Taurine is a highly abundant “amino acid” in the brain. Although the potential neuroactive role of taurine in vertebrates has long been recognized, the underlying molecular mechanisms related to its pleiotropic effects in the brain remain poorly understood. Due to the genetic tractability, rich behavioral repertoire, neurochemical conservation, and small size, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged as a powerful candidate for neuropsychopharmacology investigation and in vivo drug screening. Here, we summarize the main physiological roles of taurine in mammals, including neuromodulation, osmoregulation, membrane stabilization, and antioxidant action. In this context, we also highlight how zebrafish models of brain disorders may present interesting approaches to assess molecular mechanisms underlying positive effects of taurine in the brain. Finally, we outline recent advances in zebrafish drug screening that significantly improve neuropsychiatric translational research and small molecule screens.

牛磺酸是大脑中高度丰富的“氨基酸”。尽管人们早已认识到牛磺酸在脊椎动物中的潜在神经活性作用，但与其在大脑中的多效作用有关的潜在分子机制仍知之甚少。由于具有遗传易处理性，丰富的行为表述，神经化学保守性和较小的尺寸，斑马鱼（Danio rerio）已成为神经心理药理学研究和体内药物筛选的有力候选者。在这里，我们总结了牛磺酸在哺乳动物中的主要生理作用，包括神经调节，渗透调节，膜稳定和抗氧化作用。在这种情况下，我们还强调了斑马鱼的大脑疾病模型如何提出有趣的方法来评估潜在的牛磺酸在大脑中的积极作用的分子机制。最后，我们概述了斑马鱼药物筛选的最新进展，这些进展显着改善了神经精神病学的翻译研究和小分子筛选。