The zebrafish cerebellum

Abstract

The overall architecture and cell types are highly conserved from mammals to teleost fi sh. The rapid transparent ex utero development in zebrafi sh allows direct access and precise visualization of all the major events in cerebellar development. The superfi cial position of the cerebellar primoridum and cerebellum further facilitates in vivo imaging of cerebellar structures and developmental events at cell resolution. Furthermore, zebrafi sh model have a comprehensive genetic toolbox that allow forward and reverse genetic approaches to study and manipulate gene function. Consequently, zebrafi sh is emerging as an excellent vertebrate model for studies of molecular, cellular and physiological mechanisms involved in cerebellar development and function at gene, cell and circuit level.