这里，我们使用斑马鱼作为模型来研究银对硬骨鱼学习和记忆行为的影响。成年斑马鱼在暴露于30 ppb和≥50ppb的硝酸银72小时后，死亡率分别为12.875％和100％。暴露于10和30 ppb的AgNO _3时，大脑中的银积累增加。在30 ppb的AgNO _3中孵育72小时后，通过新颖的油箱潜水测试和游泳性能测得的斑马鱼的体质有所下降。暴露于10 ppb的AgNO _3会损害社交偏好，社交认可，学习和记忆，但不会影响焦虑水平，攻击性和浅滩行为。c-fos mRNA的原位杂交表明，AgNO ₃处理降低了对学习，记忆和社交行为至关重要的大脑区域的神经活动，包括背侧脑神经区域的内侧和背面区域。总之，亚致死水平的AgNO ₃暴露72小时会损害学习和社​​交行为，表明成年斑马鱼具有神经毒性。