Study finds fish suffer insomnia

Emmanuel Mignot, the Stanford scientist who discovered the cause of narcolepsy first in dogs and later in humans, has successfully shown that common zebrafish can develop insomnia.

The finding paves the way for future study of humans, who have many of the same sleep-producing chemicals, he said Monday.

"Why we have to sleep is still a big mystery," Mignot said. And scientists have yet to figure out cures for many of the sleepproblems that ail an enormous segment of the population.

Insomnia alone disturbs between 10 and 15 percent of adults, while half the population in general has problems sleeping, according to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation's Web site.

But zebrafish may provide some answers. Because they are transparent, researchers can easily observe their internal functioning. And as vertebrates, zebrafish are more similar to humans than fruit flies, a common lab model. Also, because zebrafish are cheap and easy to breed, scientists can pick from thousands of fish to find useful specimens with key genetic mutations, said Mignot and senior research associate Philippe Mourrain.

Sign up for our
regular news updates

Latest Industry News

•   Fish to Eat, Fish to Avoid: Seafish in Praise
•   Seas and Oceans: EU Research Protects and Sustains
•   New PR Firm to Get Yellow Perch in Restaurants
•   Pressure at Sea: Can Port Mouton Bay Survive?
•   Global Report on Key Challenges to Aquaculture
•   Ethical Consumer: MCS Fish Sustainability Advice
•   UK Movement Restricted as Koi Herpesvirus Confirmed
•   GM Oysters at Root of French Shellfish Plague
•   New Guidelines to Protect Deep-sea Fish
•   Analysing Perfluorinated Compounds in Seafood