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Dissection and Lateral Mounting of Zebrafish Embryos: Analysis of Spinal Cord Development
Published on: February 28, 2014
Developmental changes in the expression of Sox2 in the zebrafish brain
Antonino Germanà1, Giuseppe Montalbano, M Cristina Guerrera
1Dipartimento di MOBIFIPA, Sezione di Morfologia, e CISS (Centro di ittiopatologia Sperimentale per la Sicilia), Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Messina, Italia. antonino.germana@unime.it.
Microscopy Research and Technique
|August 25, 2010
Summary
This study maps Sox2 expression in zebrafish brains, revealing dynamic changes in potential neurogenic areas throughout development. Sox2 is crucial for neural stem cells and its localization shifts from widespread to concentrated in adults.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Sox transcription factors are vital for early development, particularly the central nervous system.
- Sox2 is known to be expressed in neural stem cells.
- Understanding Sox2 expression patterns aids in identifying neurogenic regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of Sox2 in the zebrafish brain across different developmental stages.
- To identify potential neurogenic areas and their developmental changes.
- To compare zebrafish neurogenic areas with those in mammals.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) for gene expression analysis.
- Western blot to detect Sox2 protein levels and size.
- Immunohistochemistry for precise Sox2 localization in brain tissues.
Main Results:
- Sox2 expression peaked at 15 days post-fertilization (dpf), decreased by 30 dpf, increased by 40 dpf, and stabilized by 180 dpf.
- Western blot detected three Sox2 protein bands (28, 34, and 38 kDa) in adult zebrafish brains.
- Sox2 was localized in the olfactory bulb, ventricles, diencephalon, tectum opticum, rhombencephalon, and cerebellum, with adult localization restricted to the olfactory bulb and telencephalic ventricles.
Conclusions:
- Zebrafish possess widespread potential neurogenic areas that change during development.
- In adult zebrafish, neurogenic areas are concentrated around ventricles and the olfactory bulb, similar to mammals.
- Sox2 plays a significant role in defining these neurogenic regions throughout zebrafish brain development.
