%0 Journal Article %A MICHAEL W. EPPERLY %A NATHAN BAHARY %A MUBINA QUADER %A VALERIE DEWALD %A JOEL S. GREENBERGER %T The Zebrafish- Danio rerio – Is a Useful Model for Measuring the Effects of Small-molecule Mitigators of Late Effects of Ionizing Irradiation %D 2012 %J In Vivo %P 889-897 %V 26 %N 6 %X Background/Aim: Use of zebrafish models may decrease the cost of screening new irradiation protectors and mitigators. Materials and Methods: Zebrafish (Danio rerio) models were tested for screening water-soluble radiation protectors and mitigators. Irradiation of embryos and monitoring survival, and measuring fibrosis of the caudal musculature of adults allowed for testing of acute and late effects, respectively. Results: Incubation of zebrafish embryos either before or after irradiation in ethyl pyruvate (1 mM) increased survival. Irradiation of adults to 15 to 75 Gy, delivered in single-fraction at 13 Gy/min, showed dose-dependent fibrosis at 30 days, quantitated as physiological decrease in swimming tail movement, and histopathological detection of collagen deposition in the dorsal musculature. Continuous administration of small-molecule radioprotector drugs in the water after irradiation reduced both acute and chronic injuries. Conclusion: The zebrafish is cost-effective for screening new radiation countermeasures. %U https://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/invivo/26/6/889.full.pdf