Table 2.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Zebrafish Embryos or Juveniles in Xenotransplantation Studies of Brain Tumors.
Embryos |
Juvenile Fish |
||
---|---|---|---|
Advantages | Disadvantages | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Transparency enables high-resolution microscopic observations | Experiments last only a few days | Longer-term experiments are possible | Reduced transparency limits the resolution of microscopic observations |
No need for immunosuppression | Can accommodate only a few hundred mammalian cells | Can accommodate more mammalian cells | Xenotransplantation requires immunosuppression |
No need for feeding | Organ systems are still developing | Most organ systems are mature | Require feeding |
Blood-brain barrier is developing | Blood-brain barrier is functional |