Neurotrophins and their receptors distribution in the central nervous system of the Zebrafish (Danio rerio) - a review

Abstract

Neurotrophins (NTs) and their receptors have been extensively studied in the last years due to their involvement in the development of the nervous system, its plasticity and survival, as well as in psychiatric or neurodegenerative diseases. In zebrafish, the popular animal model for genetic studies, recent publications reveal the localization of NTs and tyrosine kinase receptors (Trks) in most important regions of the central nervous system (CNS) of developing embryo, the distribution of brain derivated neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and TrkB in adult zebrafish brain and also the expression of main NTs and Trk receptors in the cerebellum, meanwhile some unknown pathways of the complex mapping of tyrosine kinase (Ntrk) receptors and their ligands remain to be established.