PUBLICATION

Quantification of vestibular-induced eye movements in zebrafish larvae

Authors
Mo, W., Chen, F., Nechiporuk, A., and Nicolson, T.
ID
ZDB-PUB-100910-30
Date
2010
Source
BMC Neuroscience   11: 110 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Mo, Weike, Nechiporuk, Alex, Nicolson, Teresa
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Cadherins/genetics
  • Cadherins/physiology
  • Algorithms
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/physiology
  • Larva
  • Vestibule, Labyrinth/physiology*
  • Rotation
  • Zebrafish
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Infrared Rays
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical
  • Mutation
  • Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular/physiology
  • Eye Movements/physiology*
  • Eye/growth & development
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Animals
  • Otolithic Membrane/physiology
(all 20)
PubMed
20815905 Full text @ BMC Neurosci.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vestibular reflexes coordinate movements or sensory input with changes in body or head position. Vestibular-evoked responses that involve the extraocular muscles include the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), a compensatory eye movement to stabilize retinal images. Although an angular VOR attributable to semicircular canal stimulation was reported to be absent in free-swimming zebrafish larvae, recent studies reveal that vestibular-induced eye movements can be evoked in zebrafish larvae by both static tilts and dynamic rotations that tilt the head with respect to gravity. RESULTS: We have determined herein the basis of sensitivity of the larval eye movements with respect to vestibular stimulus, developmental stage, and sensory receptors of the inner ear. For our experiments, video recordings of larvae rotated sinusoidally at 0.25 Hz were analyzed to quantitate eye movements under infrared illumination. We observed a robust response that appeared as early as 72 hours post fertilization (hpf), which increased in amplitude over time. Unlike rotation about an earth horizontal axis, rotation about an earth vertical axis at 0.25 Hz did not evoke eye movements. Moreover, vestibular-induced responses were absent in mutant cdh23 larvae and larvae lacking anterior otoliths. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence for a functional vestibulo-oculomotor circuit in 72 hpf zebrafish larvae that relies upon sensory input from anterior/utricular otolith organs.
Genes / Markers
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Expression
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Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Allele Construct Type Affected Genomic Region
tc317e
    Insertion
    tQ296X
      Point Mutation
      vo66
        Point Mutation
        1 - 3 of 3
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        Human Disease / Model
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        Sequence Targeting Reagents
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        Fish
        Antibodies
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        Orthology
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        Engineered Foreign Genes
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