The biology and use of zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio in fisheries research.

Abstract

PREFACE TO THE REVIEW BY PROFESSOR H. LAALE ON THE BIOLOGY AND USE OF THE ZEBRAFISH, BRACHYDANIO RERZO IN FISHERIES RESEARCHThe growing demand for increasingly sophisticated information on the toxic hazards of potential water pollutants has focused attention on the need for a suitable ' standard ' animal model which could be accepted internationally. The Zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822, 1823) is considered to be the most likely candidate. It is relatively easy to maintain and breed in laboratory aquaria and it has proved to be responsive to a wide range of mutagens, carcinogens and teratogens, as well as direct toxicants. B. rerio has been the subject of a considerable number of investigations involving a diverse spectrum of disciplines in a number of countries. Professor Hans Laale, who has himself contributed to our knowledge of the embryopathology of B. rerio, has summarized and collated the findings of 450 publications, a number of which are unlikely to have become available to fishery scientists. We hope the publication of this review will aid those who are working with B. rerio and provide comprehensive data on the advantages and limitations of B. rerio as a contender for the standard laboratory fish for the safety evaluation of aquatic pollutants.

A new sediment contact assay to assess particle-bound pollutants using zebrafish (danio rerio) embryos

“…The use of zebrafish in early life-stage tests provides several advantages. Zebrafish are relatively easy to breed in the laboratory, and eggs are readily available in high numbers throughout the year (Laale 1977). Due to the transparency of both eggs and post-hatch larvae, zebrafish development can continuously be monitored and effects can easily be identified by light microscopy.…”

“…Danio rerio is a small cyprinid with easily distinguishable sexes. It is relatively insensitive to varying waterconditions and is therefore easy to keep and breed (Laale 1977). Adequate maintenance conditions provided (Strmac et al 2002), spawning groups of 1 (2) females and 2 (4) males may provide up to 300 eggs at regular intervals of 2-3 days throughout the year.…”

“…Finally, embryonic development is relatively rapid and synchronous (Eaton and Farley 1974, Laale 1977, Nagel 1986, Bresch 1991, Kimmel et al 1995.…”

Perturbations hépatiques induites expérimentalement par une concentration sublétale de procymidone (fongicide dicarboximide) chez Brachydanio rerio (Téléostéen, Cyprinidé) : approche histo-cytopathologique

“…Dans le but d'analyser la toxicité sublétale de ce pesticide, les perturbations histo-cytopathologiques du foie induites par 1 mg.l" 1 de procymidone pure ont été étudiées chez Brachydanio rerio dont la biologie est bien connue (LAALE, 1977). Ce Cyprinidé est un organisme normalisé (AFNOR, 1985), fréquemment utilisé (BRESCH, 1993 ;NAGEL, 1993 ;PHROMKUTHONG et al, 1994) et recommandé par l'OCDE pour les études de toxicologie de l'environnement.…”

Inhibition of spawning in zebrafish (Danio rerio): Adverse outcome pathways of quinacrine and ethinylestradiol

“…Large numbers of zebrafish can be housed in comparatively small spaces, which is beneficial as it is cost effective in terms of maintenance (Teraoka, Dong & Hiraga, 2003). Zebrafish have been utilized in a variety of scientific studies since the 1930's (Laale, 1977), which has resulted in a large amount of morphological, biochemical and physiological information, including a fully sequenced genome (Hill, Teraoka, Heideman, & Peterson, 2005). Additionally, genes identified in the zebrafish model are well conserved among other vertebrates (Hill et al, 2005).…”