Zebrafish model systems for developmental neurobehavioral toxicology

Abstract

Zebrafish offer many advantages that complement classic mammalian models for the study of normal development as well as for the teratogenic effects of exposure to hazardous compounds. The clear chorion and embryo of the zebrafish allow for continuous visualization of the anatomical changes associated with development, which, along with short maturation times and the capability of complex behavior, makes this model particularly useful for measuring changes to the developing nervous system. Moreover, the rich array of developmental, behavioral, and molecular benefits offered by the zebrafish have contributed to an increasing demand for the use of zebrafish in behavioral teratology. Essential for this endeavor has been the development of a battery of tests to evaluate a spectrum of behavior in zebrafish. Measures of sensorimotor plasticity, emotional function, cognition and social interaction have been used to characterize the persisting adverse effects of developmental exposure to a variety of chemicals including therapeutic drugs, drugs of abuse and environmental toxicants. In this review, we present and discuss such tests and data from a range of developmental neurobehavioral toxicology studies using zebrafish as a model. Zebrafish provide a key intermediate model between high throughput in vitro screens and the classic mammalian models as they have the accessibility of in vitro models and the complex functional capabilities of mammalian models.

Early Exposure to Mercuric Chloride or Methylmercury Alters Zebrafish Embryo (Danio rerio) Development

“…The rate of cell proliferation in the ZFE CNS was not decreased at the concentrations of HgCl 2 assessed in this study (80 to 500 µg/L), while we previously reported that cell proliferation in the ZFE central nervous system was reduced with exposure to methyl mercury concentrations as low as 10 µg/L. These data confirm the potent toxicity of methyl mercury and that HgCl 2 , while slightly less toxic, also is a potent toxicant [79][80]. These data suggest that decreases in cell proliferation may not be the primary mechanism of toxicity for mercuric chloride.…”

Bisphenol A: Understanding Its Health Effects from the Studies Performed on Model Organisms

“…Zebraish has been used extensively to elucidate basic mechanisms underlying behavioural toxicology [86]. Zebraish was also employed as a model for identifying sex-speciic efects on social interactions induced by developmental BPA exposure [87,88].…”

“…Zebraish embryos exposed to BPA also showed signs of feminized brains [86]. Kinch et al [93] investigated morphological changes to developing zebraish caused by exposure to BPA including changes in body length, pericardia (heart) and the head.…”

Use of zebrafish (Danio rerio) in experimental models for biological assay with natural products

“…The ZF embryos are small (1 to 5 mm), depending on the stage of development) and are translucent. This fact makes them suitable for handling and use (Lele and Krone, 1996;Bailey et al, 2013). Most of the citations of ZF as experimental model refers to the use of embryos and larvae.…”