Zebrafish as Model Organism in Aquatic Ecotoxicology: Current Trends and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Assessing the welfare of aquatic ecosystems has gained immense importance within the scientific community, elevating ecotoxicology to a fundamental discipline. This field utilizes bioindicators, often referred to as model organisms, to investigate the harmful effects of environmental pollution. Amid this array of biological markers, the zebrafish stands out as an exceptional contender. The primary objective of this present investigation is to highlight the complete information available in the literature about the utilization of zebrafish in ecotoxicology. Zebrafish are commonly utilized in research to study reproductive and embryonic toxicity due to their intricate sex-determination mechanism, which is significantly impacted by environmental factors. Similarly, this particular fish species is also employed in studying neuronal signaling, behavior, and DNA damage from pollutants due to their susceptibility and swimming abilities around day five post-fertilization. In addition to the established methodologies, recent advancements in environmental toxicology have incorporated zebrafish into emerging genome editing techniques. These innovative approaches provide fresh and compelling avenues for exploring detoxification mechanisms and organisms’ intricate adaptive responses to environmental stressors. In conclusion, zebrafish are important as model organisms, providing profound insights into diverse facets of ecotoxicological investigations. Furthermore, their relevance is further underscored by their adaptability to evolving genome editing technologies.