Advances in Zebrafish as a Comprehensive Model of Mental Disorders

Abstract

As an important part in international disease, mental disorders seriously damage human health and social stability, which show the complex pathogenesis and increasing incidence year by year. In order to analyze the pathogenesis of mental disorders as soon as possible and to look for the targeted drug treatment for psychiatric diseases, a more reasonable animal model is imperious demands. Benefiting from its high homology with the human genome, its brain tissue is highly similar to that of humans, and it is easy to realize whole-body optical visualization and high-throughput screening; zebrafish stands out among many animal models of mental disorders. Here, valuable qualified zebrafish mental disorders models could be established through behavioral test and sociological analysis, which are simulated to humans, and combined with molecular analyses and other detection methods. This review focuses on the advances in the zebrafish model to simulate the human mental disorders; summarizes the various behavioral characterization means, the use of equipment, and operation principle; sums up the various mental disorder zebrafish model modeling methods; puts forward the current challenges and future development trend, which is to contribute the theoretical supports for the exploration of the mechanisms and treatment strategies of mental disorders.

Zebrafish Model in Illuminating the Complexities of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders: A Unique Research Tool

“…Zebrafish have become valuable models in studying stress-related disorders like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to their genetic tractability, rapid reproduction, and shared physiological and molecular pathways with humans [9,10]. While zebrafish do not experience PTSD in the same way humans do, they exhibit stress responses that make them suitable for studying the underlying mechanisms and potential treatments [11]. Zebrafish can exhibit behavioral and molecular alterations in response to various stressors [12].…”

“…Various genetic manipulation techniques in zebrafish, such as morpholino knockdowns and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, enable researchers to study the roles of specific genes in PTSD-like behaviors and stress responses [11,[26][27][28][29].…”

“…Zebrafish studies have further explored neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, indicating potential contributions to neuronal damage and cognitive impairments associated with PTSD-like behaviors [51]. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, have also been examined, as they may underlie the lasting effects of stress on gene expression and behavior [11,47,52]. These neurobiological findings contribute significantly to our understanding of stress-related disorders, and while the field continues to evolve, further research on zebrafish PTSD models is needed to elucidate the complex mechanisms involved.…”

Rapid altitude displacement induce zebrafish appearing acute high altitude illness symptoms

“…The zebrafish model has the following advantages [ [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] ]: Low economic cost, small organisms, large progeny production, linear homology of genes and high throughput. Furthermore, the preservation of immune system constituents in farmed zebrafish, coupled with the accessibility of transgenic lines that facilitate in vivo tracking of particular processes within a complete organism [ 22 ].…”

Behavioral Studies of Zebrafish Reveal a New Perspective on the Reproductive Toxicity of Micro- and Nanoplastics

“…Their genetic similarity to humans and transparent embryos allow for direct observation and manipulation, making them suitable for assessing the impact of environmental pollutants [ 38 , 39 ]. Zebrafish exhibit a wide array of behavioral responses, such as social interaction, exploration, foraging, and reproduction, which are integral to their response to environmental changes [ 40 ]. These behaviors provide a rapid biomarker of the effects of environmental pollutants on the molecular, biochemical, and physiological systems of animals [ 41 ].…”