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Large-scale practical cardiovascular classes with Danio rerio: overcoming ethical, financial, and logistical challenges associated with mammalian models

Laura F. Corns Orcid Logo, Nicholas S. Freestone Orcid Logo, James L. Rouse Orcid Logo, Aidan Seeley Orcid Logo

Advances in Physiology Education, Volume: 50, Issue: 1, Pages: 1 - 9

Swansea University Author: Aidan Seeley Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1152/advan.00135.2025

Abstract

Traditional laboratory practicals exploring cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology rely on mammalian models, presenting ethical, financial, and logistical challenges. Danio rerio (zebrafish) larvae offer a compelling alternative that aligns with the partial replacement principle of replacement,...

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Published in: Advances in Physiology Education
ISSN: 1043-4046 1522-1229
Published: American Physiological Society 2026
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70771
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last_indexed 2025-12-19T06:52:02Z
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spelling 2025-12-18T16:03:59.7207588 v2 70771 2025-10-26 Large-scale practical cardiovascular classes with Danio rerio: overcoming ethical, financial, and logistical challenges associated with mammalian models c69dba86b3ccf9a140b67b7e97d68bba 0000-0001-7085-4296 Aidan Seeley Aidan Seeley true false 2025-10-26 MEDS Traditional laboratory practicals exploring cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology rely on mammalian models, presenting ethical, financial, and logistical challenges. Danio rerio (zebrafish) larvae offer a compelling alternative that aligns with the partial replacement principle of replacement, reduction, and refinement (the 3Rs), while providing an opportunity for students to develop desirable in vivo skills to improve their employability. Here, we introduce an engaging set of in vivo laboratory practicals suitable for large undergraduate cohorts that utilizes larval zebrafish to investigate cardiac ion channels and receptors. The practical involves two 3-hour sessions where students measure heart rate in 72- and 96-hour postfertilization larvae in response to various treatments. The first session introduces students to handling larval zebrafish before exploring the effects of a reduced ambient temperature and application of the commonly used zebrafish anesthetic tricaine (MS-222) on both heart rate and the zebrafish startle reflex. Finally, students apply the well-known adrenergic agonist adrenaline. The second session empowers students to develop their own testable hypothesis regarding which ion channels or receptors are likely to influence zebrafish heart rate, providing them with the autonomy to select two pharmacologically active drugs from a carefully curated list [e.g. isoproterenol (β-adrenergic receptor agonist), propranolol (β-adrenergic receptor antagonist), and nifedipine (L-type calcium channel blocker)] that will enable them to address their hypothesis. Students’ subsequent data for analysis allows them to develop an understanding of the conserved and divergent aspects of cardiac physiology between zebrafish and mammalian systems, and an appreciation of the importance of appropriate model selection in physiological and pharmacological research. Journal Article Advances in Physiology Education 50 1 1 9 American Physiological Society 1043-4046 1522-1229 cardiovascular, partial replacement, zebrafish, 3Rs 1 3 2026 2026-03-01 10.1152/advan.00135.2025 COLLEGE NANME Medical School COLLEGE CODE MEDS Swansea University Another institution paid the OA fee 2025-12-18T16:03:59.7207588 2025-10-26T13:19:45.2627907 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Swansea University Medical School - Biomedical Science Laura F. Corns 0000-0003-1139-3527 1 Nicholas S. Freestone 0009-0002-8626-7904 2 James L. Rouse 0000-0001-8457-4623 3 Aidan Seeley 0000-0001-7085-4296 4 70771__35854__d8452868eb0343c2bd3cf39f29c431c7.pdf 70771.VOR.pdf 2025-12-18T15:58:10.2801405 Output 1313039 application/pdf Version of Record true Copyright © 2026 The Authors. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution CC-BY-NC 4.0. true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
title Large-scale practical cardiovascular classes with Danio rerio: overcoming ethical, financial, and logistical challenges associated with mammalian models
spellingShingle Large-scale practical cardiovascular classes with Danio rerio: overcoming ethical, financial, and logistical challenges associated with mammalian models
Aidan Seeley
title_short Large-scale practical cardiovascular classes with Danio rerio: overcoming ethical, financial, and logistical challenges associated with mammalian models
title_full Large-scale practical cardiovascular classes with Danio rerio: overcoming ethical, financial, and logistical challenges associated with mammalian models
title_fullStr Large-scale practical cardiovascular classes with Danio rerio: overcoming ethical, financial, and logistical challenges associated with mammalian models
title_full_unstemmed Large-scale practical cardiovascular classes with Danio rerio: overcoming ethical, financial, and logistical challenges associated with mammalian models
title_sort Large-scale practical cardiovascular classes with Danio rerio: overcoming ethical, financial, and logistical challenges associated with mammalian models
author_id_str_mv c69dba86b3ccf9a140b67b7e97d68bba
author_id_fullname_str_mv c69dba86b3ccf9a140b67b7e97d68bba_***_Aidan Seeley
author Aidan Seeley
author2 Laura F. Corns
Nicholas S. Freestone
James L. Rouse
Aidan Seeley
format Journal article
container_title Advances in Physiology Education
container_volume 50
container_issue 1
container_start_page 1
publishDate 2026
institution Swansea University
issn 1043-4046
1522-1229
doi_str_mv 10.1152/advan.00135.2025
publisher American Physiological Society
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str Swansea University Medical School - Biomedical Science{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Swansea University Medical School - Biomedical Science
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description Traditional laboratory practicals exploring cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology rely on mammalian models, presenting ethical, financial, and logistical challenges. Danio rerio (zebrafish) larvae offer a compelling alternative that aligns with the partial replacement principle of replacement, reduction, and refinement (the 3Rs), while providing an opportunity for students to develop desirable in vivo skills to improve their employability. Here, we introduce an engaging set of in vivo laboratory practicals suitable for large undergraduate cohorts that utilizes larval zebrafish to investigate cardiac ion channels and receptors. The practical involves two 3-hour sessions where students measure heart rate in 72- and 96-hour postfertilization larvae in response to various treatments. The first session introduces students to handling larval zebrafish before exploring the effects of a reduced ambient temperature and application of the commonly used zebrafish anesthetic tricaine (MS-222) on both heart rate and the zebrafish startle reflex. Finally, students apply the well-known adrenergic agonist adrenaline. The second session empowers students to develop their own testable hypothesis regarding which ion channels or receptors are likely to influence zebrafish heart rate, providing them with the autonomy to select two pharmacologically active drugs from a carefully curated list [e.g. isoproterenol (β-adrenergic receptor agonist), propranolol (β-adrenergic receptor antagonist), and nifedipine (L-type calcium channel blocker)] that will enable them to address their hypothesis. Students’ subsequent data for analysis allows them to develop an understanding of the conserved and divergent aspects of cardiac physiology between zebrafish and mammalian systems, and an appreciation of the importance of appropriate model selection in physiological and pharmacological research.
published_date 2026-03-01T05:32:19Z
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