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Transgenic zebrafish models of neurodegenerative diseases

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Abstract

Since the introduction of the zebrafish as a model for the study of vertebrate developmental biology, an extensive array of techniques for its experimental manipulation and analysis has been developed. Recently it has become apparent that these powerful methodologies might be deployed in order to elucidate the pathogenesis of human neurodegenerative diseases and to identify candidate therapeutic approaches. In this article, we consider evidence that the zebrafish central nervous system provides an appropriate setting in which to model human neurological disease and we review techniques and resources available for generating transgenic models. We then examine recent publications showing that appropriate phenotypes can be provoked in the zebrafish through transgenic manipulations analogous to genetic abnormalities known to cause human tauopathies, polyglutamine diseases or motor neuron degenerations. These studies show proof of concept that findings in zebrafish models can be applicable to the pathogenic mechanisms underlying human diseases. Consequently, the prospects for providing novel insights into neurodegenerative diseases by exploiting transgenic zebrafish models and discovery-driven approaches seem favorable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 7015 Biomedical Sciences Tower 3, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA

    Jonathan J. Sager, Qing Bai & Edward A. Burton

  2. Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Jonathan J. Sager

  3. Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Qing Bai & Edward A. Burton

  4. Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Edward A. Burton

  5. Division of Movement Disorders, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Edward A. Burton

  6. Department of Neurology, Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Edward A. Burton

  7. Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Edward A. Burton

Authors
  1. Jonathan J. Sager
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  2. Qing Bai
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  3. Edward A. Burton
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Correspondence to Edward A. Burton.

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Sager, J.J., Bai, Q. & Burton, E.A. Transgenic zebrafish models of neurodegenerative diseases. Brain Struct Funct 214, 285–302 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-009-0237-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-009-0237-1

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