Danio Rerio – or as they are commonly known, Zebrafish – have been making a splash in the world of pharmaceutical research and Drug Discovery. The small fish are happily swimming into laboratories, helping researchers maintain populations of alternative animal models thanks to the ease of Danio breeding.
The advantages for the biomedical industry do not end at conception – Danio rerio help move Drug Discovery forward throughout their life cycle. The vertebrate fish and their highly homologous biological structures have scientists around the world welcoming Zebrafish research as a valuable part of their research teams.
Danio Breeding
Researching new diseases and discovering potential new cures requires a mastery of many quickly moving parts. Staying ahead of the fast-paced industry includes filtering out any potential treatment that is not able to move towards clinical trials.
New developments in genetic engineering and genome editing allow for precise experiments on DNA and microbiology while opening up new opportunities for medicine.
The quick pace of research only continues to speed up. Anyone working in a lab knows of the growing pressure to produce reliable and relevant results for future human patients. Finding an amazing molecule that works in theory can quickly become a dead-end once preclinical studies on living organisms begin.
Zebrafish offer a way to help move medical research forward with an alternative animal model that is naturally adapted to the fast pace of early drug development.
Zebrafish typically live near the surface of the water and in large schools, easily adapting to different temperatures, water chemistry, and aquariums. The small fish easily adapt to large scales as well, producing hundreds of eggs at once that mature in less than a week.
Danio breeding gives scientists a reliable source and supply of alternative animal models adapted to medical research. The freshly fertilized eggs are also transparent, allowing for easily observable testing on how specific molecules affect internal biological systems.
Working with a CRO
Working on Zebrafish and making use of Danio breeding in order to ensure large sample sizes is cost-effective and efficient. The small vertebrate fish are an attractive choice for laboratories focused on Drug Discovery.
However, the general ease of care that is commonly associated with Zebrafish does not mean their health and well-being should be neglected. Maintaining specific health standards and high levels of well-being may be easier than many other animal models, but it still involves a lot of work and technical knowledge. Taking good care of Zebrafish allows for better and more reliable research.
With a Contract Research Organization (CRO) like Biobide, animal husbandry is put into the hands of experts, allowing for the best results with the least amount of hassle. For Zebrafish, CROs specialized in Danio breeding are able to ensure a supply of high-quality model organisms that will help scientists continue their research into new diseases and new medicine as quickly and efficiently as possible.
CROs work hand in hand with laboratories in order to take care of animal models like Zebrafish and raise the standards for best practices. The end result is more than conforming to ethical standards or compliance. Better treatment of model organisms directly translates into better results that help simplify bringing a new treatment to clinical trials and eventually releasing it on the market.
How to Care for Zebrafish
Zebrafish are cost-effective alternative animal models that are aligned with the 3R initiatives of Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement. Understanding how exactly to care for the small fish is a big step towards further refining their use and ensuring the continued wellbeing of model organisms as a whole.
Take a look at some of the key aspects of Zebrafish care:
Environment
As a more active aquatic species, Zebrafish require tanks with large surface areas. In the wild, Zebrafish live near the surface and rely on light sources to signal breeding times. Proper care and maintenance make use of artificial light and dark cycles in order to prompt breeding.
Water Temperature and Quality
Understanding the chemistry and quality of the aquatic habitat is essential for proper Zebrafish care and successful Danio breeding. Zebrafish may have a respected reputation for adapting to a range of temperatures (6°C to 38°C), but keeping tanks at 28.5°C helps ensure the best results for growth, maturing, and breeding. Maintaining a pH level between 7.0 and 8.0 is also necessary for proper Zebrafish care.
While cleaning tanks and replacing water, it’s important to keep the new water at the same temperature and pH as the old water. Intense and sudden fluctuations in water temperature can lead to shocks that disrupt biological systems, possibly affecting any ongoing tests.
Feeding and Nutrition
The best practices for feeding Zebrafish includes a diet of both live and dried food to keep the fish healthy. Danio rerio typically eat 2 or 3 times a day with larvae sometimes requiring more frequent feeding.
Equipment Maintenance
An important aspect of Zebrafish care includes providing a healthy environment by regularly cleaning tanks with specialized techniques. On top of keeping the fish healthy, properly maintaining equipment is meant to stop any contamination that could negatively impact research.
