Name: hepatocyte-specific ablation in zebrafish to study biliary-driven liver regeneration
Uploaded: 2015-05-20T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Hepatocyte-specific Ablation in Zebrafish to Study Biliary-driven Liver Regeneration at JoVE.com

The authors thank Drs. Hukriede and Tsang for discussions. M.K. was supported by an NIH training grant (T32EB001026). This work was supported in part by grants from the American Liver Foundation, the March of Dimes Foundation (5-FY12-39), and the NIH (DK101426) to D.S.

Zebrafish were raised and bred according to standard procedure; experiments were approved by the University of Pittsburgh Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
1. Preparation of Embryos/larvae
<ol>
	<li>To conduct timed matings, set up adult male and female Tg(fabp10a:CFP-NTR)s931 hemizygous or homozygous fishes O/N and place a divider between them. Remove this divider the following morning when mating is desired. Collect embryos by straining the water usi...

<ol>
	<li>Riehle, K. J., Dan, Y. Y., Campbell, J. S., Fausto, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=New+concepts+in+liver+regeneration.">New concepts in liver regeneration.</a> J Gastroen Hepatol. 26, 203-212 (2011).</li><li>Fausto, N., Campbell, J. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+role+of+hepatocytes+and+oval+cells+in+liver+regeneration+and+repopulation.">The role of hepatocytes and oval cells in liver regeneration and repopulation.</a> Mechanisms of Development. 120, 117-130 (2003).</li><li>Duncan, A. W., Dorrell, C., Grompe, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stem+Cells+and+Liver+Regeneration.">Stem Cells and Liver Regeneration.</a> Gastroenterology. 137, 466-481 (2009).</li><li>Michalopoulos, G. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Liver+regeneration:+Alternative+epithelial+pathways.">Liver regeneration: Alternative epithelial pathways.</a> Int J Biochem Cell B. 43, 173-179 (2011).</li><li>Falkowski, O., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regeneration+of+hepatocyte+'buds'+in+cirrhosis+from+intrabiliary+stem+cells.">Regeneration of hepatocyte 'buds' in cirrhosis from intrabiliary stem cells.</a> Journal of hepatology. 39, 357-364 (2003).</li><li>Yoon, S. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Epithelial+Cell+Adhesion+Molecule+(EpCAM)+Marks+Hepatocytes+Newly+Derived+from+Stem/Progenitor+Cells+in+Humans.">Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM) Marks Hepatocytes Newly Derived from Stem/Progenitor Cells in Humans.</a> Hepatology. 53, 964-973 (2011).</li><li>Michalopoulos, G. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Liver+regeneration.">Liver regeneration.</a> J Cell Physiol. 213, 286-300 (2007).</li><li>Michalopoulos, G. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Liver+Regeneration+after+Partial+Hepatectomy+Critical+Analysis+of+Mechanistic+Dilemmas.">Liver Regeneration after Partial Hepatectomy Critical Analysis of Mechanistic Dilemmas.</a> Am J Pathol. 176, 2-13 (2010).</li><li>Yanger, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Adult+hepatocytes+are+generated+by+self-duplication+rather+than+stem+cell+differentiation.">Adult hepatocytes are generated by self-duplication rather than stem cell differentiation.</a> Cell stem cell. 15, 340-349 (2014).</li><li>Schaub, J. R., Malato, Y., Gormond, C., Willenbring, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evidence+against+a+Stem+Cell+Origin+of+New+Hepatocytes+in+a+Common+Mouse+Model+of+Chronic+Liver+Injury.">Evidence against a Stem Cell Origin of New Hepatocytes in a Common Mouse Model of Chronic Liver Injury.</a> Cell reports. 8, 933-939 (2014).</li><li>Dovey, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Topoisomerase+II+alpha+is+required+for+embryonic+development+and+liver+regeneration+in+zebrafish.">Topoisomerase II alpha is required for embryonic development and liver regeneration in zebrafish.</a> Molecular and cellular biology. 29, 3746-3753 (2009).</li><li>Goessling, W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=APC+mutant+zebrafish+uncover+a+changing+temporal+requirement+for+wnt+signaling+in+liver+development.">APC mutant zebrafish uncover a changing temporal requirement for wnt signaling in liver development.</a> Developmental Biology. 320, 161-174 (2008).</li><li>Sadler, K. C., Krahn, K. N., Gaur, N. A., Ukomadu, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Liver+growth+in+the+embryo+and+during+liver+regeneration+in+zebrafish+requires+the+cell+cycle+regulator,+uhrf1.">Liver growth in the embryo and during liver regeneration in zebrafish requires the cell cycle regulator, uhrf1.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 104, 1570-1575 (2007).</li><li>Cox, A. G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=S-nitrosothiol+signaling+regulates+liver+development+and+improves+outcome+following+toxic+liver+injury.">S-nitrosothiol signaling regulates liver development and improves outcome following toxic liver injury.</a> Cell reports. 6, 56-69 (2014).</li><li>North, T. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=PGE2-regulated+wnt+signaling+and+N-acetylcysteine+are+synergistically+hepatoprotective+in+zebrafish+acetaminophen+injury.">PGE2-regulated wnt signaling and N-acetylcysteine are synergistically hepatoprotective in zebrafish acetaminophen injury.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 107, 17315-17320 (2010).</li><li>Curado, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Conditional+targeted+cell+ablation+in+zebrafish:+A+new+tool+for+regeneration+studies.">Conditional targeted cell ablation in zebrafish: A new tool for regeneration studies.</a> Developmental Dynamics. 236, 1025-1035 (2007).</li><li>Pisharath, H., Rhee, J. M., Swanson, M. A., Leach, S. D., Parsons, M. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Targeted+ablation+of+beta+cells+in+the+embryonic+zebrafish+pancreas+using+E.+coli+nitroreductase.">Targeted ablation of beta cells in the embryonic zebrafish pancreas using E. coli nitroreductase.</a> Mech Dev. 124, 218-229 (2007).</li><li>Curado, S., Stainier, D. Y. R., Anderson, R. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nitroreductase-mediated+cell/tissue+ablation+in+zebrafish:+a+spatially+and+temporally+controlled+ablation+method+with+applications+in+developmental+and+regeneration+studies.">Nitroreductase-mediated cell/tissue ablation in zebrafish: a spatially and temporally controlled ablation method with applications in developmental and regeneration studies.</a> Nat Protoc. 3, 948-954 (2008).</li><li>Choi, T. Y., Ninov, N., Stainier, D. Y., Shin, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Extensive+conversion+of+hepatic+biliary+epithelial+cells+to+hepatocytes+after+near+total+loss+of+hepatocytes+in+zebrafish.">Extensive conversion of hepatic biliary epithelial cells to hepatocytes after near total loss of hepatocytes in zebrafish.</a> Gastroenterology. 146, 776-788 (2014).</li><li>Huang, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antagonistic+interaction+between+Wnt+and+Notch+activity+modulates+the+regenerative+capacity+of+a+zebrafish+fibrotic+liver+model.">Antagonistic interaction between Wnt and Notch activity modulates the regenerative capacity of a zebrafish fibrotic liver model.</a> Hepatology. , (2014).</li><li>He, J., Lu, H., Zou, Q., Luo, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regeneration+of+liver+after+extreme+hepatocyte+loss+occurs+mainly+via+biliary+transdifferentiation+in+zebrafish.">Regeneration of liver after extreme hepatocyte loss occurs mainly via biliary transdifferentiation in zebrafish.</a> Gastroenterology. 146, 789-800 (2014).</li><li>Sakaguchi, T. F., Sadler, K. C., Crosnier, C., Stainier, D. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Endothelial+signals+modulate+hepatocyte+apicobasal+polarization+in+zebrafish.">Endothelial signals modulate hepatocyte apicobasal polarization in zebrafish.</a> Curr Biol. 18, 1565-1571 (2008).</li><li>Ninov, N., Borius, M., Stainier, D. Y. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Different+levels+of+Notch+signaling+regulate+quiescence,+renewal+and+differentiation+in+pancreatic+endocrine+progenitors.">Different levels of Notch signaling regulate quiescence, renewal and differentiation in pancreatic endocrine progenitors.</a> Development. 139, 1557-1567 (2012).</li><li>Lorent, K., Moore, J. C., Siekmann, A. F., Lawson, N., Pack, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reiterative+use+of+the+notch+signal+during+zebrafish+intrahepatic+biliary+development.">Reiterative use of the notch signal during zebrafish intrahepatic biliary development.</a> Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists. 239, 855-864 (2010).</li><li>Itoh, T., Miyajima, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Liver+Regeneration+by+Stem/Progenitor+Cells.">Liver Regeneration by Stem/Progenitor Cells.</a> Hepatology. 59, 1617-1626 (2014).</li><li>Mathias, J. R., Zhang, Z., Saxena, M. T., Mumm, J. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enhanced+cell-specific+ablation+in+zebrafish+using+a+triple+mutant+of+Escherichia+coli+nitroreductase.">Enhanced cell-specific ablation in zebrafish using a triple mutant of Escherichia coli nitroreductase.</a> Zebrafish. 11, 85-97 (2014).</li><li>Stueck, A. E., Wanless, I. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regression+of+cirrhosis:+The+maturation+sequence+of+buds+arising+from+hepatocyte+progenitor+cells.">Regression of cirrhosis: The maturation sequence of buds arising from hepatocyte progenitor cells.</a> Hepatology. 58, 235A (2013).</li></ol>

Severe, but not mild, hepatocyte ablation elicits biliary-driven liver regeneration. Therefore, following Mtz treatment and washout, it is important to examine the liver size of the Mtz-treated larvae, which can be assessed by intrinsic CFP fluorescence from the fabp10a:CFP-NTR transgene. Since a small percentage of the Mtz-treated larvae will display non-ablated (0-5%) or partially ablated (10-20%) livers, it is essential to sort out and only analyze the larvae with a very small liver, which is indicative of se...

The liver is a highly regenerative organ. During liver regeneration, regenerating hepatocytes, the parenchymal cells of the liver, are derived from pre-existing hepatocytes (hepatocyte-driven liver regeneration) or BECs (biliary-driven liver regeneration)1,2. Liver injury usually elicits the proliferation of pre-existing hepatocytes; however, when hepatocyte proliferation is compromised, BECs can contribute to hepatocytes2-4. These two modes of liver regeneration are clinically significant. Upon surgical removal of a portion of the human liver (e.g., because of liver tumors or live liver donors), hepatocytes in the remaining liver proliferate to recover the lost liver mass. By contrast, in patients with severe liver diseases, hepatocyte proliferation is greatly compromised, so that BECs or liver progenitor cells (LPCs) appear to contribute to regenerating hepatocytes5,6. The rodent 2/3 partial hepatectomy model, in which hepatocytes proliferate to recover the lost liver mass, has significantly contributed to the current understanding of hepatocyte-driven liver regeneration7,8. However, there is no valid rodent model in which regenerating hepatocytes are mainly derived from BECs. Although several rodent liver toxin models led to the identification of biliary-driven liver regeneration2-4, recent lineage tracing studies in mice indicate a minimal contribution of BECs to regenerating hepatocytes in these models9,10. Some of the rodent liver injury models, including partial hepatectomy11-13 and acetaminophen-induced liver damage14,15, have been applied to zebrafish and led to the identification of novel genes or pathways implicated in liver regeneration. However, hepatocyte-driven, but not BEC-driven, liver regeneration occurs in these zebrafish liver injury models. Therefore, a novel liver injury model in which BECs extensively contribute to regenerating hepatocytes is needed for a better understanding of BEC-driven liver regeneration.
The overall goals of the hepatocyte ablation model described here are (1) to generate a liver injury model in which BECs extensively contribute to regenerating hepatocytes, and (2) elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying BEC-driven liver regeneration. We hypothesized that severity of injury determines the mode of liver regeneration; thus, we predicted that biliary-driven liver regeneration would initiate upon severe hepatocyte injury. To test this hypothesis, we developed a zebrafish liver injury model by generating a transgenic line, Tg(fabp10a:CFP-NTR)s931, that highly expresses bacterial Nitroreductase (NTR) fused with cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) under the hepatocyte-specific fabp10a promoter. Since NTR converts the non-toxic prodrug, metronidazole (Mtz), into a cytotoxic drug, it ablates only the intended NTR-expressing cells16-18, in this case, the hepatocytes. By manipulating the duration of Mtz treatment, the extent of hepatocyte ablation can be controlled. Using this model, we recently reported that upon severe hepatocyte loss, BECs extensively give rise to regenerating hepatocytes19, which was further confirmed by two other independent studies20,21. Therefore, compared to the aforementioned rodent and zebrafish liver injury models, our hepatocyte ablation model is more advantageous for studying BEC-driven liver regeneration.
This protocol describes the procedure for performing liver regeneration experiments using the zebrafish hepatocyte ablation model. This model will be appropriate for determining the mechanisms underlying biliary-driven liver regeneration and for chemical screens to identify small molecules that can repress or augment liver regeneration.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>3-amino benzoic acid ethyl ester (Tricaine) powder</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A5040</td>
			<td>Make 0.4% (15 mM) tricaine stock : Bring 0.4 g tricaine to 100 mL with egg water. Adjust to pH 7.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>D8418</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Metronidazole</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>M1547</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>T8532</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Formaldehyde</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>252549</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Calcium sulfate dihydrate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>C3771</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>N-Phenylthiourea (PTU)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P7629</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mounting media (Vectashield)</td>
			<td>Vector Laboratories</td>
			<td>H-1000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>100 x 15 mm petri dish&#160;</td>
			<td>Denville Scientific Inc.</td>
			<td>M5300</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>clear nail polish</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>50949071</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>fine forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11251-20</td>
			<td>Dumont #5&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>glass slide</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>12-544-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>glass coverslip</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>12-540-A and 12-542-A</td>
			<td>18 x 18 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>zn-5 (mouse anti-Alcam)</td>
			<td>ZIRC</td>
			<td>zn-5</td>
			<td>1:10 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>goat anti-Hnf4a</td>
			<td>Santa Cruz</td>
			<td>sc-6556 (C-19)</td>
			<td>1:50 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>rat anti-RFP</td>
			<td>Allele Biotechnology</td>
			<td>ACT-CM-MRRFP10</td>
			<td>1:300 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>AlexaFluor 647 AffiniPure Donkey Anti-goat IgG (H+L)</td>
			<td>Jackson laboratories</td>
			<td>705-605-147</td>
			<td>1:500 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>AlexaFluor 647 AffiniPure Goat Anti-mouse IgG (H+L)</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>A21240</td>
			<td>1:500 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cy3 donkey anti-rat IgG</td>
			<td>Jackson laboratories</td>
			<td>712-165-150</td>
			<td>1:500 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>dissecting microscope</td>
			<td>Leica Microsystems</td>
			<td>S6F</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>epifluorescence microscope</td>
			<td>Leica Microsystems</td>
			<td>M205FA</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>confocal microscope</td>
			<td>Carl Zeiss</td>
			<td>LSM700</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>egg water</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>0.3 g/L of sea salts &#8216;Instant Ocean&#8217; and 0.5 mM CaSO4 in distilled water.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10X PBS</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>25.6 g Na2HPO4&#183;7H2O, 80 g NaCl, 2 g KCl, 2 g KH2PO4.&#160; Bring to 1 L with distilled water.&#160; Adjust pH 7.&#160; Autoclave for 20 min at 121&#176;C.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1X PBSDT</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>0.2% Triton X-100 and 0.2% DMSO in 1 X PBS.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PEM buffer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>30.2 g PIPES, 761 mg EGTA, 1 mM MgSO4.&#160; Bring to 1 L with distilled water.&#160; Adjust pH 7.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Blocking solution</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Mix 1 ml of heat-inactivated horse serum with 9 ml of 1X PBSDT.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

hepatocyte-specific ablation in zebrafish to study biliary-driven liver regeneration

The liver has a great capacity to regenerate. Hepatocytes, the parenchymal cells of the liver, can regenerate in one of two ways: hepatocyte- or biliary-driven liver regeneration. In hepatocyte-driven liver regeneration, regenerating hepatocytes are derived from preexisting hepatocytes, whereas, in biliary-driven regeneration, regenerating hepatocytes are derived from biliary epithelial cells (BECs). For hepatocyte-driven liver regeneration, there are excellent rodent models that have significantly contributed to the current understanding of liver regeneration. However, no such rodent model exists for biliary-driven liver regeneration. We recently reported on a zebrafish liver injury model in which BECs extensively give rise to hepatocytes upon severe hepatocyte loss. In this model, hepatocytes are specifically ablated by a pharmacogenetic means. Here we present in detail the methods to ablate hepatocytes and to analyze the BEC-driven liver regeneration process. This hepatocyte-specific ablation model can be further used to discover the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms of biliary-driven liver regeneration. Moreover, these methods can be applied to chemical screens to identify small molecules that augment or suppress liver regeneration.

Mtz treatment for 36 hr (A36h, A stands for ablation) from 3.5 to 5 dpf dramatically reduced liver size (Figure 1B). After Mtz washout, considered as the beginning of liver regeneration (R), strong fabp10a:CFP-NTR and fabp10a:dsRed expression reappeared within 30 hr (Figure 1B). The intrahepatic biliary network, as assessed by expression of Alcam that is present in the membrane of BECs22, initially collapsed but was re-established at 54 hr post-washout (R54h)...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Hepatocyte-specific Ablation in Zebrafish to Study Biliary-driven Liver Regeneration at JoVE.com

Hepatocyte-specific Ablation in Zebrafish to Study Biliary-driven Liver Regeneration

To help assess the molecular mechanisms underlying zebrafish biliary-driven liver regeneration, we established a liver injury model in which the nitroreductase-expressing hepatocytes are genetically ablated upon metronidazole treatment. In this protocol, we describe how to adeptly manipulate, monitor and analyze hepatocyte ablation and biliary-driven liver regeneration.

The liver has a great capacity to regenerate. Hepatocytes, the parenchymal cells of the liver, can regenerate in one of two ways: hepatocyte- or ...

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