Implementation of a New Experimental Animal Model - Zebrafish

Danio rerio ( zebrafish , paulistinha ) is a freshwater small fish that has been used as an animal model for studies of several human diseases. Its characteristics of being easily bred and reproduced and its laboratory housing methods are well established. It requires some basic care and the acquisition of specific low-cost equipment. Since this fish has already been considered a good human disease model, it may serve as a powerful preclinical platform for the study of molecular events, therapeutic strategies, and for evaluating the physiological mechanisms of some pathologies. The Laboratory of Experimental Hepatology and Gastroenterology (LEHG) of the Research Center of Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre initiated studies with the zebrafish in 2008, presented here.