Real-time measurements of calcium dynamics in neurons developing in situ within zebrafish embryos

We have developed a non-invasive technique to measure intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in neurons growing within intact embryos of the zebrafish (Danio rerio). A single blastomere was injected with a calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye (Calcium Green dextran) between the 32- and 128-cell stage and the embryo imaged between 16 h and 20 h postfertilisation using laser scanning confocal microscopy. Labelled nerve cells from embryos preinjected with dye and dissociated at 16 h showed a fluorescence increase (66+/-22%; n=11) in response to depolarisation with KCl confirming that the dye remained intracellular and was sensitive to calcium. In addition, fluorescence changes in activated muscle cells of intact embryos showed that the dye was capable of responding to [Ca2+]i changes in vivo. Imaging of dye loaded cells over 30-min periods in embryos between 16 and 20 h revealed that the majority of neurons within the brain and spinal cord did not show spontaneous fluorescence changes distinguishable from noise. However, a subset of neurons within the ventral spinal cord exhibited spontaneous, repetitive [Ca2+]i oscillations which may have a functional significance during neuronal development.