Zhdanova Irina V
Laboratory of Sleep and Circadian Physiology, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University Medical School, 715 Albany St., R-913, Boston, Massachusetts 02118-2394, USA.
Zebrafish. 2006;3(2):215-26. doi: 10.1089/zeb.2006.3.215.
Zebrafish (Danio rerio), a small prolific rapidly-developing diurnal vertebrate, shows behavioral, physiological, and pharmacological characteristics of mammalian sleep. Zebrafish brain has well-developed neuronal structures and neurochemical systems that are known to be necessary and sufficient for sleep regulation in other vertebrate species. Rich behavioral repertoire in zebrafish permits investigation of the effects of sleep and sleep deprivation on cognitive functions and performance. Sensitivity of this fish to hypnotic agents helps in designing high throughput screens for new hypnotic medications, evaluation of their efficacy, and potential side effects. The optical transparency of larval zebrafish and intracellular fluorescent markers of calcium responses available make it possible to visualize neuronal activity with single cell resolution in a behaving fish. Given the accumulated experience in conducting large-scale genetic screens in zebrafish, multiple available mutant phenotypes, and advanced genetic and physical maps of this vertebrate, zebrafish is an excellent model for studying the enigmatic basic sleep function and mechanisms of sleep regulation.
斑马鱼（Danio rerio）是一种小型、繁殖力强、发育迅速的昼行性脊椎动物，具有哺乳动物睡眠的行为、生理和药理学特征。斑马鱼的大脑具有发育良好的神经元结构和神经化学系统，已知这些对于其他脊椎动物物种的睡眠调节是必要且充分的。斑马鱼丰富的行为表现使得研究睡眠和睡眠剥夺对认知功能及行为表现的影响成为可能。这种鱼对催眠药物的敏感性有助于设计针对新型催眠药物的高通量筛选方法，评估其疗效以及潜在的副作用。斑马鱼幼体的光学透明性以及现有的钙反应细胞内荧光标记物，使得在行为中的鱼体内以单细胞分辨率可视化神经元活动成为可能。鉴于在斑马鱼中进行大规模遗传筛选积累的经验、多种可用的突变表型以及该脊椎动物先进的遗传和物理图谱，斑马鱼是研究神秘的基本睡眠功能和睡眠调节机制的绝佳模型。
