Pharmacological analyses of learning and memory in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Over the last decade, zebrafish (Danio rerio) have become valuable as a complementary model in behavioral pharmacology, opening a new avenue for understanding the relationships between drug action and behavior. This species offers a useful intermediate approach bridging the gap between in vitro stud...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior biochemistry and behavior, 2015-12, Vol.139 (0), p.103-111
Main Authors: Bailey, Jordan M., Oliveri, Anthony N., Levin, Edward D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Behavior, Animal - drug effects
Behavior, Animal - physiology
Cognition - drug effects
Cognition - physiology
Danio rerio
Executive Function - drug effects
Executive Function - physiology
Learning
Learning - drug effects
Learning - physiology
Memory
Memory - drug effects
Memory - physiology
Models, Animal
Pharmacology
Psychotropic Drugs - pharmacology
Zebrafish
Zebrafish - physiology
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Summary:Over the last decade, zebrafish (Danio rerio) have become valuable as a complementary model in behavioral pharmacology, opening a new avenue for understanding the relationships between drug action and behavior. This species offers a useful intermediate approach bridging the gap between in vitro studies and traditional mammalian models. Zebrafish offer great advantages of economy compared to their rodent counterparts, their complex brains and behavioral repertoire offer great translational potential relative to in vitro models. The development and validation of a variety of tests to measure behavior, including cognition, in zebrafish have set the stage for the use of this animal for behavioral pharmacology studies. This has led to research into the basic mechanisms of cognitive function as well as screening for potential cognition-improving drug therapies, among other lines of research. As with all models, zebrafish have limitations, which span pharmacokinetic challenges to difficulties quantifying behavior. The use, efficacy and limitations associated with a zebrafish model of cognitive function are discussed in this review, within the context of behavioral pharmacology. [Display omitted] •Zebrafish can be used to assess neurobehavioral processes of learning and memory.•Zebrafish provide a complementary model for screening the cognitive effects of drugs.•Zebrafish can be used to help characterize neural systems underlying cognitive function.
ISSN:0091-3057
1873-5177
DOI:10.1016/j.pbb.2015.03.006