Genario Rafael, de Abreu Murilo S, Giacomini Ana C V V, Demin Konstantin A, Kalueff Allan V
Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.
The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Slidell, Louisiana.
Eur J Neurosci. 2020 Jul;52(1):2586-2603. doi: 10.1111/ejn.14438. Epub 2019 Jun 28.
Sex is an important variable in biomedical research. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is increasingly utilized as a powerful new model organism in translational neuroscience and pharmacology. Mounting evidence indicates important sex differences in zebrafish behavioral and neuropharmacological responses. Here, we discuss the role of sex in zebrafish central nervous system (CNS) models, their molecular mechanisms, recent findings and the existing challenges in this field. We also emphasize the growing utility of zebrafish models in translational neuropharmacological research of sex differences, fostering future CNS drug discovery and the search for novel sex-specific therapies. Finally, we highlight the interplay between sex and environment in zebrafish models of sex-environment correlations as an important strategy of CNS disease modeling using this aquatic organism.
性别是生物医学研究中的一个重要变量。斑马鱼(Danio rerio)在转化神经科学和药理学中越来越多地被用作一种强大的新型模式生物。越来越多的证据表明斑马鱼的行为和神经药理学反应存在重要的性别差异。在此,我们讨论性别在斑马鱼中枢神经系统(CNS)模型中的作用、其分子机制、近期研究发现以及该领域目前存在的挑战。我们还强调斑马鱼模型在性别差异转化神经药理学研究中的应用日益广泛,这有助于未来中枢神经系统药物的发现以及寻找新的性别特异性疗法。最后,我们强调在斑马鱼性别 - 环境相关性模型中性别与环境之间的相互作用,这是利用这种水生生物进行中枢神经系统疾病建模的一项重要策略。