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Zebrafish Models for Development and Disease 2.0

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A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Translational Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2020) | Viewed by 48868

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. James A. Marrs

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Guest Editor

Department of Biology, Indiana University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Interests: zebrafish; fetal alcohol spectrum disorder; gastrulation; congenital heart defects; eye defects; cadherin; tight junction; adherens junction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Swapnalee Sarmah

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Guest Editor

Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Interests: fetal alcohol spectrum disorder; congenital heart defects; zebrafish; craniofacial morphogenesis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is the second volume of our previous Special Issue “Zebrafish Models for Development and Disease”. The zebrafish has become an important model organism to study normal development, particularly since large-scale genetic screening was used to identify genes that control developmental mechanisms. Subsequently, a large variety of creative approaches were used to develop disease models that are used to study developmental disorders, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and many other conditions. The advent of next-generation DNA sequencing techniques expanded the utility of the zebrafish model, allowing analysis of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of development and disease. Additionally, the small size, imaging capabilities, and reporter gene expression in the zebrafish permits high throughput toxicology evaluation and drug screening, increasing the capability of this model. The zebrafish is increasingly being used to study neurological, psychiatric, and behavioral conditions. This call for papers invites contributions of original research and reviews for this Special Issue of Biomedicines entitled “Zebrafish Models in Development and Disease”. The Special Issue will explore the diverse capabilities of the zebrafish model that can be applied to study a growing list of biological and preclinical research problems.

Scope:

Basic research using the zebrafish model to understand diseases and mechanisms;
Basic research using the zebrafish to model disease treatment strategies;
Basic research using the zebrafish to evaluate potential teratogens;
Basic research using the zebrafish for drug screening;
Basic research using the zebrafish for neuroscience and behavioral studies;
Review articles on describing any of the above topics using the zebrafish model organism.

Prof. James A. Marrs
Dr. Swapnalee Swapnalee Sarmah
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

disease model
drug screening model
teratogen screening
toxicological screening
neuroscience
behavior
developmental biology

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Zebrafish Models for Development and Disease—5th Edition in Biomedicines

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 156 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

The Genius of the Zebrafish Model: Insights on Development and Disease

by James A. Marrs and Swapnalee Sarmah

Biomedicines 2021, 9(5), 577; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9050577 - 20 May 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2703

Abstract

The zebrafish is an outstanding and inexpensive vertebrate model system for biomedical research [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zebrafish Models for Development and Disease 2.0)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

13 pages, 6896 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Functional Role of the RNA-Binding Protein Rbm24a and Its Target sox2 in Microphthalmia

by Lindy K. Brastrom, C. Anthony Scott, Kai Wang and Diane C. Slusarski

Biomedicines 2021, 9(2), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9020100 - 21 Jan 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2654

Abstract

Congenital eye defects represent a large class of disorders affecting roughly 21 million children worldwide. Microphthalmia and anophthalmia are relatively common congenital defects, with approximately 20% of human cases caused by mutations in SOX2. Recently, we identified the RNA-binding motif protein 24a (Rbm24a) which binds to and regulates sox2 in zebrafish and mice. Here we show that morpholino knockdown of rbm24a leads to microphthalmia and visual impairment. By utilizing sequential injections, we demonstrate that addition of exogenous sox2 RNA to rbm24a-deplete embryos is sufficient to suppress morphological and visual defects. This research demonstrates a critical role for understanding the post-transcriptional regulation of genes needed for development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zebrafish Models for Development and Disease 2.0)

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20 pages, 4190 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Method Standardization for Conducting Innate Color Preference Studies in Different Zebrafish Strains

by Petrus Siregar, Stevhen Juniardi, Gilbert Audira, Yu-Heng Lai, Jong-Chin Huang, Kelvin H.-C. Chen, Jung-Ren Chen and Chung-Der Hsiao

Biomedicines 2020, 8(8), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines8080271 - 3 Aug 2020

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 5402

Abstract

The zebrafish has a tetrachromatic vision that is able to distinguish ultraviolet (UV) and visible wavelengths. Recently, zebrafish color preferences have gained much attention because of the easy setup of the instrument and its usefulness to screen behavior-linked stimuli. However, several published papers dealing with zebrafish color preferences have contradicting results that underscore the importance of method standardization in this field. Different laboratories may report different results because of variations in light source, color intensity, and other parameters such as age, gender, container size, and strain of fish. In this study, we aim to standardize the color preference test in zebrafish by measuring light source position, light intensity, gender, age, animal size to space ratio, and animal strain. Our results showed that color preferences for zebrafish are affected by light position, age, strain, and social interaction of the fish, but not affected by fish gender. We validated that ethanol can significantly induce color preference alteration in zebrafish which may be related to anxiety and depression. We also explored the potential use of the optimized method to examine color preference ranking and index differences in various zebrafish strains and species, such as the tiger barb and glass catfish. In conclusion, zebrafish color preference screening is a powerful tool for high-throughput neuropharmacological applications and the standardized protocol established in this study provides a useful reference for the zebrafish research community. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zebrafish Models for Development and Disease 2.0)

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31 pages, 24183 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Orthosiphon stamineus Proteins Alleviate Pentylenetetrazol-Induced Seizures in Zebrafish

by Yin-Sir Chung, Brandon Kar Meng Choo, Pervaiz Khalid Ahmed, Iekhsan Othman and Mohd. Farooq Shaikh

Biomedicines 2020, 8(7), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines8070191 - 2 Jul 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3495

Abstract

The anticonvulsive potential of proteins extracted from Orthosiphon stamineus leaves (OSLP) has never been elucidated in zebrafish (Danio rerio). This study thus aims to elucidate the anticonvulsive potential of OSLP in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizure model. Physical changes (seizure score and seizure onset time, behavior, locomotor) and neurotransmitter analysis were elucidated to assess the pharmacological activity. The protective mechanism of OSLP on brain was also studied using mass spectrometry-based label-free proteomic quantification (LFQ) and bioinformatics. OSLP was found to be safe up to 800 µg/kg and pre-treatment with OSLP (800 µg/kg, i.p., 30 min) decreased the frequency of convulsive activities (lower seizure score and prolonged seizure onset time), improved locomotor behaviors (reduced erratic swimming movements and bottom-dwelling habit), and lowered the excitatory neurotransmitter (glutamate). Pre-treatment with OSLP increased protein Complexin 2 (Cplx 2) expression in the zebrafish brain. Cplx2 is an important regulator in the trans-SNARE complex which is required during the vesicle priming phase in the calcium-dependent synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Findings in this study collectively suggests that OSLP could be regulating the release of neurotransmitters via calcium-dependent synaptic vesicle exocytosis mediated by the “Synaptic Vesicle Cycle” pathway. OSLP’s anticonvulsive actions could be acting differently from diazepam (DZP) and with that, it might not produce the similar cognitive insults such as DZP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zebrafish Models for Development and Disease 2.0)

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15 pages, 2435 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Early Exposure to THC Alters M-Cell Development in Zebrafish Embryos

by Md Ruhul Amin, Kazi T. Ahmed and Declan W. Ali

Biomedicines 2020, 8(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines8010005 - 4 Jan 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5628

Abstract

Cannabis is one of the most commonly used illicit recreational drugs that is often taken for medicinal purposes. The psychoactive ingredient in cannabis is Δ⁹-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC, hereafter referred to as THC), which is an agonist at the endocannabinoid receptors CB₁R and CB₂R. Here, we exposed zebrafish embryos to THC during the gastrulation phase to determine the long-term effects during development. We specifically focused on reticulospinal neurons known as the Mauthner cells (M-cell) that are involved in escape response movements. The M- cells are born during gastrulation, thus allowing us to examine neuronal morphology of neurons born during the time of exposure. After the exposure, embryos were allowed to develop normally and were examined at two days post-fertilization for M-cell morphology and escape responses. THC treated embryos exhibited subtle alterations in M-cell axon diameter and small changes in escape response dynamics to touch. Because escape responses were altered, we also examined muscle fiber development. The fluorescent labelling of red and white muscle fibers showed that while muscles were largely intact, the fibers were slightly disorganized with subtle but significant changes in the pattern of expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. However, there were no overt changes in the expression of nicotinic receptor subunit mRNA ascertained by qPCR. Embryos were allowed to further develop until 5 dpf, when they were examined for overall levels of movement. Animals exposed to THC during gastrulation exhibited reduced activity compared with vehicle controls. Together, these findings indicate that zebrafish exposed to THC during the gastrula phase exhibit small changes in neuronal and muscle morphology that may impact behavior and locomotion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zebrafish Models for Development and Disease 2.0)

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Figure 1
Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure reduces M-cell axonal diameter. (A,G) Immunolabeling of M-cells with anti-3A10 and anti-RMO44 in a vehicle-treated embryo; (B,H) Higher magnification of M-cell body and axon of vehicle-treated embryos. White arrow shows the cell body of the M-cell. (C,I) Bar graph of the width of an M-cell body in vehicle and THC treated embryos. (D,J) Immunolabeling of M-cells with anti-3A10 and anti-RMO44 in a THC-treated (6 mg/L) embryo; (E,K) Higher magnification of M-cell body and axon of a THC-treated embryo. Red arrow points to the proximal axon immediately anterior to the decussation point. (F,L) Bar graph of the diameter of M-cell axons slightly anterior to the decussation point in vehicle and THC-treated embryos. ** Significantly different from vehicle control, p < 0.005. *** significantly different from vehicle control, p < 0.001. Full article ">Figure 2
Exposure to THC during gastrulation alters escape response parameters. Analysis and quantification of C-bend parameters was carried out at 2 dpf. Zebrafish embryos exhibit a C-bend in response to a jet of water directed at the head just behind the eyes. (A) Bar graph shows the maximum angle of bend for vehicle and THC-treated (6 mg/L) embryos. (B) Shows the instantaneous peak speed (mm/s) during c-bend. (C) Shows the instantaneous peak acceleration during C-bend. (D) Bar graph showing the time for the tail to bend to the maximum angle. * Significantly different from vehicle control, p < 0.05. Full article ">Figure 3
Co-labeling of red muscle fibers and nAChRs using anti-F59 and Alexa 488 conjugated α-bungarotoxin respectively. (A) α-Bungarotoxin labelled nAChRs associated with red muscle fibers in vehicle-treated embryos. (B) Anti-F-59 labelled muscle fibers. Red arrows point to the edge of a muscle fiber. Inset shows muscle fibers at higher magnification to better determine the size of the fiber. (C) Merged image showing the co-labeled red muscle fiber and nAChR in vehicle-treated animals. (D) α-bungarotoxin labelled nAChRs associated with red muscle fibers in THC-treated (6 mg/L) embryos. White arrow shows the cluster of nAChRs. (E) Anti-F59 labelled muscle fibers. Red arrows point to the edge of a muscle fiber. Inset shows muscle fibers at higher magnification to better determine the size of the fiber. (F) Merged image showing the co-labeled red muscle fiber and nAChR in THC-treated animals. (G) Bar graph showing the diameter of red fibers for vehicle and THC treated embryos and (H) Measurement of red fiber length. *** significantly different from vehicle control, p < 0.001. Full article ">Figure 4
Co-labeling of white muscle fibers and nAChRs using anti-F310 and Alexa 488 conjugated α-bungarotoxin respectively. (A) α-Bungarotoxin labelled nAChRs associated with white muscle fibers in vehicle-treated embryos. White arrow shows clusters of nAChRs. (B) Anti-F-59 labelled muscle fibers. Red arrows point to the edge of a muscle fiber. Inset shows muscle fibers at higher magnification to better determine the size of the fiber. (C) Merged image showing the co-labeled white muscle fiber and nAChR in vehicle-treated animals. (D) α-bungarotoxin labelled nAChRs associated with white muscle fibers in THC-treated (6 mg/L) embryos. White arrow shows clusters of nAChRs. (E) Anti-F310 labelled muscle fibers. Red arrows point to the edge of a muscle fiber. Inset shows muscle fibers at higher magnification to better determine the size of the fiber. (F) Merged image showing the co-labeled white muscle fiber and nAChR in THC-treated animals. (G) Bar graph showing the diameter of white fibers for vehicle and THC treated embryos and (H) Measurement of white fiber length. *** significantly different from vehicle control, p < 0.001. Full article ">Figure 5
The relative levels of nAChR subunits (α1, γ and ε) mRNAs were analyzed by real-time qPCR. The relative expression was measured from vehicle control and THC treated embryos using expression in vehicle control as calibrator. (A) The relative level of α1 nAChR expression from vehicle and THC treated embryos. (B,C) The relative expression of γ and ε, respectively. Data are expressed as the mean ± SE for individual groups (n = 5). Full article ">Figure 6
THC exposure affects free swimming activity (locomotion) of zebrafish embryos at 5 dpf. Bar graphs display changes in larval mean distance moved (A), mean velocity (in mm/s for one hour) (B), mean activity (% rate for one hour) (C), and frequency of swim bouts within one hour (D). *** significantly different from vehicle control, p < 0.001. Full article ">

15 pages, 5232 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intracellular Localization in Zebrafish Muscle and Conserved Sequence Features Suggest Roles for Gelatinase A Moonlighting in Sarcomere Maintenance

by Amina M. Fallata, Rachael A. Wyatt, Julie M. Levesque, Antoine Dufour, Christopher M. Overall and Bryan D. Crawford

Biomedicines 2019, 7(4), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines7040093 - 29 Nov 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3730

Abstract

Gelatinase A (Mmp2 in zebrafish) is a well-characterized effector of extracellular matrix remodeling, extracellular signaling, and along with other matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and extracellular proteases, it plays important roles in the establishment and maintenance of tissue architecture. Gelatinase A is also found moonlighting inside mammalian striated muscle cells, where it has been implicated in the pathology of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Gelatinase A has no known physiological function in muscle cells, and its localization within mammalian cells appears to be due to inefficient recognition of its N-terminal secretory signal. Here we show that Mmp2 is abundant within the skeletal muscle cells of zebrafish, where it localizes to the M-line of sarcomeres and degrades muscle myosin. The N-terminal secretory signal of zebrafish Mmp2 is also challenging to identify, and this is a conserved characteristic of gelatinase A orthologues, suggesting a selective pressure acting to prevent the efficient secretion of this protease. Furthermore, there are several strongly conserved phosphorylation sites within the catalytic domain of gelatinase A orthologues, some of which are phosphorylated in vivo, and which are known to regulate the activity of this protease. We conclude that gelatinase A likely participates in uncharacterized physiological functions within the striated muscle, possibly in the maintenance of sarcomere proteostasis, that are likely regulated by kinases and phosphatases present in the sarcomere. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zebrafish Models for Development and Disease 2.0)

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Figure 1
Mmp2 is expressed ubiquitously from early development and accumulates in a striated pattern within the skeletal muscle. (A) Composite confocal projections of a 72 hpf embryo stained with anti-Mmp2 exhibiting labeling throughout the embryo with notable accumulation in the skeletal muscle (scale bar = 200 µm). (B) High magnification view of a single confocal section through the trunk musculature (indicated by the inset) showing strong labeling of the myotome boundary (upper left corner), and striated staining in myofibrils (scale bar = 10 µm). (C) RNASeq data showing absolute abundance of mmp2 transcripts in embryos from fertilization to five days post-fertilization (dpf). (D) Immunoblot of whole embryo homogenates (350 µg per lane) made from 2 hpf (cleavage), 5 hpf (50% epiboly), 12 hpf (early somitogenesis), 18 hpf (late somitogenesis), 24 hpf (prim-5), 48 hpf (long pec), and 72 hpf (protruding mouth) embryos probed with anti-Mmp2. Immunoreactivity is detected in embryos after 12 h of development, with bands at the expected mobility for full-length Mmp2 (72 kD) and stronger bands at 44 and 20 kD, which combine to give the expected size for activated Mmp2 (64 kD). Full article ">Figure 2
Mmp2 is localized between Z-discs in sarcomeres of embryonic and adult muscle. Confocal micrographs of skeletal muscle from 72 hpf embryos (A) or adults (B), and 500 nm thick cryosection of 72 hpf skeletal muscle (C) stained with anti-α-actinin (red) and anti-Mmp2 (green). Greyscale intensity profiles of both channels along a line drawn perpendicular to the sarcomeres are shown below each micrograph. Mmp2 immunoreactivity occurs at regularly spaced intervals precisely between the α-actinin-labeled Z-discs. Scale bars = 10 µm. Full article ">Figure 3
Sarcomeric Mmp2 begins to accumulate subsequent to the assembly of Z-disks. (A) Confocal section through the trunk musculature of a 24 hpf embryo posterior to the yolk extension, at the position at which myofibrils are differentiating. (B) Sarcomeric α-actinin (red) is beginning to become apparent as Z-bodies in the periphery of differentiating myocytes, but Mmp2 immunoreactivity (green) remains roughly homogeneously distributed. Greyscale intensity profiles of both channels along a line drawn through the periphery of a differentiating myocyte are shown below the micrograph. Scale bar = 10 µm. Full article ">Figure 4
The secretory signal peptide of gelatinase A orthologues is consistently and significantly less likely to be recognized than that of most other type-I secreted proteins. Violin plots of mean ‘S’ scores of the N-terminal secretory signals from orthologues of vitronectin (Vtn) and all secreted MMPs. MMPs with mean S score statistically indistinguishable from vitronectin are shown in blue. Mean S scores for orthologues of gelatinase A (red) are significantly lower than those of vitronectin and other secreted MMPs apart from MMP21 and MMP23, which undergoes type II secretion and therefore, does not have an N-terminal secretory signal. Statistically, indistinguishable groups are indicated with letters at the top of the plot, and the number of orthologues of each protein analyzed is indicated along the x-axis. Full article ">Figure 5
Gelatinase A orthologues have highly conserved phosphorylation sites. Putative serine (solid lines), threonine (dashed lines), and tyrosine (dotted lines) phosphorylation sites conserved in 100% (black), 99% (dark grey), or 97% (light grey) of gelatinase A orthologues are shown with respect to a structural schematic of the gelatinase A protein, illustrating the signal sequence (1–29 (orange)), propeptide (30–107 (grey)), catalytic domain (118–446 (green)) with fibronectin-like repeats (light green), and hemopexin-like domain (463–657 (purple)). Cysteines are indicated with yellow spots, connected by horizontal lines if they are predicted to participate in intramolecular disulfide bonds. Conserved residues that have been empirically demonstrated to be phosphorylated in vivo in the human protein are indicated with asterisks. Full article ">

Review

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18 pages, 1167 KiB

Open AccessReview

Zebra-Fishing for Regenerative Awakening in Mammals

by Laura Massoz, Marie Alice Dupont and Isabelle Manfroid

Biomedicines 2021, 9(1), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9010065 - 12 Jan 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4638

Abstract

Regeneration is defined as the ability to regrow an organ or a tissue destroyed by degeneration or injury. Many human degenerative diseases and pathologies, currently incurable, could be cured if functional tissues or cells could be restored. Unfortunately, humans and more generally mammals have limited regenerative capabilities, capacities that are even further declining with age, contrary to simpler organisms. Initially thought to be lost during evolution, several studies have revealed that regenerative mechanisms are still present in mammals but are latent and thus they could be stimulated. To do so there is a pressing need to identify the fundamental mechanisms of regeneration in species able to efficiently regenerate. Thanks to its ability to regenerate most of its organs and tissues, the zebrafish has become a powerful model organism in regenerative biology and has recently engendered a number of studies attesting the validity of awakening the regenerative potential in mammals. In this review we highlight studies, particularly in the liver, pancreas, retina, heart, brain and spinal cord, which have identified conserved regenerative molecular events that proved to be beneficial to restore murine and even human cells and which helped clarify the real clinical translation potential of zebrafish research to mammals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zebrafish Models for Development and Disease 2.0)

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23 pages, 1176 KiB

Open AccessReview

An Overview of Methods for Cardiac Rhythm Detection in Zebrafish

by Fiorency Santoso, Ali Farhan, Agnes L. Castillo, Nemi Malhotra, Ferry Saputra, Kevin Adi Kurnia, Kelvin H.-C. Chen, Jong-Chin Huang, Jung-Ren Chen and Chung-Der Hsiao

Biomedicines 2020, 8(9), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines8090329 - 4 Sep 2020

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 8260

Abstract

The heart is the most important muscular organ of the cardiovascular system, which pumps blood and circulates, supplying oxygen and nutrients to peripheral tissues. Zebrafish have been widely explored in cardiotoxicity research. For example, the zebrafish embryo has been used as a human heart model due to its body transparency, surviving several days without circulation, and facilitating mutant identification to recapitulate human diseases. On the other hand, adult zebrafish can exhibit the amazing regenerative heart muscle capacity, while adult mammalian hearts lack this potential. This review paper offers a brief description of the major methodologies used to detect zebrafish cardiac rhythm at both embryonic and adult stages. The dynamic pixel change method was mostly performed for the embryonic stage. Other techniques, such as kymography, laser confocal microscopy, artificial intelligence, and electrocardiography (ECG) have also been applied to study heartbeat in zebrafish embryos. Nevertheless, ECG is widely used for heartbeat detection in adult zebrafish since ECG waveforms’ similarity between zebrafish and humans is prominent. High-frequency ultrasound imaging (echocardiography) and modern electronic sensor tag also have been proposed. Despite the fact that each method has its benefits and limitations, it is proved that zebrafish have become a promising animal model for human cardiovascular disease, drug pharmaceutical, and toxicological research. Using those tools, we conclude that zebrafish behaviors as an excellent small animal model to perform real-time monitoring for the developmental heart process with transparent body appearance, to conduct the in vivo cardiovascular performance and gene function assays, as well as to perform high-throughput/high content drug screening. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zebrafish Models for Development and Disease 2.0)

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18 pages, 727 KiB

Open AccessReview

Marijuana and Opioid Use during Pregnancy: Using Zebrafish to Gain Understanding of Congenital Anomalies Caused by Drug Exposure during Development

by Swapnalee Sarmah, Marilia Ribeiro Sales Cadena, Pabyton Gonçalves Cadena and James A. Marrs

Biomedicines 2020, 8(8), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines8080279 - 8 Aug 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5027

Abstract

Marijuana and opioid addictions have increased alarmingly in recent decades, especially in the United States, posing threats to society. When the drug user is a pregnant mother, there is a serious risk to the developing baby. Congenital anomalies are associated with prenatal exposure to marijuana and opioids. Here, we summarize the current data on the prevalence of marijuana and opioid use among the people of the United States, particularly pregnant mothers. We also summarize the current zebrafish studies used to model and understand the effects of these drug exposures during development and to understand the behavioral changes after exposure. Zebrafish experiments recapitulate the drug effects seen in human addicts and the birth defects seen in human babies prenatally exposed to marijuana and opioids. Zebrafish show great potential as an easy and inexpensive model for screening compounds for their ability to mitigate the drug effects, which could lead to new therapeutics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zebrafish Models for Development and Disease 2.0)

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13 pages, 541 KiB

Open AccessReview

Studying the Pathophysiology of Parkinson’s Disease Using Zebrafish

by Lisa M. Barnhill, Hiromi Murata and Jeff M. Bronstein

Biomedicines 2020, 8(7), 197; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines8070197 - 7 Jul 2020

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 6179

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease is a common neurodegenerative disorder leading to severe disability. The clinical features reflect progressive neuronal loss, especially involving the dopaminergic system. The causes of Parkinson’s disease are slowly being uncovered and include both genetic and environmental insults. Zebrafish have been a valuable tool in modeling various aspects of human disease. Here, we review studies utilizing zebrafish to investigate both genetic and toxin causes of Parkinson’s disease. They have provided important insights into disease mechanisms and will be of great value in the search for disease-modifying therapies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zebrafish Models for Development and Disease 2.0)

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