Thyroid gland development and function in the zebrafish model

Thyroid development has been intensively studied in the mouse, where it closely recapitulates the human situation. Despite the lack of a compact thyroid gland, the zebrafish thyroid tissue originates from the pharyngeal endoderm and the main genes involved in its patterning and early development are conserved between zebrafish and mammals. In recent years, the zebrafish has become a powerful model not only for the developmental biology studies, but also for large-scale genetic analyses and drug screenings, mostly thanks to the ease with which its embryos can be manipulated and to its translucent body, which allows in vivo imaging. In this review we will provide an overview of the current knowledge of thyroid gland origin and differentiation in the zebrafish. Moreover, we will consider the action of thyroid hormones and some aspects related to endocrine disruptors.