Zebrafish as a Novel Model for Toxicological Research
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Toxicology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 October 2025 | Viewed by 257
Special Issue Editor
Interests: waterborne pollutants; zebrafish; environmental toxicology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In recent years, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has gained significant attention as a powerful vertebrate model in toxicological research due to its unique biological and physiological characteristics. With its high genetic similarity to humans, rapid development, transparent embryos, and cost-effective maintenance, zebrafish provide an excellent alternative to traditional mammalian models, especially for early-stage screening and mechanistic studies.
This Special Issue aims to bring together innovative research that highlights the versatility of the zebrafish model in evaluating the toxic effects of a wide range of environmental pollutants and emerging contaminants. It highlights studies that explore the biological, biochemical, cellular, and molecular responses induced by various toxic agents, including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, heavy metals, micro- and nanoplastics, and other persistent organic and inorganic pollutants.
This issue welcomes contributions assessing multiple endpoints, such as cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, embryotoxicity, teratogenicity, neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, hematotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. Research integrating high-throughput screening techniques, omics approaches (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics), and imaging tools is also of great interest. Studies combining zebrafish with other models to establish comparative toxicological profiles or that contribute to environmental risk assessment frameworks are highly encouraged.
By compiling original research articles, reviews, and methodological papers, this Special Issue serves as a reference point for researchers in toxicology, pharmacology, environmental sciences, and regulatory science. Moreover, it seeks to highlight the growing importance of zebrafish in implementing integrative approaches such as eco-toxicogenomics, One Health perspectives, and alternative strategies to reduce the use of mammalian models in toxicity testing.
Ultimately, this collection promotes a broader understanding of how zebrafish can be utilized to investigate complex toxicological mechanisms and contribute to safer environmental and human health outcomes.
Dr. Leobardo Manuel Gómez-Oliván
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- zebrafish
- toxicological assessment
- organic and inorganic contaminants
- oxidative stress
- developmental toxicity
- neurotoxicity
- reproductive toxicity
- genotoxicity
- alternative testing models
- One Health
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