Animal models of human disease: zebrafish swim into view

Abstract

Despite the pre-eminence of the mouse in modelling human disease, several aspects of murine biology limit its routine use in large-scale genetic and therapeutic screening. Many researchers who are interested in an embryologically and genetically tractable disease model have now turned to zebrafish. Zebrafish biology allows ready access to all developmental stages, and the optical clarity of embryos and larvae allow real-time imaging of developing pathologies. Sophisticated mutagenesis and screening strategies on a large scale, and with an economy that is not possible in other vertebrate systems, have generated zebrafish models of a wide variety of human diseases. This Review surveys the achievements and potential of zebrafish for modelling human diseases and for drug discovery and development.

Isolation and cytogenetic characterization of zebrafish meiotic prophase I mutants

“…Zebrafish genetic studies have established the legitimacy of this species as an animal model system for the study of vertebrate development, in addition to the growing recognition that zebrafish can also be exploited to model human diseases and thereby gain insight into the corresponding pathophysiology (Lieschke and Currie, 2007;Ingham, 2009). Spermatogenic arrest during meiotic prophase is a common finding in testicular biopsies of azoospermic and sterile men (Schulze et al, 1999).…”

“…This may indicate that it is difficult to isolate novel phenotypes among meiotic gene mutants. In recent years, N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis in the zebrafish, Danio rerio, has emerged as an excellent system in which to study the genetic basis of human development and related pathologies (Granato and Nü sslein-Volhard, 1996;Haffter et al, 1996;Nü sslein-Volhard and Dahm, 2002;Amsterdam and Hopkins, 2006;Lieschke and Currie, 2007;Ingham, 2009). In addition, we have created an experimental system using primary cultures of zebrafish spermatogonia that can proliferate and differentiate into functional sperm (Sakai, 2002).…”

Mass spectrometric analysis of mono- and multi-phosphopeptides by selective binding with NiZnFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles

“…As zebrafish share significant similarities in developmental processes with human and other vertebrates, it has emerged as an ideal model to study environmental exposures and risks for developing diseases 34 . In particular, the external fertilization of zebrafish eggs offers additional benefits for such studies.…”

Conventional myosins – unconventional functions

“…Non-mammalian vertebrates, such as zebrafish and Xenopus also possess M2A, M2B and M2C isoforms. The zebrafish embryo represents a largely untapped model for analysing myosin isoform function and its relevance to human disease in the whole animal (Lieschke and Currie 2007).…”