Station Holding During Rheotaxis: A Sensitive Assay of Lateral Line Function in Larval Zebrafish

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Sensory Biology
• Zebrafish Model Systems

Background:

• Hair cells are crucial sensory receptors in vertebrate auditory and vestibular systems.
• The zebrafish lateral line system, mediating water flow detection, is a key model for studying hair cell development and function.
• Rheotaxis, or orientation to water flow, involves multiple sensory inputs, including the lateral line organ.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel rheotaxis assay for assessing lateral line system function in larval zebrafish.
• To provide a sensitive measure of lateral line function by analyzing station-holding behavior in response to water flow.
• To offer a valuable tool for evaluating the impact of genetic or environmental disruptions on the lateral line system.

Main Methods:

• Detailed protocol for a microflume apparatus, incorporating updates from the WashU Neurotech Hub.
• Utilized DeepLabCut for automated tracking of larval zebrafish behavior.
• Employed SimBA software to classify rheotaxis and analyze station-holding in large cohorts.

Main Results:

• The described rheotaxis assay effectively measures lateral line function in larval zebrafish.
• Station-holding behavior in response to water flow serves as a sensitive indicator of lateral line integrity.
• The assay allows for comparative analysis of lateral line-mediated behaviors in response to various stimuli.

Conclusions:

• This protocol offers a robust method for assessing the functional consequences of genetic and environmental factors on the zebrafish lateral line system.
• The developed assay enables high-throughput analysis of sensory-motor integration in response to hydrodynamic stimuli.
• This research provides a valuable tool for understanding sensory system function and dysfunction in aquatic vertebrates.