Mitochondrial regulation of brain development: evidence from zebrafish models

Mitochondria play a vital role in maintaining cellular energy balance, regulating apoptosis and controlling redox signaling during neurodevelopment. Disruption of these biological processes has emerged as a key mechanism underlying neurodevelopmental disorders and developmental neurotoxicity. Mitochondria influence neurodevelopmental phases, including neuronal proliferation and differentiation. The zebrafish serves as an exemplary model for examining the impact of mitochondria and energy metabolism on neurodevelopment, owing to its optical transparency, rapid embryonic development, and suitability for genetic manipulation. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on how mitochondrial processes direct brain development in zebrafish, providing a comprehensive overview of findings related to energy metabolism, calcium signaling, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. The findings show that mitochondrial health is a decisive factor for neurodevelopment and suggest that zebrafish-based models may play a critical role in developing new treatment strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders in the future.