A critical review of zebrafish schizophrenia models: Time for validation?

Kinga Gawel; Nancy Saana Banono; Agnieszka Michalak; Camila V Esguerra

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.001

A critical review of zebrafish schizophrenia models: Time for validation?

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019 Dec:107:6-22. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.001. Epub 2019 Aug 2.

Authors

Kinga Gawel¹, Nancy Saana Banono², Agnieszka Michalak³, Camila V Esguerra⁴

Affiliations

¹ Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway; Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego St. 8b, 20-090, Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: kingagawel@umlub.pl.
² Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway.
³ Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki St. 4A, 20-093, Lublin, Poland.
⁴ Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway; Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: c.v.esguerra@ncmm.uio.no.

PMID: 31381931
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.001

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects 1% of the population worldwide and is manifested as a broad spectrum of symptoms, from hallucinations to memory impairment. It is believed that genetic and/or environmental factors may contribute to the occurrence of this disease. Recently, the zebrafish has emerged as a valuable and attractive model for various neurological disorders including schizophrenia. In this review, we describe current pharmacological models of schizophrenia with special emphasis on providing insights into the pros and cons of using zebrafish as a behavioural model of this disease. Moreover, we highlight the advantages and utility of using zebrafish for elucidating the genetic mechanisms underlying this psychiatric disorder. We believe that the zebrafish has high potential also in the area of precision medicine and may complement the development of therapeutics, especially for pharmacoresistant patients.

Keywords: Drugs; Models; Risk genes; Schizophrenia; Validation; Zebrafish.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Animals
Disease Models, Animal*
Schizophrenia*
Zebrafish*