Methods for in vitro fertilization and gynogenetic diploids were developed for zebrafish by Charline Walker in George Streisinger's lab at the University of Oregon in the 1970s and 1980s. The method described here is unchanged from Charline's protocols which are available in full in The Zebrafish Book3.Methods for in vitro fertilization and gynogenetic diploids were developed for zebrafish by Charline Walker in George Streisinger's lab at the University of Oregon in the 1970s and 1980s. The method described here is unchanged from Charline's protocols which are available in full in The Zebrafish Book3.

Overview of early pressure
Note: recipes for many of the reagents used in this protocol such as tricaine, fish water and Hanks saline are available online in chapter 10 of the Zebrafish Book3 (<a href="http://zfin.org/zf_info/zfbook/zfbk.html">http://zfin.org/zf_info/zfbook/zfbk.html</a>)
<ol>
<li>Produce embryos by in vitro fertilization using UV inactivated sperm.</li>
<li>Immediately transfer the fertilized eggs to a glass vial (with a plastic snap cap) filled to the brim with egg water. Cover the open end of the vial with a thin sheet of latex rubber and snap the top (into which a hole has been cut) onto the vial over the rubber.</li>
<li>Place the vial in a hydraulic press and at 1.4 min after fertilization raise the pressure to 8,000 p.s.i. (Note that many presses are calibrated to read the pressure exerted on a 2-inch diameter piston, and readings must be converted to p.s.i.)</li>
<li>Beginning at 6 min after fertilization, gradually release the pressure over a period of 1 min.</li>
</ol>
Detailed early pressure procedure
<ol>
 <li>Day before experiment
 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;">
 <li>In the late afternoon, separate males and females to be squeezed. Any old male can be used since he will not be contributing genetic material. Females should look large and fat in the belly. Males should look yellow and spry.</li>
 <li>Hold females and males separately overnight in holding tanks where they can be easily accessed in the morning.</li>
 </ol></li>
 <li>Morning of experiment
 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;">
 <li>Prepare Hanks solution; add sodium bicarbonate.</li>
 <li>Bring to fish facility: ice bucket, Hanks, Tricaine, timer, tubes for collecting sperm.</li>
 <li>Dilute Tricaine in fish water </li>
 </ol></li>
 <li>Collect sperm
 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;">
 <li>Prepare a clear vial of Hanks solution on ice. Measure ~50 &mu;l per male to be squeezed.</li>
 <li>Anesthetize 3 or 4 males at a time by immersion in tricaine. They can be lifted out of the anesthetic with a plastic spoon.</li>
 <li>Rinse in fish water and blot "damp-dry" on a paper towel (very important: water activates sperm).</li>
 <li>Mount fish in a foam holder under a stereomicroscope at low-magnification with epi-illumination. Separate the pelvic fins with forceps and position a microcapillary at the opening of the cloaca. </li>
 <li>Stroke the sides of the fish gently but firmly with smooth (Millipore) forceps.</li>
 <li>As the milky sperm come out of the genital pore, collect it in the microcapillary using gentle suction.</li>
 <li>Pool the sperm from several males in ice-cold Hank's saline. Sperm from 5-10 males is adequate for fertilization of several hundred eggs. Sperm in cold Hanks's will continue to fertilize eggs efficiently for several hours or even days. "Eyeball" the concentration of sperm, collecting enough to make a cloudy suspension.</li>
 </ol></li>
 <li>UV inactivate sperm
 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;">
 <li>Fill the bottom of a glass Petri dish with ice.</li>
 <li>Put a watchglass on top of the ice in the dish.</li>
 <li>Using a Pasteur pipette, transfer the sperm from the test tube onto the watchglass. Be sure to get as much of the sperm into the pipette as possible without taking up any bubbles of air with it. Also, do not bubble the sperm in the watchglass as you are expelling them from the pipette. Expel sperm in a thin, even layer on watch glass. DISCARD THIS PIPETTE.</li>
 <li>Place the Petri dish into a UV cross-linker</li>
 <li>Turn on crosslinker for 2 minutes</li>
 <li>Using a CLEAN pipette, remove the sperm from the watchglass and transfer it to an eppendorf tube marked UV Sperm and place on ice. </li>
 </ol></li>
 <li>Egg collection and in vitro fertilization
 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;">
 <li>Anesthetize three or four females at a time in tricaine.</li>
 <li>Rinse in fish water and blot &quot;damp-dry&quot; on a paper towel. Excess water will swell the eggs and prevent fertilization.</li>
 <li>Place the female in a 35 mm plastic petri dish and with damp (not wet) fingers, press gently but firmly on the belly. If she is prepared to lay eggs, they will come out quite easily.</li>
 <li>Gather the eggs with a spatula and return the female to water. Good eggs are a yellowish, translucent color, whereas eggs that have remained in the female too long are white and watery (see below). To ensure getting good eggs, collect them during the first 2 hours after the lights come on in the fish facility. Keep eggs covered to prevent drying-out.</li>
 <li>Add 30-50 &mu;l of the UV sperm suspension to the eggs, stir gently with pipette tip.</li>
 <li>Immediately add about 1 ml of fish water and start timer. Eggs left to develop at this point will be haploids.</li>
 </ol></li>
 <li>Early Pressure. Note: steps a-g must be accomplished within 90 seconds of fertilization!
 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;">
 <li>Start timer at moment that eggs are activated by the addition of water</li>
 <li>Wait a few moments and add more water, swirl the eggs to the center of the dish.</li>
 <li>Using a cut-off and polished Pasteur pipette, transfer the fertilized eggs to the pressure vials.</li>
 <li>If needed, add more egg water to the vials so that they are almost overflowing, leaving a bead of water at the lip of the vials.</li>
 <li>Place a rubber top over the bead of water and secure the plastic lid over the rubber.</li>
 <li>Place the vial(s) upside down in the pressure cylinder, adding more egg water to refill the cylinder. Put the top on the cylinder securely.</li>
 <li>Place the cylinder in the press with the plunger up and apply 8,000 lbs/sq. in.</li>
 <li>Leave the cylinder in the press until 6 min after the time of activation (for a total time of 4.5 min of pressure).</li>
 <li>At 6 min after activation, remove the cylinder from the press, and remove the vials from the cylinder. Carefully dry the vials to prevent cooling of the embryos.</li>
 <li>Reset the cylinder and refill it with egg water.</li>
 <li>Prepare the next vials by partially filling them with egg water as needed.</li>
 <li>Repeat for all the batches of eggs.</li>
 </ol></li>
</ol>
NOTE: The cylinder will hold up to 3 vials at a time, so you may want to delay fertilization of eggs a few minutes to see if other females already in the tricaine give eggs. This will help speed things up by treating more batches at one time. Also, remember once the press is being used do not put any more fish in the tricaine until the treatment is completed. Allowing fish to stay in the anesthetic too long can kill them. Secondly, if you squeeze fish while the press is being used, and get eggs, they may be too dry to be viable by the time the press can be used again.

<ol>
	<li>Streisinger, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Segregation+analyses+and+gene-centromere+distances+in+zebrafish.">Segregation analyses and gene-centromere distances in zebrafish.</a> Genetics. 112 (2), 311-311 (1986).</li><li>Streisinger, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Production+of+clones+of+homozygous+diploid+zebra+fish+(Brachydanio+rerio).">Production of clones of homozygous diploid zebra fish (Brachydanio rerio).</a> Nature. 291 (5813), 293-293 (1981).</li><li>Westerfield, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> The Zebrafish Book: A guide for the laboratory use of zebrafish (Danio rerio). , (2000).</li><li>Johnson, S. L., Africa, D., Horne, S., Postlethwait, J. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Half-tetrad+analysis+in+zebrafish:+mapping+the+ros+mutation+and+the+centromere+of+linkage+group+I.">Half-tetrad analysis in zebrafish: mapping the ros mutation and the centromere of linkage group I.</a> Genetics. 139 (4), 1727-1727 (1995).</li><li>Beattie, C. E., Raible, D. W., Henion, P. D., Eisen, 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=Early+pressure+screens.">Early pressure screens.</a> Methods Cell Biol. 237 (71), 2575-25 (1999).</li><li>Johnson, S. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Centromere-linkage+analysis+and+consolidation+of+the+zebrafish+genetic+map.">Centromere-linkage analysis and consolidation of the zebrafish genetic map.</a> Genetics. 142 (4), 1277-1277 (1996).</li><li>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=Zebrafish+mutants+with+disrupted+early+T-cell+and+thymus+development+identified+in+early+pressure+screen.">Zebrafish mutants with disrupted early T-cell and thymus development identified in early pressure screen.</a> Dev Dyn. 237 (9), 2575-2575 (1999).</li></ol>

It is important to make sure that embryos produced by this method are true gynogenetic diploids. As controls, generate a clutch of normal diploid eggs (by keeping aside some of the sperm without UV-inactivation) and a clutch of haploid embryos (by keeping aside a clutch of eggs fertilized with UV sperm without going through the EP procedure). At 1 day post fertilization haploid embryos have a short body axis, irregular brain and somite morphology. Haploids are not viable after 2-3 days. EP diploids should look like norma...

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		<div>
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		<thead>
		<tr>
		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
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		<tbody>
		
<tr>
<td>Tricaine</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Watch glass</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>French Press</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Pressure cylinder</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Instant ocean</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Pasteur pipettes</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Cut off the narrow end, fire polish</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UV cross-linker</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>microcapillaries</td>
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making gynogenetic diploid zebrafish by early pressure

Heterozygosity in diploid eukaryotes often makes genetic studies cumbersome. Methods that produce viable homozygous diploid offspring directly from heterozygous females allow F1 mutagenized females to be screened directly for deleterious mutations in an accelerated forward genetic screen. Streisinger et al.1,2 described methods for making gynogenetic (homozygous) diploid zebrafish by activating zebrafish eggs with ultraviolet light-inactivated sperm and preventing either the second meiotic or the first zygotic cell division using physical treatments (heat or pressure) that deploymerize microtubules. The "early pressure" (EP) method blocks the meiosis II, which occurs shortly after fertilization. The EP method produces a high percentage of viable embryos that can develop to fertile adults of either sex. The method generates embryos that are homozygous at all loci except those that were separated from their centromere by recombination during meiosis I. Homozygous mutations are detected in EP clutches at between 50% for centromeric loci and less than 1% for telomeric loci. This method is reproduced verbatim from the Zebrafish Book3.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Making Gynogenetic Diploid Zebrafish by Early Pressure at JoVE.com

Making Gynogenetic Diploid Zebrafish by Early Pressure

This is a method for generating gynogenetic diploid zebrafish embryos (embryos whose only genetic contribution comes from the mother) by blocking the second meiotic division immediately after fertilization with ultraviolet light-inactivated sperm. EP embryos are not fully homozygous due to recombination during the first meiotic division, however they are homozygous at all loci that have not been separated from their centromere by recombination.

Heterozygosity in diploid eukaryotes often makes genetic studies cumbersome. Methods that produce viable homozygous diploid offspring directly from ...

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13.4K Views.  University of Oregon. This is a method for generating gynogenetic diploid zebrafish embryos (embryos whose only genetic contribution comes from the mother) by blocking the second meiotic division immediately after fertilization with ultraviolet light-inactivated sperm. EP embryos are not fully homozygous due to recombination during the first meiotic division, however they are homozygous at all loci that have not been separated from their centromere by recombination.

Video: Making Gynogenetic Diploid Zebrafish by Early Pressure

Live Imaging of the Zebrafish Embryonic Brain by Confocal Microscopy

In this video, we demonstrate the method our lab has developed to analyze the cell shape changes and rearrangements required to bend and fold the developing zebrafish brain (Gutzman et al, 2008). Such analysis affords a new understanding of the underlying cell biology required for development of the 3D structure of the vertebrate brain, and significantly increases our ability to study neural tube morphogenesis. The embryonic zebrafish brain is shaped beginning at 18 hours post fertilization (hpf) as the ventricles within the neuroepithelium inflate. By 24 hpf, the initial steps of neural tube morphogenesis are complete. Using the method described here, embryos at the one cell stage are injected with mRNA encoding membrane-targeted green fluorescent protein (memGFP). After injection and incubation, the embryo, now between 18 and 24 hpf, is mounted, inverted, in agarose and imaged by confocal microscopy. Notably, the zebrafish embryo is transparent making it an ideal system for fluorescent imaging. While our analyses have focused on the midbrain-hindbrain boundary and the hindbrain, this method could be extended for analysis of any region in the zebrafish to a depth of 
80-100 &mu;m.

In this video, we demonstrate a method by which to analyze the developing vertebrate brain in live zebrafish embryos at single cell resolution by confocal microscopy. This includes the method by which we inject the single-cell zebrafish embryo and subsequently mount and image the developing brain.

In this video, we demonstrate the method our lab has developed to analyze the cell shape changes and rearrangements required to bend and fold the ...

Brain Banking: Making the Most of your Research Specimens

Unbiased stereology is a method for accurately and efficiently estimating the total neuron number (or other cell type) in a given area of interest1. To achieve this goal 6-10 systematic sections should be probed covering the entire structure. Typically this involves processing 1/5 sections which leaves a significant amount of material unprocessed. In order to maximize the material, we propose an inexpensive method for preserving fixed tissue as part of a long-term storage research plan. As tissue is sliced and processed for the desired stain or antibody, alternate sections should be systematically placed in antigen preserve at -20&deg;C for future processing. Using 24-well plates, sections can be placed in order for future retrieval. Using this method, tissue can be stored and processed for immunohistochemistry over the course of years.

Brain banking and systematic sampling of biological material provides the basis for unbiased stereology and maximizes the potential data obtained from each specimen.

Unbiased stereology is a method for accurately and efficiently estimating the total neuron number (or other cell type) in a given area of interest1.  To ...

Generating Chimeric Zebrafish Embryos by Transplantation

One of the most powerful tools used to gain insight into complex developmental processes is the analysis of chimeric embryos. A chimera is defined as an organism that contains cells from more than one animal; mosaics are one type of chimera in which cells from more than one genotype are mixed, usually wild-type and mutant. In the zebrafish, chimeras can be readily made by transplantation of cells from a donor embryo into a host embryo at the appropriate embryonic stage. Labeled donor cells are generated by injection of a lineage marker, such as a fluorescent dye, into the one-cell stage embryo. Labeled donor cells are removed from donor embryos and introduced into unlabeled host embryos using an oil-controlled glass pipette mounted on either a compound or dissecting microscope. Donor cells can in some cases be targeted to a specific region or tissue of the developing blastula or gastrula stage host embryo by choosing a transplantation site in the host embryo based on well-established fate maps.

A step-by-step guide to generating targeted chimeric zebrafish embryos by transplantation at the blastula or gastrula stage.

One of the most powerful tools used to gain insight into complex developmental processes is the analysis of chimeric embryos. A chimera is defined as an ...

Atmospheric-pressure Molecular Imaging of Biological Tissues and Biofilms by LAESI Mass Spectrometry

Ambient ionization methods in mass spectrometry allow analytical investigations to be performed directly on a tissue or biofilm under native-like experimental conditions. Laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI) is one such development and is particularly well-suited for the investigation of water-containing specimens. LAESI utilizes a mid-infrared laser beam (2.94 &mu;m wavelength) to excite the water molecules of the sample. When the ablation fluence threshold is exceeded, the sample material is expelled in the form of particulate matter and these projectiles travel to tens of millimeters above the sample surface. In LAESI, this ablation plume is intercepted by highly charged droplets to capture a fraction of the ejected sample material and convert its chemical constituents into gas-phase ions. A mass spectrometer equipped with an atmospheric-pressure ion source interface is employed to analyze and record the composition of the released ions originating from the probed area (pixel) of the sample. A systematic interrogation over an array of pixels opens a way for molecular imaging in the microprobe analysis mode. A unique aspect of LAESI mass spectrometric imaging is depth profiling that, in combination with lateral imaging, enables three-dimensional (3D) molecular imaging. With current lateral and depth resolutions of ~100 &mu;m and ~40 &mu;m, respectively, LAESI mass spectrometric imaging helps to explore the molecular structure of biological tissues. Herein, we review the major elements of a LAESI system and provide guidelines for a successful imaging experiment.

Laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI) is an atmospheric-pressure ion source for mass spectrometry. In the imaging mode, a mid-infrared laser probes the distributions of molecules across a tissue section or a biofilm. This technique presents a new approach for diverse bioanalytical studies carried out under native experimental conditions.

Ambient ionization methods in mass spectrometry allow analytical investigations to be performed directly on a tissue or biofilm under native-like ...

Direct Analysis of Single Cells by Mass Spectrometry at Atmospheric Pressure

Analysis of biochemicals in single cells is important for understanding cell metabolism, cell cycle, adaptation, disease states, etc. Even the same cell types exhibit heterogeneous biochemical makeup depending on their physiological conditions and interactions with the environment. Conventional methods of mass spectrometry (MS) used for the analysis of biomolecules in single cells rely on extensive sample preparation. Removing the cells from their natural environment and extensive sample processing could lead to changes in the cellular composition. Ambient ionization methods enable the analysis of samples in their native environment and without extensive sample preparation.1 The techniques based on the mid infrared (mid-IR) laser ablation of biological materials at 2.94 &mu;m wavelength utilize the sudden excitation of water that results in phase explosion.2 Ambient ionization techniques based on mid-IR laser radiation, such as laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI) and atmospheric pressure infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (AP IR-MALDI), have successfully demonstrated the ability to directly analyze water-rich tissues and biofluids at atmospheric pressure.3-11 In LAESI the mid-IR laser ablation plume that mostly consists of neutral particulate matter from the sample coalesces with highly charged electrospray droplets to produce ions. Recently, mid-IR ablation of single cells was performed by delivering the mid-IR radiation through an etched fiber. The plume generated from this ablation was postionized by an electrospray enabling the analysis of diverse metabolites in single cells by LAESI-MS.12 This article describes the detailed protocol for single cell analysis using LAESI-MS. The presented video demonstrates the analysis of a single epidermal cell from the skin of an Allium cepa bulb. The schematic of the system is shown in Figure 1. A representative example of single cell ablation and a LAESI mass spectrum from the cell are provided in Figure 2.

Single cell analysis is performed by mass spectrometry on plant and animal cells at atmospheric pressure by using a sharpened optical fiber to sample the cells for laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI) mass spectrometry.

Analysis of biochemicals in single cells is important for understanding cell metabolism, cell cycle, adaptation, disease states, etc. Even the same cell ...

Imaging Glycans in Zebrafish Embryos by Metabolic Labeling and Bioorthogonal Click Chemistry

Imaging glycans in vivo has recently been enabled using a bioorthogonal chemical reporter strategy by treating cells or organisms with azide- or alkyne-tagged monosaccharides1, 2. The modified monosaccharides, processed by the glycan biosynthetic machinery, are incorporated into cell surface glycoconjugates. The bioorthogonal azide or alkyne tags then allow covalent conjugation with fluorescent probes for visualization, or with affinity probes for enrichment and glycoproteomic analysis. This protocol describes the procedures typically used for noninvasive imaging of fucosylated glycans in zebrafish embryos, including: 1) microinjection of one-cell stage embryos with GDP-5-alkynylfucose (GDP-FucAl), 2) labeling fucosylated glycans in the enveloping layer of zebrafish embryos with azide-conjugated fluorophores via biocompatible Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), and 3) imaging by confocal microscopy3. The method described here can be readily extended to visualize other classes of glycans, e.g. glycans containing sialic acid4 and N-acetylgalactosamine5, 6, in developing zebrafish and in other living organisms.

A click-chemistry based method that allows for the rapid, noninvasive, and robust labeling of alkyne-tagged glycans in zebrafish embryos is described. Fucosylated glycans in the enveloping layer of zebrafish embryos in the late gastrulation stage were imaged in this study.

Imaging glycans in vivo has recently been enabled using a bioorthogonal chemical reporter strategy by treating cells or organisms with azide- or ...

In vivo Electroporation of Morpholinos into the Adult Zebrafish Retina

Many devastating inherited eye diseases result in progressive and irreversible blindness because humans cannot regenerate dying or diseased retinal neurons. In contrast, the adult zebrafish retina possesses the robust ability to spontaneously regenerate any neuronal class that is lost in a variety of different retinal damage models, including retinal puncture, chemical ablation, concentrated high temperature, and intense light treatment 1-8. Our lab extensively characterized regeneration of photoreceptors following constant intense light treatment and inner retinal neurons after intravitreal ouabain injection 2, 5, 9. In all cases, resident M&uuml;ller glia re-enter the cell cycle to produce neuronal progenitors, which continue to proliferate and migrate to the proper retinal layer, where they differentiate into the deficient neurons. 
	We characterized five different stages during regeneration of the light-damaged retina that were highlighted by specific cellular responses. We identified several differentially expressed genes at each stage of retinal regeneration by mRNA microarray analysis 10. Many of these genes are also critical for ocular development. To test the role of each candidate gene/protein during retinal regeneration, we needed to develop a method to conditionally limit the expression of a candidate protein only at times during regeneration of the adult retina. 
	Morpholino oligos are widely used to study loss of function of specific proteins during the development of zebrafish, Xenopus, chick, mouse, and tumors in human xenografts 11-14. These modified oligos basepair with complementary RNA sequence to either block the splicing or translation of the target RNA. Morpholinos are stable in the cell and can eliminate or "knockdown" protein expression for three to five days 12. 
	Here, we describe a method to efficiently knockdown target protein expression in the adult zebrafish retina. This method employs lissamine-tagged antisense morpholinos that are injected into the vitreous of the adult zebrafish eye. Using electrode forceps, the morpholino is then electroporated into all the cell types of the dorsal and central retina. Lissamine provides the charge on the morpholino for electroporation and can be visualized to assess the presence of the morpholino in the retinal cells. 
	Conditional knockdown in the retina can be used to examine the role of specific proteins at different times during regeneration. Additionally, this approach can be used to study the role of specific proteins in the undamaged retina, in such processes as visual transduction and visual processing in second order neurons.

In vivo Electroporation of Morpholinos into the Adult Zebrafish Retina

A method to conditionally knockdown a target protein&#x2019;s expression in the adult zebrafish retina is described, which involves intravitreally injecting antisense morpholinos and electroporating them into the retina. The resulting protein is knocked down for several days, which allows testing the protein&#x2019;s role in the regenerating or intact retina.

Many devastating inherited eye diseases result in progressive and irreversible blindness because humans cannot regenerate dying or diseased retinal ...

In Vivo 4-Dimensional Tracking of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells in Adult Mouse Calvarial Bone Marrow

Through a delicate balance between quiescence and proliferation, self renewal and production of differentiated progeny, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) maintain the turnover of all mature blood cell lineages. The coordination of the complex signals leading to specific HSC fates relies upon the interaction between HSCs and the intricate bone marrow microenvironment, which is still poorly understood[1-2].
We describe how by combining a newly developed specimen holder for stable animal positioning with multi-step confocal and two-photon in vivo imaging techniques, it is possible to obtain high-resolution 3D stacks containing HSPCs and their surrounding niches and to monitor them over time through multi-point time-lapse imaging. High definition imaging allows detecting ex vivo labeled hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) residing within the bone marrow. Moreover, multi-point time-lapse 3D imaging, obtained with faster acquisition settings, provides accurate information about HSPC movement and the reciprocal interactions between HSPCs and stroma cells.
Tracking of HSPCs in relation to GFP positive osteoblastic cells is shown as an exemplary application of this method. This technique can be utilized to track any appropriately labeled hematopoietic or stromal cell of interest within the mouse calvarium bone marrow space.

In Vivo 4-Dimensional Tracking of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells in Adult Mouse Calvarial Bone Marrow

The nature of the interactions between hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and bone marrow niches is poorly understood. Custom hardware modifications and a multi-step acquisition protocol allow the use of two-photon and confocal microscopy to image ex vivo labeled HSPCs homed within bone marrow areas, tracking interactions and movement.

Through a delicate balance between quiescence and proliferation, self renewal and production of differentiated progeny, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) ...

Production of Haploid Zebrafish Embryos by In Vitro Fertilization

The zebrafish has become a mainstream vertebrate model that is relevant for many disciplines of scientific study. Zebrafish are especially well suited for forward genetic analysis of developmental processes due to their external fertilization, embryonic size, rapid ontogeny, and optical clarity &#8211; a constellation of traits that enable the direct observation of events ranging from gastrulation to organogenesis with a basic stereomicroscope. Further, zebrafish embryos can survive for several days in the haploid state. The production of haploid embryos in vitro is a powerful tool for mutational analysis, as it enables the identification of recessive mutant alleles present in first generation (F1) female carriers following mutagenesis in the parental (P) generation. This approach eliminates the necessity to raise multiple generations (F2, F3, etc.) which involves breeding of mutant families, thus saving the researcher time along with reducing the needs for zebrafish colony space, labor, and the husbandry costs. Although zebrafish have been used to conduct forward screens for the past several decades, there has been a steady expansion of transgenic and genome editing tools. These tools now offer a plethora of ways to create nuanced assays for next generation screens that can be used to further dissect the gene regulatory networks that drive vertebrate ontogeny. Here, we describe how to prepare haploid zebrafish embryos. This protocol can be implemented for novel future haploid screens, such as in enhancer and suppressor screens, to address the mechanisms of development for a broad number of processes and tissues that form during early embryonic stages.

Production of Haploid Zebrafish Embryos by In Vitro Fertilization

The zebrafish is a powerful model system for developmental biology and human disease research due to their genetic similarity with higher vertebrates. This protocol describes a methodology to create haploid zebrafish embryos that can be utilized for forward screen strategies to identify recessive mutations in genes essential for early embryogenesis.

The zebrafish has become a mainstream vertebrate model that is relevant for many disciplines of scientific study. Zebrafish are especially well suited for ...

Fecal Glucocorticoid Analysis: Non-invasive Adrenal Monitoring in Equids

Adrenal activity can be assessed in the equine species by analysis of feces for corticosterone metabolites. During a potentially aversive situation, corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) is released from the hypothalamus in the brain. This stimulates the release of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) from the pituitary gland, which in turn stimulates release of glucocorticoids from the adrenal gland. In horses the glucocorticoid corticosterone is responsible for several adaptations needed to support equine flight behaviour and subsequent removal from the aversive situation. Corticosterone metabolites can be detected in the feces of horses and assessment offers a non-invasive option to evaluate long term patterns of adrenal activity. Fecal assessment offers advantages over other techniques that monitor adrenal activity including blood plasma and saliva analysis. The non-invasive nature of the method avoids sampling stress which can confound results. It also allows the opportunity for repeated sampling over time and is ideal for studies in free ranging horses. This protocol describes the enzyme linked immunoassay (EIA) used to assess feces for corticosterone, in addition to the associated biochemical validation.

Adrenal activity can be assessed in the equine species by analysis of feces for corticosterone metabolites. The method offers a non-invasive option to assess long term patterns in both domestic and free ranging horses. This protocol describes the enzyme linked immunoassay involved and the associated biochemical validation.

Adrenal activity can be assessed in the equine species by analysis of feces for corticosterone metabolites. During a potentially aversive situation, ...