Abstract
Peripheral neuropathy is a nerve degenerative condition that affects approximately 300 million people globally. This progressive condition is characterized by symptoms, such as pain, numbness, temperature sensitivity, tingling (paraesthesia), and muscle weakness in the hands and feet. The underlying mechanisms are unknown and may vary because of the multitude of causes that can lead to peripheral neuropathy, including diabetes, exposure to chemotherapeutic agents, environmental toxins, and autoimmune and genetic diseases. Additionally, co-morbidities can influence the development of peripheral neuropathy. Due to their numerous advantages over other animals, zebrafish have established themselves as a powerful model for studying peripheral neuropathy mechanisms. Zebrafish are a vertebrate species whose small size and optical clarity make it possible to observe neurons in living animals. This chapter discusses in detail the application of this model to the study of peripheral neuropathy. We provide practical guidelines for inducing and analyzing peripheral neuropathy in larval and adult zebrafish, and we discuss how zebrafish research has advanced our mechanistic understanding of peripheral neuropathy induced by chemotherapeutic agents and glucose (as a model of diabetic peripheral neuropathy).