Zebrafish models of autism spectrum disorder

Daria A Meshalkina; Marina N Kizlyk; Elana V Kysil; Adam D Collier; David J Echevarria; Murilo S Abreu; Leonardo J G Barcellos; Cai Song; Jason E Warnick; Evan J Kyzar; Allan V Kalueff

doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.02.004

Zebrafish models of autism spectrum disorder

Exp Neurol. 2018 Jan;299(Pt A):207-216. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.02.004. Epub 2017 Feb 3.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia.
² Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA.
³ Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA; The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Slidell, LA 70458, USA.
⁴ Graduate Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), University City, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil.
⁵ The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Slidell, LA 70458, USA; Graduate Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), University City, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Bioexperimentation, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), BR 285, San Jose, Passo Fundo, RS 99052-900, Brazil.
⁶ Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 330001, China; Graduate Institute of Neural and Cognitive Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 000001, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Behavioral Sciences, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, AR 72801, USA.
⁸ College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
⁹ Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia; The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Slidell, LA 70458, USA; Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 330001, China; Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg 620002, Russia. Electronic address: avkalueff@gmail.com.

PMID: 28163161
DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.02.004

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by motor, social and cognitive deficits that develop early during childhood. The pathogenesis of ASD is not well characterized and involves a multifaceted interaction between genetic, neurobiological and environmental factors. Animal (experimental) models possess evolutionarily conserved behaviors and molecular pathways that are highly relevant for studying ASD. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a relatively new animal model with promise for understanding the pathogenesis of complex brain disorders and discovering novel treatments. As a highly social and genetically tractable organism, zebrafish have recently been applied to model a variety of deficits relevant to ASD. Here, we discuss the developing utility of zebrafish models of ASD, as well as current behavioral, toxicological and genetic models of ASD, and future directions of research in this field.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Behavioral models; Genetic models; Toxicological models; Zebrafish.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Autism Spectrum Disorder / chemically induced
Autism Spectrum Disorder / genetics*
Autism Spectrum Disorder / physiopathology
Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology*
Behavior, Animal
Disease Models, Animal
Humans
Social Behavior
Zebrafish / genetics*