Interactive effects of (±)-trans-U50488 and its stereoisomers with cannabinoids.

The adverse effects of mu opioid agonists have spurred a renewed interest in using kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonists as analgesics. KOR agonists also have potential for development as diuretics for the treatment of edema and hypertension. Here, we evaluated the discriminative stimulus, antinociceptive, and diuretic effects of the kappa agonist (±)-trans-U-50488 and its stereoisomers (-)-(1S,2S)-U-50488 or (+)-(1R,2R)-U-50488) alone and in combination with the cannabinoid agonist (-)-CP 55,940.

Developing zebrafish experimental animal models relevant to schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a severely debilitating, lifelong psychiatric disorder affecting approximately 1% of global population. The pathobiology of schizophrenia remains poorly understood, necessitating further translational research in this field. Experimental (animal) models are becoming indispensable for studying schizophrenia-related phenotypes and pro/antipsychotic drugs.

Opioid Neurobiology, Neurogenetics and Neuropharmacology in Zebrafish.

Despite the high prevalence of medicinal use and abuse of opioids, their neurobiology and mechanisms of action are not fully understood. Experimental (animal) models are critical for improving our understanding of opioid effects in vivo. As zebrafish (Danio rerio) are increasingly utilized as a powerful model organism in neuroscience research, mounting evidence suggests these fish as a useful tool to study opioid neurobiology.

Understanding zebrafish aggressive behavior.

Aggression is a common agonistic behavior affecting social life and well-being of humans and animals. However, the underlying mechanisms of aggression remain poorly understood. For decades, studies of aggression have mostly focused on laboratory rodents.

Zebrafish models for personalized psychiatry: Insights from individual, strain and sex differences, and modeling gene x environment interactions.

Currently becoming widely recognized, personalized psychiatry focuses on unique physiological and genetic profiles of patients to best tailor their therapy. However, the role of individual differences, as well as genetic and environmental factors, in human psychiatric disorders remains poorly understood. Animal experimental models are a valuable tool to improve our understanding of disease pathophysiology and its molecular mechanisms.

Understanding the Role of Environmental Enrichment in Zebrafish Neurobehavioral Models.

Environmental stimuli are critical in preclinical research that utilizes laboratory animals to model human brain disorders. The main goal of environmental enrichment (EE) is to provide laboratory animals with better choice of activity and greater control over social and spatial stressors. Thus, in addition to being a useful experimental tool, EE becomes an important strategy for increasing the validity and reproducibility of preclinical data.

Zebrafish models: do we have valid paradigms for depression?

Depression is a wide-spread, debilitating psychiatric disorder. Mainly rodent-based, experimental animal models of depression are extensively used to probe the pathogenesis of this disorder. Here, we emphasize the need for innovative approaches to studying depression, and call for a wider use of novel model organisms, such as the zebrafish (Danio rerio), in this field.

Understanding antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADS) through preclinical experimental models.

Antidepressant drugs are currently one of the most prescribed medications. In addition to treatment resistance and side effects of antidepressants, their clinical use is further complicated by antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADS). ADS is a common problem in patients following the interruption, dose reduction, or discontinuation of antidepressant drugs.

Psychoneuroimmunology and immunopsychiatry of zebrafish.

Despite the high prevalence of neural and immune disorders, their etiology and molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. As the zebrafish (Danio rerio) is increasingly utilized as a powerful model organism in biomedical research, mounting evidence suggests these fish as a useful tool to study neural and immune mechanisms and their interplay. Here, we discuss zebrafish neuro-immune mechanisms and their pharmacological and genetic modulation, the effect of stress on cytokines, as well as relevant models of microbiota-brain interplay.

Zebrafish models relevant to studying central opioid and endocannabinoid systems.

The endocannabinoid and opioid systems are two interplaying neurotransmitter systems that modulate drug abuse, anxiety, pain, cognition, neurogenesis and immune activity. Although they are involved in such critical functions, our understanding of endocannabinoid and opioid physiology remains limited, necessitating further studies, novel models and new model organisms in this field. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is rapidly emerging as one of the most effective translational models in neuroscience and biological psychiatry.