Radial glia in the zebrafish brain: Functional, structural, and physiological comparison with the mammalian glia

AbstractThe neuroscience community has witnessed a tremendous expansion of glia research. Glial cells are now on center stage with leading roles in the development, maturation, and physiology of brain circuits. Over the course of evolution, glia have highly diversified and include the radial glia, astroglia or astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and ependymal cells, each having dedicated functions in the brain. The zebrafish, a small teleost fish, is no exception to this and recent evidences point to evolutionarily conserved roles for glia in the development and physiology of its nervous system. Due to its small size, transparency, and genetic amenability, the zebrafish has become an increasingly prominent animal model for brain research. It has enabled the study of neural circuits from individual cells to entire brains, with a precision unmatched in other vertebrate models. Moreover, its high neurogenic and regenerative potential has attracted a lot of attention from the research community focusing on neural stem cells and neurodegenerative diseases. Hence, studies using zebrafish have the potential to provide fundamental insights about brain development and function, and also elucidate neural and molecular mechanisms of neurological diseases. We will discuss here recent discoveries on the diverse roles of radial glia and astroglia in neurogenesis, in modulating neuronal activity and in regulating brain homeostasis at the brain barriers. By comparing insights made in various animal models, particularly mammals and zebrafish, our goal is to highlight the similarities and differences in glia biology among species, which could set new paradigms relevant to humans.