Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41832725›Full record

ReviewCurrent drug metabolism2026

Zebrafish as a Model Organism to Study Neurotoxicity: A Potential Tool for Neuroprotective Drug Discovery.

Rajneesh Kumar, Poonam Dhiman, Damanpreet Singh

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Current drug metabolism, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Rajneesh KumarPharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Dietetics and Nutrition Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur-176061, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Poonam DhimanPharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Dietetics and Nutrition Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur-176061, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Damanpreet SinghPharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Dietetics and Nutrition Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur-176061, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionDanio rerio, the zebrafish, serves as an excellent model in neuroprotective drug discovery due to its conserved nervous system organization, neurotransmitter pathways, antioxidant defenses, and genomic similarity to mammals.

methodsA systematic literature search following PRISMA 2020 guidelines was conducted across Pub- Med, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Studies published between 2020 and 2025 were prioritized, with earlier key papers included for context. The data on larval, adult, and genetically modified zebrafish models were analyzed for neurotoxic effects, focusing on study design, toxicants, and neurobehavioral or molecular outcomes.

resultsNeurotoxicants such as chlorpyrifos, bisphenol, triphenyl phosphate, aluminum, ammonium acetate, arsenic, zinc, acrylamide, methylmercury, and tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate were shown to cross the zebrafish blood-brain barrier. These exposures caused significant behavioral alterations, neurotransmitter imbalances, oxidative stress, and gene or protein expression changes related to brain function. Analysis of the transgenic zebrafish revealed notable alterations in neuronal development and axonal morphology upon exposure to various neurotoxic chemicals. DISCUSSION: Zebrafish display neurotoxic responses with a close resemblance to mammals, supporting their translational value in neurotoxicity and drug discovery studies. However, limitations such as a less complex brain compared to mammals, quick neuronal regeneration, limited tissue access, and difficulties in drug absorption quantification warrant refinements in zebrafish models.

conclusionZebrafish offer a versatile, cost-effective, and genetically tractable system for neurotoxicity and neuroprotection research. This systematic review highlights their crucial role in neuroprotective drug discovery while emphasizing the need for improved methodological approaches to enhance translational reliability.

Indexed as

Disease Models, AnimalDrug DiscoveryNeuroprotective AgentsNeurotoxicity SyndromesZebrafishAnimalsNeuroprotective AgentsAcetylcholinesterasecognitive deficitsDanio rerioexcitotoxicitylocomotor deficitsneurotoxicity

Identifiers

PMID41832725

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.