Oxytocinergic Signaling in Zebrafish: Translational Perspectives for Autism Spectrum Disorder

TL;DR

This paper explores how oxytocin signaling in zebrafish can help understand and model autism spectrum disorder.

Contribution

The paper highlights zebrafish as a translational model for studying oxytocin-related mechanisms in autism.

Findings

Zebrafish have conserved oxytocin pathways and complex social behaviors, making them suitable for ASD modeling.

Oxytocin signaling alterations are strongly linked to social and cognitive deficits in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Abstract

Alterations in the oxytocin system, accompanied by cognitive and behavioral deficits, are common in several neurodevelopmental conditions, including Autism Spectrum Disorder. Oxytocin, a neuropeptide produced in the hypothalamus, plays a pivotal role in modulating social cognition and complex social behaviors. Recently, increasing attention has been given to the therapeutic potential of oxytocin in the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. However, many aspects of oxytocin signaling and its effects remain to be fully elucidated. Given its pronounced social behaviors and conserved neurochemical pathways, the zebrafish (
Danio rerio
) has emerged as a model for investigating the neural and behavioral effects of oxytocin. This species exhibits a wide behavioral repertoire, making it suitable for modeling oxytocin‐related neurodevelopmental alterations. Here we provide an overview of the key mechanisms underlying oxytocin signaling and discuss current findings supporting the use of zebrafish as an Autism Spectrum Disorder model.

Alterations in oxytocin signaling are strongly implicated in the social and cognitive deficits characterizing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental conditions. However, the precise mechanisms remain unclear. The zebrafish (
Danio rerio
) has emerged as a powerful translational model due to its evolutionarily conserved oxytocin pathways and rich repertoire of complex social behaviors. This review synthesizes key mechanisms of oxytocin signaling and evaluates the evidence supporting the use of zebrafish to model ASD and elucidate these critical pathways.

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