In the last century, industrial activities increased and caused multiple health problems for humans and animals. At this moment, heavy metals are considered the most harmful substances for their effects on organisms and humans. The impact of these toxic metals, which have no biological role, poses a considerable threat and is associated with several health problems. Heavy metals can interfere with metabolic processes and can sometimes act as pseudo-elements. The zebrafish is an animal model progressively used to expose the toxic effects of diverse compounds and to find treatments for different devastating diseases that human beings are currently facing. This review aims to analyse and discuss the value of zebrafish as animal models used in neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and Parkinson’s disease (PD), particularly in terms of the benefits of animal models and the limitations that exist.

The presented study aimed at comprehensive assessment of the

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Chemical pollution in rivers ecosystems is leading towards an increase in the concentrations of heavy metals in fish body, which might have a negative impact on humans. The fish were collected from a protected Natura 2000 area in the Moldavia region, eastern Romania named �Buhusi-Bacau-Beresti� Storage basin. The aim of this study was to measure the heavy metal concentrations in water, sediment and fish meat (muscles and gills), in order to assess the human health risk due to consumption. Industrial effluents discharged into the environment pose a serious threat for the agricultural products and living organisms. In view of this, level of some heavy metals, such as: Cd, Zn, Pb and Cu present in water, sediment and fish tissue samples of fish populations from the area studied were determined using wet digestion-based atomic adsorption method. This study revealed that the maximum Cd concentration (0.911 mg/Kg) was found in fish gills of specie European Perch � Perca fluviatilis and the minimum (0.0197 mg/Kg) was found in Zander - Sander lucioperca fish muscle sample. Zn levels in fish gills of the studied samples were ranged from 108.6698 mg/Kg to 195.4167 mg/Kg. Maximum Pb concentration in gills (1.924 mg/Kg) was found in fish sample of Zarte � Vimba Vimba, while the minimum concentration (0.45 mg/Kg) was found in European Perch � Perca fluviatilis. The heavy metal found in the samples analyzed in the largest quantity is Cu, in the gills of Northernpike - Esox Lucius fish.The concentration determined in samples exceeded the World Health Organisation maximum allowances. In order to assess the risk to which humans are exposed by eating infected meat with heavy metals, the target hazard quotient (THQ) values were estimated.

The Carpathian Mountains are one of the most complex orogenetic areas of Europe, with unique fauna, including the brown trout (Salmo trutta). In this study we performed population genetic analysis of 12 different S. trutta populations using two types of molecular markers: nine microsatellites and mitochondrial D-loop sequences. The following working hypothesis was considered: the Romanian Carpathians and their surrounding lowlands can be key relief units based on which the S. trutta genetic diversity, spread, distribution, connectivity, relative isolation and genetic divergence can be at least partially explained. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the majority of sequences were grouped in the Danubian clade. The high haplotype diversity of the 12 analyzed brown trout populations can be explained by the high nucleotide diversity. The microsatellite analysis revealed an inbreeding event for all the loci and for the populations analyzed. The Romanian Carpathians' shape and geographic orientation play a zoogeographical key role driving force in respect to the S. trutta populations.