Zebrafish Models in Pharmacological Research: Unraveling Mechanisms and Discovering New Drug Targets

Abstract

The zebrafish, scientifically known as Danio rerio, stands out as a potent model organism in biological research due to its advantageous features such as genetic tractability, rapid development, and transparent embryos. Initially recognized for its role in vertebrate development studies, zebrafish has expanded its reach into diverse fields including pharmacology, clinical research as a disease model, and notably, drug development. With applications spanning lead compound screening, target identification, morpholino oligonucleotide screens, assay development, and drug toxicity studies, zebrafish has proven to be a practical and cost-effective alternative to traditional mammalian models. This review provides a concise overview of the key characteristics that position zebrafish as an invaluable research tool across various biological processes, particularly underscoring its significance in pharmaceutical research.