A critical review of zebrafish schizophrenia models: Time for validation?. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gawel, Kinga; Banono, Nancy Saana; Michalak, Agnieszka; Esguerra, Camila V.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 107(2019)
• Page Start: 6
• Page End: 22
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Zebrafish -- Schizophrenia -- Models -- Risk genes -- Drugs -- Validation; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Highlights: Zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) is emerging as a valuable animal model of schizophrenia. Although pharmacological models of schizophrenia in zebrafish mimic some aspects of the human disease, further validation is still required. Genetic models of schizophrenia in zebrafish are useful for unravelling the molecular background of the disorder. Abstract: Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects 1% of the population worldwide and is manifested as a broad spectrum of symptoms, from hallucinations to memory impairment. It is believed that genetic and/or environmental factors may contribute to the occurrence of this disease. Recently, the zebrafish has emerged as a valuable and attractive model for various neurological disorders including schizophrenia. In this review, we describe current pharmacological models of schizophrenia with special emphasis on providing insights into the pros and cons of using zebrafish as a behavioural model of this disease. Moreover, we highlight the advantages and utility of using zebrafish for elucidating the genetic mechanisms underlying this psychiatric disorder. We believe that the zebrafish has high potential also in the area of precision medicine and may complement the development of therapeutics, especially for pharmacoresistant patients.