The zebrafish model in dental research: an alternative experimental approach for Türkiye

Abstract

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is widely used in medical and biomedical research because of its rapid development, transparent embryos, genetic similarity to humans, and cost-effective maintenance. In recent years, it has also gained attention in dental research, particularly in craniofacial development, oral pathogen models, and toxicity assessment of dental biomaterials. Although its use in dental research in Türkiye remains limited, the zebrafish model may provide an ethical, economical, and translationally valuable alternative to conventional animal models.

Keywords

• Zebrafish
• Danio rerio
• biomedical research
• dentistry
• animal model

Diş hekimliği araştırmalarında zebra balığı modeli: Türkiye için alternatif bir deneysel yaklaşım

Abstract

Zebra balığı (Danio rerio), hızlı gelişimi, embriyolarının saydamlığı, genetik benzerliği ve düşük maliyetli bakım koşulları nedeniyle tıp ve biyomedikal araştırmalarda yaygın kullanılan bir model organizmadır. Son yıllarda diş hekimliği alanında da kraniofasiyal gelişim, oral patojenler ve dental biyomateryallerin toksisite değerlendirmeleri dikkat çekmektedir. Türkiye’de dental araştırmalarda kullanımı henüz sınırlı olan zebra balığı modeli, geleneksel hayvan modellerine etik, ekonomik ve translasyonel açıdan güçlü bir alternatif sunabilir.

Keywords

• Zebra balığı
• Danio rerio
• biyomedikal araştırmalar
• diş hekimliği
• hayvan modeli

References

1. Choi T-Y, Choi T-I, Lee Y-R, et al. Zebrafish as an animal model for biomedical research. Exp Mol Med. 2021;53(3):310–317.
2. Leslie EJ, Taub MA, Liu H, et al. Identification of Functional Variants for Cleft Lip with or without Cleft Palate in or near PAX7, FGFR2, and NOG by Targeted Sequencing of GWAS Loci. The American Journal of Human Genetics. 2015;96(3):397–411.
3. Clemens DM, Németh-Cahalan KL, Trinh L, et al. In Vivo Analysis of Aquaporin 0 Function in Zebrafish: Permeability Regulation Is Required for Lens Transparency. Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science. 2013;54(7):5136.
4. Gebuijs IGE, Metz JR, Zethof J, et al. The anti-epileptic drug valproic acid causes malformations in the developing craniofacial skeleton of zebrafish larvae. Mech Dev. 2020; 163:103632.
5. Raterman ST, Metz JR, Wagener FADTG, et al. Zebrafish Models of Craniofacial Malformations: Interactions of Environmental Factors. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020;8.
6. Karaman GE, Ünal İ, Beler M, et al. Toothpastes for children and their detergent contents affect molecular mechanisms of odontogenesis in zebrafish embryos. Drug Chem Toxicol. 2024;47(1):15–25.
7. Ohashi ASC, de Souza Schacher HR, Pizzato CS, et al. Zebrafish as model for studies in dentistry. J Orthod Sci. 2022; 11:46.
8. Ünal İ, Cansız D, Beler M, et al. Whole-Mount RNA In Situ Hybridization of Zebrafish Embryos. 2024. p. 543–551.

9. Karagöz A, Beler M, Altun BD, et al. Panoramic dental X-ray exposure leads to oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis-mediated developmental defects in zebrafish embryos. J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2023;124(6):101661.
10. Karahan M, Kiziltan Eliacik BB, Cagiral U, et al. Investigation of the biocompatibility of various pulp capping materials on zebrafish model. PLoS One. 2024;19(9):e0310996.