title: Developing zebrafish models of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
abstract: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder with complex symptoms and unclear, multi-factorial pathogenesis. Animal (rodent) models of ASD-like behavior are extensively used to study genetics, circuitry and molecular mechanisms of ASD. The evolutionarily conserved nature of social behavior and its molecular pathways suggests that alternative experimental models can be developed to complement and enhance the existing rodent ASD paradigms. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is rapidly becoming a popular model organism in neuroscience and biological psychiatry to study brain function, model human brain disorders and explore their genetic or pharmacological modulation. Representing highly social animals, zebrafish emerge as a strong potential model organism to study normal and pathological social phenotypes, as well as several other ASD-like symptoms. Here, we discuss the developing utility of zebrafish in modeling ASD as a new emerging field in translational neuroscience and drug discovery.
authors: ZENEREI Institute and Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, A210 Langley Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
authors: Adam Michael
authors: AM
authors: Stewart
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 415 Lane Road, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Nguyen
authors: University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
authors: Keith
authors: K
authors: Wong
authors: ZENEREI Institute and Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA.
authors: Manoj K
authors: MK
authors: Poudel
authors: ZENEREI Institute and Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA. Electronic address: avkalueff@gmail.com.
authors: Allan V
authors: AV
authors: Kalueff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D012919:Social Behavior; D015027:Zebrafish
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Behavioral tests; Social deficits; Translational research; Zebrafish