Modeling Drug-Induced Hemorrhage in Zebrafish Larva

Start with a culture dish containing fertilized zebrafish embryos in an embryo medium.

Position the dish under a stereo microscope and use dissection forceps to remove the chorion, the outer membrane surrounding the embryos.

This enables the embryos to be exposed to the surrounding medium.

Transfer these dechorionated embryos into a dish containing embryo medium with a drug that inhibits the synthesis of cholesterol, which is crucial for maintaining the brain's blood vessel integrity.

Incubate at a controlled temperature until the embryos develop into larvae.

Over time, the drug permeates the developing larvae, inhibiting cholesterol synthesis.

Cholesterol deficiency weakens the brain's blood vessels, causing them to rupture and leak blood into the brain, developing hemorrhagic spots.

Observe the larvae under a stereo microscope.

Separate the hemorrhagic larvae, with distinct red spots, from a non-hemorrhagic population.

Transfer these hemorrhagic larvae to a new dish for further studies.