The aim of this study is to investigate the protective effect of idebenone (IDE) combined with borneol (BO) against Parkinson’s disease (PD). In this study, wild-type AB zebrafish and transgenic Tg (vmat2: GFP) zebrafish with green fluorescence labeled dopamine neurons were used to establish the PD model with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine hydrochloride (MPTP). Following drug treatment, the behavioral performance and dopamine neuron morphology of zebrafish were evaluated, and regulation of dopamine signaling pathway-related genes was determined using RT-qPCR. The results showed that IDE combined with BO improved the behavioral disorders of zebrafish such as bradykinesia and shortening movement distance, also effectively reversed the damage of MPTP-induced dopaminergic neurons. At the same time, the expression of dopamine synthesis and transportation-related genes was up-regulated, and the normal function of the signal transduction pathway was restored. The combination showed a better therapeutic effect compared to the IDE monotherapy group. This study reveals the protective mechanism of IDE combined with BO on the central nervous system for the first time, which provides an important experimental basis and theoretical reference for clinical combination strategy in PD treatment.
With the intensification of population aging and the popularity of electronic products, the incidence of retinal diseases continues to rise, and their complex pathogenesis seriously restricts the development of effective treatment strategies. Zebrafish has become an important model animal for ophthalmic research, especially for retinal disease research, due to its unique biological advantages. This article aims to systematically review the current application status and prospects of zebrafish models in various retinal disease research, broaden future research ideas, and provide new perspectives for the prevention and treatment of retinal diseases. This article first elaborates on the unique advantages of zebrafish as a model animal, including easy feeding, transparent embryos, rapid development of the visual system, high homology with human genes, and strong retinal regeneration ability. Subsequently, we reviewed the research and application progress of zebrafish models, focusing on various hereditary and non-hereditary retinal diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, retinitis pigmentosa, rod-cone cell dystrophy, Leber congenital amaurosis, congenital static night blindness, choroidal deletion, and Budd Beeder syndrome. Studies have confirmed that a large number of zebrafish models simulating the pathological characteristics of human retinal diseases have been constructed successfully using genetic techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, TALEN targeted modification, chemical induction, and microinjection. These models not only effectively reproduce the clinical phenotype of retinal diseases but also play an irreplaceable role in elucidating the functions of pathogenic genes, revealing signal pathway disorders, and analyzing the mechanisms of cell death and regeneration. Additionally, the zebrafish model has shown great potential in drug screening and efficacy evaluation. These studies indicate that the zebrafish model is an ideal tool for in-depth analysis of the pathogenesis of retinal diseases, promoting precision medicine and new drug development, and has broad application prospects in the future.