Zebrafish Optokinetic Reflex: Minimal Reporting Guidelines and Recommendations.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Zebrafish models

Background:

• Optokinetic reflex (OKR) assays in zebrafish are increasingly utilized for studying neurological and ophthalmological conditions.
• Current research lacks standardized reporting guidelines, potentially impacting reproducibility and introducing bias.
• Addressing this gap is crucial for advancing research integrity and data comparability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review factors influencing zebrafish OKR assays.
• To identify critical parameters for robust and reproducible OKR experiments.
• To establish a minimal reporting guideline for zebrafish OKR studies.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a systematic literature review of 109 research papers using online databases.
• Analyzed studies for animal, environmental, and technical factors relevant to OKR assays.
• Identified key parameters including larval characteristics, sample size, and stimulus details.

Main Results:

• The review identified significant variability and insufficient reporting of crucial experimental parameters across published studies.
• Key factors requiring detailed reporting include larval characteristics, sample size, OKR setup, stimulus parameters, and eye movement analysis.
• A lack of systematic reporting hinders reproducibility and data interpretation.

Conclusions:

• The systematic literature review highlights the need for standardized reporting in zebrafish OKR assays.
• The developed zebrafish optokinetic (ZOK) reflex minimal reporting guideline aims to enhance transparency and reproducibility.
• Implementing the ZOK guideline will support robust and reliable research in neuroscience and ophthalmology.