Acquisition, Processing and Analysis of Electrocardiogram in Awake Zebrafish

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Research
• Zebrafish Models
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Long-term electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring in zebrafish is vital for cardiovascular disease research and drug discovery.
• Existing methods may be invasive or limited in scope for studying awake zebrafish.
• A non-invasive, adaptable system is needed for comprehensive cardiac electrophysiology studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a polymer-based apparatus with embedded flexible electrodes for acquiring intrinsic ECG signals from awake zebrafish.
• To create a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) for real-time signal processing and analysis.
• To validate the system's utility in investigating the effects of anesthetic drugs on zebrafish cardiac electrophysiology.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) apparatus using 3D-printed molds and embedded flexible thin-film electrodes.
• Development of a National Instruments LabView-based GUI for real-time ECG recording, de-noising, characteristic wave detection, and anomaly detection.
• Application of the system to assess the impact of Tricaine (MS-222) on zebrafish cardiac electrophysiology.

Main Results:

• Successful acquisition of intrinsic ECG signals from awake zebrafish using the novel polymer apparatus.
• The GUI effectively performed real-time signal processing, including de-noising and wave detection.
• Demonstrated the system's capability to reveal the effects of Tricaine (MS-222) on cardiac electrophysiology.

Conclusions:

• The developed polymer-based apparatus and integrated GUI provide a robust platform for long-term ECG monitoring in awake zebrafish.
• This novel system facilitates detailed analysis of cardiac electrophysiology, supporting heart disease research and drug screening.
• The system holds potential for diverse applications across various research disciplines utilizing the zebrafish model.