PUBLICATION

Dissection and lateral mounting of zebrafish embryos: analysis of spinal cord development

Authors
Beck, A.P., Watt, R.M., Bonner, J.
ID
ZDB-PUB-140513-334
Date
2014
Source
Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE   (84): e50703 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Bonner, Jennifer
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Dissection/methods
  • Models, Animal*
  • Spinal Cord/embryology*
  • Spinal Cord/transplantation*
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/surgery*
PubMed
24637734 Full text @ J. Vis. Exp.
Abstract
The zebrafish spinal cord is an effective investigative model for nervous system research for several reasons. First, genetic, transgenic and gene knockdown approaches can be utilized to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying nervous system development. Second, large clutches of developmentally synchronized embryos provide large experimental sample sizes. Third, the optical clarity of the zebrafish embryo permits researchers to visualize progenitor, glial, and neuronal populations. Although zebrafish embryos are transparent, specimen thickness can impede effective microscopic visualization. One reason for this is the tandem development of the spinal cord and overlying somite tissue. Another reason is the large yolk ball, which is still present during periods of early neurogenesis. In this article, we demonstrate microdissection and removal of the yolk in fixed embryos, which allows microscopic visualization while preserving surrounding somite tissue. We also demonstrate semipermanent mounting of zebrafish embryos. This permits observation of neurodevelopment in the dorso-ventral and anterior-posterior axes, as it preserves the three-dimensionality of the tissue.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping