PUBLICATION

Zebrafish: gaining popularity in lipid research

Authors
Hölttä-Vuori, M., Salo, V.T., Nyberg, L., Brackmann, C., Enejder, A., Panula, P., and Ikonen, E.
ID
ZDB-PUB-100702-5
Date
2010
Source
The Biochemical journal   429(2): 235-242 (Review)
Registered Authors
Panula, Pertti
Keywords
cholesterol, imaging, lipid, lipidosis, model organism, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Atherosclerosis/etiology
  • Atherosclerosis/metabolism
  • Cholesterol/metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus/etiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus/metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fatty Liver/etiology
  • Fatty Liver/metabolism
  • Lipid Metabolism*
  • Lipoproteins/metabolism
  • Models, Animal
  • Nervous System/metabolism
  • Obesity/etiology
  • Obesity/metabolism
  • Yolk Sac/metabolism
  • Zebrafish/embryology
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish/metabolism*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
PubMed
20578994 Full text @ Biochem. J.
Abstract
Zebrafish are an increasingly popular vertebrate model organism in which to study biological phenomena. It has been widely used, especially in developmental biology and neurobiology, and many aspects of its development and physiology are similar to those of mammals. The popularity of zebrafish relies on its relatively low cost, rapid development and ease of genetic manipulation. Moreover, the optical transparency of the developing fish together with novel imaging techniques enable the direct visualization of complex phenomena at the level of the entire organism. This potential is now also being increasingly appreciated by the lipid research community. In the present review we summarize basic information on the lipid composition and distribution in zebrafish tissues, including lipoprotein metabolism, intestinal lipid absorption, the yolk lipids and their mobilization, as well as lipids in the nervous system. We also discuss studies in which zebrafish have been employed for the visualization of whole-body lipid distribution and trafficking. Finally, recent advances in using zebrafish as a model for lipid-related diseases, including atherosclerosis, obesity, diabetes and hepatic steatosis are highlighted. As the insights into zebrafish lipid metabolism increase, it is likely that zebrafish as a model organism will become an increasingly powerful tool in lipid research.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping