{"id":66,"date":"2026-02-18T20:04:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T20:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/?page_id=66"},"modified":"2026-02-18T20:04:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T20:04:11","slug":"novel-tank-diving-test-ntdt-en","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/novel-tank-diving-test-ntdt-en\/","title":{"rendered":"NOVEL TANK DIVING TEST (NTDT) (EN)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Novel Tank Diving Test in Zebrafish<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scientific Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Novel Tank Diving Test (NTDT) is a widely used anxiety-related behavioral paradigm in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). It is conceptually analogous to the rodent open field test and exploits the species-typical diving response observed when fish are introduced into a novel vertical environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon introduction to a new tank, zebrafish initially remain at the bottom (geotaxis-driven anxiety response) before gradually exploring upper zones as habituation occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Historical Background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The NTDT was standardized in zebrafish in the mid-2000s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Key validation studies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Levin et al., 2007. <em>Behavioural Brain Research<\/em><br>DOI: 10.1016\/j.bbr.2006.11.012<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Egan et al., 2009. <em>Behavioural Brain Research<\/em><br>DOI: 10.1016\/j.bbr.2009.03.029<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maximino et al., 2010. <em>Behavioural Brain Research<\/em><br>DOI: 10.1016\/j.bbr.2009.12.031<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These studies established pharmacological sensitivity to anxiolytic and anxiogenic compounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Neurobiological Basis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The NTDT reflects activity within:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Serotonergic system (5-HT1A receptors)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>GABAergic neurotransmission<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dopaminergic mesolimbic circuitry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hypothalamic\u2013Pituitary\u2013Interrenal (HPI) axis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Cortisol elevation correlates with bottom-dwelling duration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Scientific Objectives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The NTDT quantifies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Anxiety-like behavior<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Habituation dynamics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stress reactivity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drug-induced modulation of emotional states<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Standardized Experimental Methodology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Apparatus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Trapezoidal tank (length 28 cm; height 15 cm; depth 7 cm)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water: 28 \u00b1 0.5 \u00b0C<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Illumination: 100\u2013150 lux<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recording duration: 6 minutes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Tank divided virtually into:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bottom zone (lower 1\/3)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Middle zone<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Top zone (upper 1\/3)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Procedure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Acclimate fish to testing room (30 minutes)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gently transfer fish to tank<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Immediate video recording<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Automated tracking (\u226530 fps)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Primary Endpoints<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Time spent in bottom zone<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Latency to enter top zone<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Number of top entries<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Total distance traveled<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Freezing duration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Positive Controls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Diazepam (1 mg\/L) \u2192 reduced bottom dwelling<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Caffeine (100 mg\/L) \u2192 increased bottom dwelling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Statistical Analysis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Time-binned analysis (minute-by-minute)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Effect size (partial \u03b7\u00b2)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Area Under Curve (AUC) for vertical exploration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Post hoc Tukey correction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Applications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Anxiolytic drug screening<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stress models (CUS, isolation)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Neurotoxicology (metals, pesticides)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Genetic manipulation studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Endocrine disruptor assessment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Limitations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Locomotor suppression confounding<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Handling stress sensitivity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sex differences<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rapid habituation effects<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. OECD Regulatory Context<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The NTDT is not currently an OECD-validated endpoint but may complement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>OECD TG 203 (Acute Fish Toxicity)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>OECD TG 210 (Early Life Stage)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>OECD TG 236 (Fish Embryo Toxicity)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It is increasingly considered within mechanistic developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) discussions as a sublethal behavioral biomarker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Key References<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Levin et al., 2007. DOI: 10.1016\/j.bbr.2006.11.012<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Egan et al., 2009. DOI: 10.1016\/j.bbr.2009.03.029<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maximino et al., 2010. DOI: 10.1016\/j.bbr.2009.12.031<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stewart et al., 2014. DOI: 10.1016\/j.pnpbp.2013.10.014<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Novel Tank Diving Test in Zebrafish Scientific Overview The Novel Tank Diving Test (NTDT) is a widely used anxiety-related behavioral paradigm in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). It is conceptually analogous to the rodent open field test and exploits the species-typical diving response observed when fish are introduced into a novel vertical environment. Upon introduction to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-66","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67,"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66\/revisions\/67"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/behavior-tools.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}