Information about zebrafish model

1.
The role of the zebrafish model in the search for
drugs and for functional‐food ingredients
• The zebrafish is one of the best model organisms for studying the effects of food
ingredients.
• Innofood by Neuron, through the Biotechnology Area, uses the zebrafish as a research
model in functional studies.
The zebrafish, Danio rerio, is the most frequently
used fish as a laboratory model, as it is an excellent
biological model for use in various scientific-
technical areas such as biomedicine, environment,
aquiculture and food.
For some years many national food and
pharmaceutical companies have been increasing
the use of the zebrafish model as a tool in the
search for new food ingredients and pharmacological treatments for human diseases.
Traditionally research projects in these types of companies have been based on the use of
mammals such as mice for studying the effects of administration of new drugs and
ingredients on these animals. Once the assays in mice are satisfactory, that is to say the
studied compounds are therapeutically efficient and are not toxic, the final phase in which
the effects of these compounds are studied in humans is reached.
During the recent years, laboratories have tried to
reduce the number of animals used for their research.
Moreover, they have begun to use other animal models
as an alternative to mice with the goal of reducing the
use of mammals in experiments. For this reason the
advantages offered by the zebrafish have gained
importance and have made this animal species an
alternative model in research fields such as agro-food
and pharmaceutical.
The zebrafish is genetically very similar to higher
vertebrate models, human beings are among these

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vertebrates and have 86 % similitude in genetic material. The simplicity of handling and
reproduction of this model, as well as the possibilities it offers for the application in new
genomic and proteomic technolgies, has made this animal an optimum tool in studies
related to human health and the development of new food ingredients.
Advantages and characteristics of the zebrafish
for R&D
Among the main advantages for the use of zebrafish
as a research model species are:
1. The possibility of working with all the genome of a
complete organism, which gives more information
about cell models. Moreover, this model is faster
and cheaper than working with rodents.
2. It is a higher vertebrate model and presents a
high genomic and proteomic similitude with
vertebrates such as mammalian models (86 % of similitude with the human genome).
3. Prestigious international organizations such as EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
and OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) recognize the
zebrafish model as one of the best alternatives for research into the effects of toxic
compounds in the environment.
4. During the first 24 hours of development, the embryos are completely transparent,
which allows the observation of the development of the internal organs in real time with
the advantage of in vitro and in vivo models.
5. The zebrafish has the capacity of absorbing compounds directly from water.
6. They are easy to handle when using genetic techniques and well established molecular
processes. (More than 75% of their genome has already been sequenced.)
7. The embryo production is numerous (between 100-200 embryos each laying per
female), permitting the collection of a high quantity data in each experiment, which is
not possible with mammalian models.
8. External fertilization and development, which makes handling and observation of
embryos easier than with mammalian models.

3.
The embryo development is rapid and after two days it is possible to observe all the typical
vertebrate organs. In comparison with higher vertebrates, the organs of the Danio rerio
zebrafish embryos appear to be mini versions of the higher vertebrates and only use a few
cells to carry out the same functions.
An evaluation model for biosafety and the effectiveness of ingredients:
Starting with the development of its own technologies, Innofood by Neuron works with
international agro-food companies in the development of new ingredients. Using the
zebrafish model the company studies the effect of new compounds or compound mixtures
on the organism of this model. For example the influence a compound has on the
development of the nervous system is studied, by observing the evolution from the first
gestation stages through to maturity and the senescence stage. These kinds of studies are
in great demand by infant nutrition companies.
Companies from this sector entrust Innofood by Neuron to carry out studies on their new
compounds to evaluate the satisfaction effect and to modulate cholesterol levels.
For further information:
www.innofoodbyneuron.com
E-mail: bio@innofoodbyneuron.com