Optokinetic response has been widely used to assess the visual functions of larval zebrafish. Nevertheless, the standard protocol for larval fish is not yet readily applicable in adults1-5. Here, we introduce how to measure the OKR of adult zebrafish using a new protocol which is established in our lab.
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Method Article
Using the optokinetic response to study visual function of zebrafish
In This Article
Summary
Abstract
Optokinetic response (OKR) is a behavior that an animal vibrates its eyes to follow a rotating grating around it. It has been widely used to assess the visual functions of larval zebrafish1-5. Nevertheless, the standard protocol for larval fish is not yet readily applicable in adult zabrafish. Here, we introduce how to measure the OKR of adult zebrafish with our simple custom-built apparatus using a new protocol which is established in our lab. Both our apparatus and step-by-step procedure of OKR in adult zebrafish are illustrated in this video. In addition, the measurements of the larval OKR, as well as the optomotor response (OMR) test of adult zebrafish, are also demonstrated in this video. This OKR assay of adult zebrafish in our experiment may last for up to 4 hours. Such OKR test applied in adult fish will benefit to visual function investigation more efficiently when the adult fish vision system is manipulated.
Su-Qi Zou and Wu Yin contributed equally to this paper.
Protocol
Part I: Construct the OKR apparatus
Details are shown in video demonstration.
Part II: OKR of Adult Zebrafish
If your lab has constructed an OKR apparatus, the key of adult zebrafish OKR is to hold the fish. In this part, we will show you step by step.
Our apparatus composes following parts similar to others mentioned. The circular fish chamber is 7.0 cm in outer diameter, 6.5 cm in inner diameter and 7.0 cm in high. The drum around fish chamber is 8.5 cm in out diameter, 7.5 cm in inner diameter and 7.0 cm in high. It could rotate clockwise and counter-cloc....
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Discussion
According to the definition of OKR, it is a phenomenon that animals move their eyes to pursue a rotating grating spontaneously. If this behavior has been conducted for a long time (e.g. above 6 hours), the eye muscles may be tired and the OKR will be attenuated.
Adult zebrafish OMR has been described completely by others7. In this video, we just show you this behavior with our apparatus. Once the optic nerves are crushed, they could not follow this grating very well.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Ms. Fan Shen for her support to the zebrafish rearing. This is supported by fundings to Dr. Bing Hu (Chinese Academy of Sciences, "Bai Ren Ji Hua", NSFC 30870833 and National Basic Science Program of China, 2009CB941302).
All animal experiments were conducted in accordance with the guidelines and regulations set forth by the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) Animal Resources Center and University Animal Care and Use Committee.
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Materials
| Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methylcellulose | Sigma-Aldrich | M6385 | Viscosity 25 cP |
References
- Beck, J., Gilland, E., Tank, D., Baker, R. Quantifying the Ontogeny of Optokinetic and Vestibuloocular Behaviors in Zebrafish Medaka, and Goldfish. J Neurophysiol. 92, 3546-3561 (2004).
- Brockerhoff, S. Measuring the optokinetic response of zebrafish la....
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