Journal article 201 views 17 downloads
Large scale practical cardiovascular classes with Danio rerio: overcoming ethical, financial and logistical challenges associated with mammalian models
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Nicholas S Freestone ,
James L Rouse ,
Aidan Seeley
Advances in Physiology Education
Swansea University Author:
Aidan Seeley
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PDF | Accepted Manuscript
© 2025 The Authors. Author accepted manuscript document released under the terms of a Creative Commons CC-BY licence using the Swansea University Research Publications Policy (rights retention).
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DOI (Published version): 10.1152/advan.00135.2025
Abstract
Traditional laboratory practicals exploring cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology rely on mammalian models, presenting ethical, financial, and logistical challenges. Danio rerio (zebrafish) larvae offer a compelling alternative that aligns with the partial replacement principle of the 3Rs, whil...
| Published in: | Advances in Physiology Education |
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| ISSN: | 1043-4046 1522-1229 |
| Published: |
American Physiological Society
2025
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70771 |
| Abstract: |
Traditional laboratory practicals exploring cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology rely on mammalian models, presenting ethical, financial, and logistical challenges. Danio rerio (zebrafish) larvae offer a compelling alternative that aligns with the partial replacement principle of the 3Rs, whilst providing an opportunity for students to develop desirable in-vivo skills to improve their employability. Here we introduce an engaging set of in-vivo laboratory practicals suitable for large undergraduate cohorts, that utilizes larval zebrafish to investigate cardiac ion channels and receptors. The practical involves two 3-hour sessions where students measure heart rate in 72 and 96 hours post-fertilisation larvae in response to various treatments. The first session introduces students to handling larval zebrafish before exploring the effects of a reduced ambient temperature and application of the commonly used zebrafish anaesthetic Tricaine (MS-222) on both heart rate and the zebrafish startle reflex. Finally, students apply the well known adrenergic agonist, adrenaline. The second session empowers students to develop their own testable hypothesis regarding which ion channels or receptors are likely to influence zebrafish heart rate, providing them with the autonomy to select two pharmacologically active drugs from a carefully curated list (e.g. isoproterenol (β-adrenergic receptor agonist), propranolol (β-adrenergic receptor antagonist) and nifedipine (L-type calcium channel blocker)) that will enable them to address their hypothesis. Students' subsequent data for analysis allows them to develop an understanding of the conserved and divergent aspects of cardiac physiology between zebrafish and mammalian systems, and an appreciation of the importance of appropriate model selection in physiological and pharmacological research. |
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| Keywords: |
3Rs, partial replacement, Zebrafish |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |