## 3 Results
### Novel Tank Test  
Compared to the control group, the traveled distance of the patulin-exposed fish is slightly reduced (Figure 2A) due to a shorter mobile time and a significantly reduced number of entries in the top zone (see detailed data in Appendix A). Figure 1: Effects of patulin (PAT, 70 mg/L) and kojic acid (KA, 100 mg/L, 204 mg/L, and 284 mg/L) on the behavioral parameters (**(A)** number of arm entries; **(B)** spontaneous alternations %), in zebrafish submitted to Y-maze test. Data are expressed as mean \(\pm\) S.E.M. (one-way ANOVA, \(n=20\)). For [PERSON]’s post hoc analyses: a: PAT (70 mg/L) vs. KA (100 mg/L): \(p<0.001\) and b: KA (204 mg/L) vs. KA (284 mg/L): \(p<0.01\). In the patulin-exposed individuals, time in the bottom zone is highly increased (by 61%) (Figure 2B). Compared to the control group, the traveled distance of the kojic acid-exposed fish is reduced, due to a shorter mobile time (by 25-27% in the case of fish exposed to 204 mg/L and 284 mg/L kojic acid) and a significantly reduced number of entries in the top zone (by almost 50% in individuals exposed to 100 mg/L and 204 mg/L kojic acid) (Figure 2C). The group exposed to 204 mg/L kojic acid exhibited the lowest traveled distance: by 45% lower than control group (Figure 2A). This, and the increased amount of time in the bottom zone demonstrates the anxiogenic effect of the 204 mg/L kojic acid dose. The anxiogenic effect of kojic acid is also manifested at 100 mg/L dose, the individuals of this group registering the minimum number of entries in the top zone (51% lower than the control group) (Figure 2C). Increased time in the bottom zone, the decrease in distance traveled and mobility time, show an anxiogenic effect, but lower compared to the group exposed to 204 mg/L. The fish from the 100 mg/L and 204 mg/L kojic acid-exposed groups register the lowest number of entries in the top zone (approx. 50% of the control group) (Figure 2C), exhibiting a pronounced anxiety. At the maximum kojic acid dose (284 mg/L), the number of entries in the top zone is slightly increased compared to the control group, and the distance traveled is close to that recorded in non-intoxicated individuals (lower by only 11%). For the individuals in this group, we have also registered a 34% increase in time in the bottom zone (Figure 2B). Figure 2: Effects of patulin (PAT, 70 \(\mu\)g/L) and kojic acid (KA, 100 mg/L, 204 mg/L and 284 mg/L) on the behavioral parameters ((**A**)—Total distance traveled; (**B**)—Time in bottom zone; (**C**)—No. of entries in top zone) in zebrafish submitted to a novel tank diving test. Data are expressed as mean \(\pm\) S.E.M. (one-way ANOVA, \(n=20\)). The reduced mobility time (by 25% compared to the fish of the control group) and the increased time in the bottom zone prove that this dose leads to anxious behavior. After examining the zebrafish from the control group, we observed there were no histological alterations of the liver, kidney, brain, or myocardium. Patulin exhibits toxic effects on zebrafish liver and leads to severe alteration (Figure 3A): swollen hepatocytes, cytoplasm vacuolization, nuclear hyperhydration, triglyceride loading (empty intracytoplasmic vacuoles), loss of hepatocyte integrity, hydropic and lipid dystrophy (Figure 3B), and cytoplasm and nucleus hyperhydration. Lymphocyte infiltration, hepatocyte necrosis, sinusoids dilation/irregularities, or nuclear abnormalities were absent in the liver of patulin-treated individuals. At 100 mg/L kojic acid, major liver degeneration is characterized by hepatocyte hyperhydration and loss of cellular integrity (Figure 4A). The degenerative aspect is characteristic of hydropic dystrophy, this change being characteristic of toxic aggression that led to altered cell membranes permeability, leading to hepatocyte hyperhydration and the loss of cell integrity. Cell membranes are fragmented, and some hepatocytes are empty (lacking nuclei and cytoplasm).