PUBLICATION

Full-field exposure of larval zebrafish to narrow waveband LED light sources at defined power and energy for optogenetic applications

Authors
Burton, A.H., Jiao, B., Bai, Q., Van Laar, V.S., Wheeler, T.B., Watkins, S.C., Bruchez, M.P., Burton, E.A.
ID
ZDB-PUB-231102-6
Date
2023
Source
Journal of Neuroscience Methods   401: 110001 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Burton, Edward A.
Keywords
FAP, GAVPO, Kaede, LED, MG2I, Singlet oxygen, dL5**, energy, optogenetics, power, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Larva
  • Neurons/physiology
  • Optogenetics*/methods
  • Transgenes
  • Zebrafish*/physiology
PubMed
37914002 Full text @ J. Neurosci. Methods
Abstract
Optogenetic approaches in transparent zebrafish models have provided numerous insights into vertebrate neurobiology. The purpose of this study was to develop methods to activate light-sensitive transgene products simultaneously throughout an entire larval zebrafish.
We developed a LED illumination stand and microcontroller unit to expose zebrafish larvae reproducibly to full field illumination at defined wavelength, power, and energy.
The LED stand generated a sufficiently flat illumination field to expose multiple larval zebrafish to high power light stimuli uniformly, while avoiding sample bath warming. The controller unit allowed precise automated delivery of predetermined amounts of light energy at calibrated power. We demonstrated the utility of the approach by driving photoconversion of Kaede (398nm), photodimerization of GAVPO (450nm), and photoactivation of dL5**/MG2I (661nm) in neurons throughout the CNS of larval zebrafish. Observed outcomes were influenced by both total light energy and its rate of delivery, highlighting the importance of controlling these variables to obtain reproducible results.
Our approach employs inexpensive LED chip arrays to deliver narrow-waveband light with a sufficiently flat illumination field to span multiple larval zebrafish simultaneously. Calibration of light power and energy are built into the workflow.
The LED illuminator and controller can be constructed from widely available materials using the drawings, instructions, and software provided. This approach will be useful for multiple optogenetic applications in zebrafish and other models.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping