Social behaviours are crucial for the both the survival and propagation of most species. Social deficits and impairments in social development are prominent in many neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Furthermore, the neuropeptide oxytocin as well as the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin are known to regulate sociability in humans and other mammals.
The experimental animal model species zebrafish (Danio rerio) holds advantages for research on autism and social behaviors. Zebrafish is a vertebrate that possess high genetic homology with humans, an evolutionarily conserved brain and is commonly used for developmental studies of brain function. Zebrafish are also highly social, and are mainly relying on their vision (rather than on olfaction as is the case for rodents) when they interact with each other.
The main goals of our current research are to use zebrafish to characterize the molecular and neuronal mechanisms in the development of sociability and to identify drugs enhancing oxytocin production. We hope that the project will substantially increase the current knowledge about the early development of the social brain. Most likely, these are the processes that are altered in infants that later develops autism. Furthermore, our drug screen approach using larval zebrafish has great potential to find drug molecules that may relieve social problems experienced by individuals with autism, and their families.
Group members
Lars Westberg, Professor, Principal Investigator
Pierre Cronell, PhD student
Noor Hassan, PhD student
Lindsay Zentveld Einarsson, Biomedical scientist
Fatima Eken, student