Weakly Electric Fish as Emerging Models for Neuroprotection and CNS Drug Discovery

Weakly electric fish provide a unique combination of dopamine-modulated behaviours with a non-invasive electrophysiological read-out: the electric organ discharge (EOD). Their biology offers a cost-effective and ethically favourable platform for exploring mechanisms of neurodegeneration and screening neuroprotective compounds. This review summarises the anatomy and physiology underpinning EOD generation, highlights parallel with mammalian basal ganglia circuits, and discusses how mitochondrial toxins such as MPTP, rotenone and paraquat have been used to induce Parkinson-like phenotypes in these species. Importantly, this model may also provide insights into other CNS disorders such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease. By outlining methodological gaps (standardisation, molecular toolkits, regulatory acceptance) and future directions, this review highlights how weakly electric fish fill a critical gap between zebrafish and rodent systems, offering a novel perspective in early-stage CNS drug discovery.