Rapid Fabrication of Highly Customizable Test Chambers for Behavioral Experiments with Small Aquatic Model Organisms

Area of Science:

• Neurobiology
• Ecotoxicology
• Ecology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Current behavioral biotests for aquatic organisms (e.g., larval zebrafish) use digital video recording and tracking software.
• Standard polystyrene multi-well plates have limitations, including fixed geometry, optical artifacts, and poor light transmittance for infrared illumination.
• These limitations hinder detailed analysis of behavioral responses influenced by environmental features.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel, rapid, and low-cost fabrication technique for customizable test chambers for aquatic model organisms.
• To demonstrate the utility of this method for creating diverse chamber geometries, including complex mazes.
• To investigate how test chamber geometry influences larval zebrafish behavior and sensory-motor responses.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication involves infrared laser cutting of biocompatible poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).
• Components are thermally bonded under controlled compression in a standard laboratory oven.
• This method allows for rapid, low-cost production of numerous custom test plates.

Main Results:

• The technique enables high flexibility in chamber geometry, including complex miniaturized maze designs.
• Proof-of-concept experiments showed that test chamber geometry significantly influences baseline locomotor activity in larval zebrafish.
• Chamber geometry also modulated stimulated sensory-motor responses in larval zebrafish.

Conclusions:

• The described fabrication technique provides a flexible and accessible tool for creating custom behavioral test chambers.
• This method facilitates the development of novel behavioral biotests for small aquatic model organisms.
• Applications span ecology, ecotoxicology, and experimental neurobiology, offering new ways to study environmental perception and behavior.