Legal aspects of zebrafish neuropharmacology and neurotoxicology research

Despite the growing emphasis on translational neuropharmacology and drug discovery research, the legality underlying these fields are seldom considered. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an increasingly utilized model organism in neuropharmacology and neurotoxicology. As the acceptance of zebrafish in biomedicine continues to grow, the legal aspects of their applications remain outpaced by this exponential growth. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate the legal aspects of zebrafish applications to CNS drug research. Here, we discuss a wide range of regulatory topics relevant to zebrafish research, such as the bioethics of experimentation (including studies of stress and pain), welfare protection laws, the recent advances in CNS drug discovery, and specific legal aspects of controlled substance research in this aquatic species. The conceptualization and understanding of the zebrafish welfare and its promise as a model in toxicology can also potentially shape environmental protection practices and inform policy making.