Zebrafish Model in Pharmaceutical Research: A Review

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged as a powerful and versatile model organism in pharmaceutical research due to its unique biological and genetic attributes. With approximately 70% genetic similarity to humans and functional conservation of disease-related genes, zebrafish serve as an efficient platform for studying human diseases, drug screening, and toxicity assessment. Their small size, rapid development, and high fecundity make them ideal for large-scale in vivo experiments, particularly in developmental biology, pharmacology, and toxicology. Transparency of embryos allows real-time imaging of physiological and pathological processes, enhancing their applicability in high-throughput drug screening. Zebrafish models have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndromes and cancer. However, advancements in genetic engineering, imaging technologies, and automation are addressing these challenges. This review provides a comprehensive overview of zebrafish applications in pharmaceutical research, discussing their advantages, limitations, and future prospects in drug development and translational medicine.