Zebrafish retinal mutants

We have initiated a genetic analysis of the zebrafish visual system to identify novel molecules involved in vertebrate retinal function. Zebrafish are highly visual; they have four types of cones as well as rod photoreceptors, making it possible to study both rod and cone-mediated visual responses. To identify visual mutants, optokinetic responses of mutagenized larvae are measured in a three-generation screen for recessive mutations. By measuring visual behavior our genetic screen has been targeted towards identifying mutants that do not have gross morphological abnormalities. The electroretinogram (ERG) of optokinetic-defective mutants is recorded and their retinas are examined histologically to localize defects to the retina. In this report, we summarize our screening results and ERG and histological analyses of the five morphologically normal mutants we have analyzed to date. Additionally, the more detailed characterization of a red-blind mutant that we have isolated is summarized. Our results indicate that mutants with defects in various processes such as photoreceptor synaptic transmission, photoreceptor adaptation and cell-type specific survival and/or function can be identified using this approach.