A 3D-Printed and Freely Available Device to Measure the Zebrafish Optokinetic Response Before and After Injury

Area of Science:

• Comparative ophthalmology
• Neuroscience research
• Aquatic animal models

Background:

• Zebrafish possess eyes anatomically similar to humans, with a high cone photoreceptor percentage, making them valuable for vision research.
• Unlike most animals, zebrafish exhibit optic nerve regeneration, offering unique insights into visual recovery.
• The optokinetic response (OKR) is a conserved vertebrate behavior used to assess vision, particularly when eye charts are impractical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an affordable and accessible optokinetic response (OKR) setup for assessing vision in zebrafish.
• To validate the functionality of the developed OKR system for vision studies.
• To demonstrate the utility of the OKR setup in observing vision recovery post-optic nerve injury.

Main Methods:

• Designed and constructed an inexpensive OKR apparatus using 3D-printed and readily available components.
• Utilized the OKR to assess visual function in adult zebrafish.
• Observed and recorded the return of the OKR following induced optic nerve injury.

Main Results:

• The developed OKR setup proved fully functional for assessing zebrafish vision.
• The system successfully illustrated the recovery of the optokinetic response after optic nerve injury.
• The setup's design is suitable for both undergraduate research and scalable classroom laboratory applications.

Conclusions:

• An affordable and effective OKR system was created for zebrafish vision research.
• This setup facilitates the study of visual recovery mechanisms, particularly optic nerve regeneration.
• The accessible design promotes hands-on learning and research opportunities in vision science for students.