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Long-term Live Imaging Device for Improved Experimental Manipulation of Zebrafish Larvae
Published on: October 27, 2017
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Long-term Live Imaging Device for Improved Experimental Manipulation of Zebrafish Larvae
Kayla Huemer1, Jayne M Squirrell2, Robert Swader3
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Morgridge Institute for Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove
|November 21, 2017
Summary
The zebrafish larva is a key model for studying development and wound healing. A new 3D-printed device, zWEDGI, enables high-resolution live imaging of zebrafish larvae during tail regeneration without hindering growth.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Microscopy Imaging
Background:
- Zebrafish larvae are vital model organisms for studying biological processes like development and wound healing.
- High-resolution live imaging is crucial for observing dynamic biological phenomena.
- Traditional agarose embedding methods can negatively impact zebrafish larval development and tissue regrowth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel device, the zWEDGI (zebrafish Wounding and Entrapment Device for Growth and Imaging), designed to overcome limitations in current zebrafish live imaging techniques.
- To enable high-resolution microscopy of zebrafish larvae during caudal fin regeneration.
- To facilitate unrestrained tissue regrowth and long-term viability studies.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of the zWEDGI device using 3D printing technology.
- Design of a functionally compartmentalized device for precise larval orientation.
- Implementation of caudal fin transection within the device for controlled wounding.
- Utilizing the device for live, high-resolution, long-term imaging of zebrafish larvae.
Main Results:
- The zWEDGI device successfully orients zebrafish larvae for high-resolution microscopy.
- Caudal fin transection and subsequent tail regeneration occurred within the device without impeding development or viability.
- The device allows for repeated access for wounding or reagent application and parallel imaging of multiple larvae.
- The 3D-printed nature allows for customizable geometries for diverse imaging needs.
Conclusions:
- The zWEDGI is an effective, reusable, and customizable tool for live imaging of zebrafish larvae, particularly for studying wound healing and regeneration.
- This device overcomes the limitations of traditional methods, promoting larval development and tissue regrowth during experimentation.
- The zWEDGI facilitates streamlined, high-resolution, long-term studies of dynamic biological processes in zebrafish.
