Autistic behaviors in a valproic acid-induced zebrafish model. A systematic review

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder, with significant manifestations in the socio-affective and behavioral areas, whose causes remain undetermined. The investigation of its possible causes and treatments is supported by genetically manipulated animal models and non-genetic ones with the use of teratogens or environmental factors. One of the non-genetic models is the administration of valproic acid (VPA) during embryonic development, which has been widely used in rats and mice, thus allowing the evaluation of different behaviors related to ASD. Although studies are still scarce, the model also exists in the zebrafish species. In this systematized review with the PRISMA methodology, the available information on behavioral evaluations in experiments with a zebrafish model treated with AVP in embryonic stages is synthesized. A search was carried out for this purpose, in two databases with the keywords: autism, autism spectrum disorder*, zebrafish, behavior, and valproic acid, and their behavioral results were analyzed in relation to ASD symptoms. According to the information reviewed, this model meets sufficient behavioral characteristics to establish homologies with those observed in ASD humans, so its use seems to guarantee an appropriate translational task in this area of knowledge.