The authors would like to thank Drs. Stephen Wilson and Lisa Wilsbacher for helpful discussions. This work was supported in part by NIH HL054737.

NOTE: Procedures using zebrafish were approved by UCSF&#39;s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
1. Preparation of Tools
<ol>
	<li>Insert minutia pin into a pin holder and clamp the pin.</li>
	<li>Using fine tip forceps, carefully bend the tip of the pin to create a slight hook.</li>
	<li>For manipulation and stabilization of the embryo during injury, bend the end of a 28 guage &#189; inch needle mounted on an insulin syringe using needle-nose pliers.</li>
</ol>
<p class="jove_title...

<ol>
	<li>Gore, A. V., Monzo, K., Cha, Y. R., Pan, W., Weinstein, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vascular+development+in+the+zebrafish.">Vascular development in the zebrafish.</a> Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2 (5), a006684 (2012).</li><li>Boatman, 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=Assaying+hematopoiesis+using+zebrafish.">Assaying hematopoiesis using zebrafish.</a> Blood Cells Mol Dis. 51 (4), 271-276 (2013).</li><li>Ellett, F., Lieschke, G. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Zebrafish+as+a+model+for+vertebrate+hematopoiesis.">Zebrafish as a model for vertebrate hematopoiesis.</a> Curr Opin Pharmacol. 10 (5), 563-570 (2010).</li><li>Liu, J., 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=Zebrafish+in+the+study+of+early+cardiac+development.">Zebrafish in the study of early cardiac development.</a> Circ Res. 110 (6), 870-874 (2012).</li><li>Traver, D., 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=The+zebrafish+as+a+model+organism+to+study+development+of+the+immune+system.">The zebrafish as a model organism to study development of the immune system.</a> Adv Immunol. 81, 253-330 (2003).</li><li>Lieschke, G. J., Trede, N. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fish+immunology.">Fish immunology.</a> Curr Biol. 19 (16), R678-R682 (2009).</li><li>Lesley, R., Ramakrishnan, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Insights+into+early+mycobacterial+pathogenesis+from+the+zebrafish.">Insights into early mycobacterial pathogenesis from the zebrafish.</a> Curr Opin Microbiol. 11 (3), 277-283 (2008).</li><li>Oehlers, S. H., 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=A+chemical+enterocolitis+model+in+zebrafish+larvae+that+is+dependent+on+microbiota+and+responsive+to+pharmacological+agents.">A chemical enterocolitis model in zebrafish larvae that is dependent on microbiota and responsive to pharmacological agents.</a> Dev Dyn. 240 (1), 288-298 (2011).</li><li>Gemberling, M., Bailey, T. J., Hyde, D. R., Poss, K. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+zebrafish+as+a+model+for+complex+tissue+regeneration.">The zebrafish as a model for complex tissue regeneration.</a> Trends Genet. 29 (11), 611-620 (2013).</li><li>LeBert, D. C., Huttenlocher, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Inflammation+and+wound+repair.">Inflammation and wound repair.</a> Semin Immunol. , (2014).</li><li>Henry, K. M., Loynes, C. A., Whyte, M. K., Renshaw, S. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Zebrafish+as+a+model+for+the+study+of+neutrophil+biology.">Zebrafish as a model for the study of neutrophil biology.</a> J Leukoc Biol. 94 (4), 633-642 (2013).</li><li>Niethammer, P., Grabher, C., Look, A. T., Mitchison, T. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+tissue-scale+gradient+of+hydrogen+peroxide+mediates+rapid+wound+detection+in+zebrafish.">A tissue-scale gradient of hydrogen peroxide mediates rapid wound detection in zebrafish.</a> Nature. 459 (7249), 996-999 (2009).</li><li>Rosenberg, A. F., Wolman, M. A., Franzini-Armstrong, C., Granato, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vivo+nerve-macrophage+interactions+following+peripheral+nerve+injury.">In vivo nerve-macrophage interactions following peripheral nerve injury.</a> J Neurosci. 32 (11), 3898-3909 (2012).</li><li>Otten, C., Abdelilah-Seyfried, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Laser-inflicted+injury+of+zebrafish+embryonic+skeletal+muscle.">Laser-inflicted injury of zebrafish embryonic skeletal muscle.</a> J Vis Exp. (71), e4351 (2013).</li><li>Matrone, 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=Laser-targeted+ablation+of+the+zebrafish+embryonic+ventricle:+a+novel+model+of+cardiac+injury+and+repair.">Laser-targeted ablation of the zebrafish embryonic ventricle: a novel model of cardiac injury and repair.</a> Int J Cardiol. 168 (4), 3913-3919 (2013).</li><li>Jagadeeswaran, P., Carrillo, M., Radhakrishnan, U. P., Rajpurohit, S. K., Kim, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Laser-induced+thrombosis+in+zebrafish.">Laser-induced thrombosis in zebrafish.</a> Methods Cell Biol. 101, 197-203 (2011).</li><li>Vo, A. H., Swaroop, A., Liu, Y., Norris, Z. G., Shavit, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Loss+of+fibrinogen+in+zebrafish+results+in+symptoms+consistent+with+human+hypofibrinogenemia.">Loss of fibrinogen in zebrafish results in symptoms consistent with human hypofibrinogenemia.</a> PLoS One. 8 (9), e74682 (2013).</li><li>Liu, Y., 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=Targeted+mutagenesis+of+zebrafish+antithrombin+III+triggers+disseminated+intravascular+coagulation+and+thrombosis,+revealing+insight+into+function.">Targeted mutagenesis of zebrafish antithrombin III triggers disseminated intravascular coagulation and thrombosis, revealing insight into function.</a> Blood. , (2014).</li><li>Jagadeeswaran, P., Liu, Y. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+hemophilia+model+in+zebrafish:+analysis+of+hemostasis.">A hemophilia model in zebrafish: analysis of hemostasis.</a> Blood Cells Mol Dis. 23 (1), 52-57 (1997).</li><li>Jagadeeswaran, P., Gregory, M., Day, K., Cykowski, M., Thattaliyath, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Zebrafish:+a+genetic+model+for+hemostasis+and+thrombosis.">Zebrafish: a genetic model for hemostasis and thrombosis.</a> J Thromb Haemost. 3 (1), 46-53 (2005).</li><li>Lin, H. F., 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=Analysis+of+thrombocyte+development+in+CD41-GFP+transgenic+zebrafish.">Analysis of thrombocyte development in CD41-GFP transgenic zebrafish.</a> Blood. 106 (12), 3803-3810 (2005).</li><li>Rosen, J. N., Sweeney, M. F., Mably, J. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microinjection+of+zebrafish+embryos+to+analyze+gene+function.">Microinjection of zebrafish embryos to analyze gene function.</a> J Vis Exp. (25), (2009).</li><li>Benard, E. L., 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=Infection+of+zebrafish+embryos+with+intracellular+bacterial+pathogens.">Infection of zebrafish embryos with intracellular bacterial pathogens.</a> J Vis Exp. (61), (2012).</li><li>Jagadeeswaran, P., Sheehan, J. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Analysis+of+blood+coagulation+in+the+zebrafish.">Analysis of blood coagulation in the zebrafish.</a> Blood Cells Mol Dis. 25 (3-4), 3-4 (1999).</li><li>Jin, S. W., Beis, D., Mitchell, T., Chen, J. N., 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=Cellular+and+molecular+analyses+of+vascular+tube+and+lumen+formation+in+zebrafish.">Cellular and molecular analyses of vascular tube and lumen formation in zebrafish.</a> Development. 132 (23), 5199-5209 (2005).</li><li>Traver, D., 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=Transplantation+and+in+vivo+imaging+of+multilineage+engraftment+in+zebrafish+bloodless+mutants.">Transplantation and in vivo imaging of multilineage engraftment in zebrafish bloodless mutants.</a> Nat Immunol. 4 (12), 1238-1246 (2003).</li><li>Lawson, N. D., Weinstein, B. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vivo+imaging+of+embryonic+vascular+development+using+transgenic+zebrafish.">In vivo imaging of embryonic vascular development using transgenic zebrafish.</a> Dev Biol. 248 (2), 307-318 (2002).</li><li>Renshaw, S. A., 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=A+transgenic+zebrafish+model+of+neutrophilic+inflammation.">A transgenic zebrafish model of neutrophilic inflammation.</a> Blood. 108 (13), 3976-3978 (2006).</li><li>Hall, C., Flores, M. V., Storm, T., Crosier, K., Crosier, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+zebrafish+lysozyme+C+promoter+drives+myeloid-specific+expression+in+transgenic+fish.">The zebrafish lysozyme C promoter drives myeloid-specific expression in transgenic fish.</a> BMC Dev Biol. 7, 48 (2007).</li><li>Ellett, F., Pase, L., Hayman, J. W., Andrianopoulos, A., Lieschke, G. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=mpeg1+promoter+transgenes+direct+macrophage-lineage+expression+in+zebrafish.">mpeg1 promoter transgenes direct macrophage-lineage expression in zebrafish.</a> Blood. 117 (4), e49-e56 (2011).</li><li>Gray, C., 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=Simultaneous+intravital+imaging+of+macrophage+and+neutrophil+behaviour+during+inflammation+using+a+novel+transgenic+zebrafish.">Simultaneous intravital imaging of macrophage and neutrophil behaviour during inflammation using a novel transgenic zebrafish.</a> Thromb Haemost. 105 (5), 811-819 (2011).</li><li>Bellido-Martin, L., Chen, V., Jasuja, R., Furie, B., Furie, B. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Imaging+fibrin+formation+and+platelet+and+endothelial+cell+activation+in+vivo.">Imaging fibrin formation and platelet and endothelial cell activation in vivo.</a> Thromb Haemost. 105 (5), 776-782 (2011).</li><li>Bielczyk-Maczynska, 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=A+loss+of+function+screen+of+identified+genome-wide+association+study+Loci+reveals+new+genes+controlling+hematopoiesis.">A loss of function screen of identified genome-wide association study Loci reveals new genes controlling hematopoiesis.</a> PLoS Genet. 10 (7), e1004450 (2014).</li></ol>

The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

Zebrafish have been used successfully as a model for different types of wounds including laser injury13-15, laser-induced thrombosis16, and epithelial wounding10. We report a method of mechanical wounding that is simple to execute and produces a controlled injury in an in vivo model that is highly amenable to real-time microscopy. Injury results in a rapid and measurable hemostatic response and a reproducible wound repair program that can be monitored using video and timelapse mi...

Zebrafish have been used extensively to study a variety of topics in vascular biology, including vascular development, angiogenesis, and hematopoietic development and pathology1-3. Embryos develop a functional circulation as well as leukocytes and other components of the innate immune system by 1 day post fertilization (dpf) 1,4,5. The conservation of the inflammatory and leukocyte response to injury has made the zebrafish embryo an informative model for such diverse inflammatory processes as tuberculous infection, enterocolitis, and tissue regeneration6-9. Zebrafish embryos have been used to study injury-related inflammation particularly in the context of epithelial wounding and the neutrophil response10,11. Injury to the embryo results in a highly conserved cellular response from cells at the injury site and the innate immune cells recruited to respond to the injury and regulate its resolution11,12. Other injury models have used focused laser pulses to spatially localize injury to specific cell types including neurons, muscle cells, and cardiomyocytes13-15. 
Zebrafish embryos have been used as a model to study hemostasis and thrombosis in conditions of pharmacological and genetic manipulation, using both mechanical and laser-induced thrombus formation16-19. Components of the coagulation cascade appear to be well-conserved and transgenics have allowed for detailed studies of thrombocyte and fibrin deposition at the site of coagulation17,20,21. The procedure presented in this paper complements these methods by providing a system for studying mechanical vessel injury resulting in vessel breach, thrombus formation and resolution, and vessel repair.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="867">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">Name of Material/ Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:303px;">Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">Minutia Pins</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>26002-10</td>
			<td>Tip diameter 0.0125 mm, rod diameter 0.1 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">Pin Holder</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>26016-12</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Dumont #5 Fine Tip Forceps</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11254-20</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">Glass Depression Slide</td>
			<td>Aquatic Eco-Systems</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">M30</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Low Melting Agarose</td>
			<td>Lonza&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">50081</td>
			<td>Preheated to 42 &#186; C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">N-Phenylthiourea (PTU)</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">P7629</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">3-aminobenzoic acid (Tricaine)</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">E10521</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">Hirudin</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">H7016</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Glass bottom imaging dishes</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">Mattek</td>
			<td>P35G-1.5-14-C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Dissecting microscope</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">Olympus</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">SZH10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">Fluorescence microscope</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td>Axio Observer</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">Aquarium salts</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">Instant Ocean</td>
			<td style="width:159px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:248px;">Insulin syringe with 28G1/2 needle</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">Becton Dickinson&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:159px;">329461</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

mechanical vessel injury in zebrafish embryos

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos have proven to be a powerful model for studying a variety of developmental and disease processes. External development and optical transparency make these embryos especially amenable to microscopy, and numerous transgenic lines that label specific cell types with fluorescent proteins are available, making the zebrafish embryo an ideal system for visualizing the interaction of vascular, hematopoietic, and other cell types during injury and repair in vivo. Forward and reverse genetics in zebrafish are well developed, and pharmacological manipulation is possible. We describe a mechanical vascular injury model using micromanipulation techniques that exploits several of these features to study responses to vascular injury including hemostasis and blood vessel repair. Using a combination of video and timelapse microscopy, we demonstrate that this method of vascular injury results in measurable and reproducible responses during hemostasis and wound repair. This method provides a system for studying vascular injury and repair in detail in a whole animal model.

Mechanical vessel injury was performed on 2 dpf embryos (Figure 2A-C). Injury results in a rapid and reliable coagulation response as measured by time to cessation of bleeding (Figure 2D). To determine whether or not differences in the coagulation response could be measured, the anticoagulant hirudin was administered to the embryos by injection into the Duct of Cuvier immediately prior to wounding (5-10 nl of 1 unit per &#181;l hirudin dissolved in water)(for demonstrati...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Mechanical Vessel Injury in Zebrafish Embryos at JoVE.com

Mechanical Vessel Injury in Zebrafish Embryos

This article describes a method for creating a mechanical vessel injury in zebrafish embryos. This injury model provides a platform for studying hemostasis, injury-related inflammation, and wound healing in an organism ideally suited for real-time microscopy.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos have proven to be a powerful model for studying a variety of developmental and disease processes.  External development ...

mechanical-vessel-injury-in-zebrafish-embryos

Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

7.2K vistas.  University of California. This article describes a method for creating a mechanical vessel injury in zebrafish embryos. This injury model provides a platform for studying hemostasis, injury-related inflammation, and wound healing in an organism ideally suited for real-time microscopy. 