title: Use of zebrafish apoptosis assays for preclinical drug discovery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apoptosis has become an important target for drug discovery. Although the mouse remains the animal model of choice for the preclinical assessment of drug toxicity and efficacy, zebrafish are increasingly used for early drug studies. Here, we describe approaches for assessing drug effects on apoptosis in transparent zebrafish.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review, the authors discuss the drug effects on developmentally regulated apoptosis using microscopy. They also discuss the effects of neuroprotectants in a chemical induced disease model using morphometric image analysis. Finally, the authors review the effects of radioprotectants in irradiated whole animals using a conventional 96-well microplate format.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several challenges have limited more widespread use of zebrafish as the organism of choice for drug screening. However, zebrafish do have a number of compelling inherent advantages including: rapid organogenesis, transparency, statistically significant numbers of animals per experiment and adaptability of cell-based methods.
authors: Phylonix , 100 Inman Street, Cambridge, 02139, MA , USA pat@phylonix.com.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: McGrath
authors: Wen Lin
authors: WL
authors: Seng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D020169:Caspases