Zebrafish Optogenetics: Activating Genetically Modified Somatosensory Neuron to Study Larval Behavioral Responses

Overview

This video describes optogenetic techniques by activating genetically modified somatosensory neurons and recording elicited behavioral response with a high-speed video camera.

Protocol

1. Mount Larvae for Behavior Experiments

1. Make 1.5% low melt agarose in ddH2O and store in a 42 °C heat block to prevent it from solidifying.
2. Using a glass Pasteur pipette, transfer one of the pre-screened larvae into a tube of 1.5% low melt agarose with as little blue/embryo water as possible.
3. Transfer larvae in a drop of agarose onto a small Petri dish.
4. Under a dissecting microscope, position larva dorsal up.
5. When agarose has solidified, cut away the agarose with a thin razor blade (#11 scalpel), leaving a wedge of agar around the entire larva.
6. Make two diagonal cuts at either side of the yolk; take care not to nick the larva.
7. Fill the area surrounding the agarose with embryo/blue water.
8. Pull agarose away from the trunk and tail of the larva (Figure 1).

2 . Prepare High-speed Camera and Imaging Software

1. Mount high-speed camera onto dissecting scope.
2. Connect camera to computer.
3. Turn on computer.
4. Turn on high-speed camera.
5. Open video/imaging software (We use AOS imaging software and will describe procedures for using it here, but other imaging software is equally acceptable).
6. Adjust camera settings accordingly (i.e. 1,000 frames per sec (fps), 50% trigger buffer or other preferred settings).
7. Start recording.

3. Activate Single Neurons Using a 473 nm Laser

1. Attach stimulator, laser and optic cable.
2. Turn on stimulator.
3. Set stimulator to a maximum of 5 Volts and a pulse duration of 5 msec.
4. Turn on laser according to manufacturer's instructions.
5. Use a dissecting microscope to position the tip of the optic cable near cell body of a neuron with ChEF-tdTomato expression (Figure 1).
6. Deliver pulse of blue light to activate sensory neuron.
7. Record behavior using a high-speed camera set at 500 or 1,000 frames per sec.
8. Repeat experiment as desired, waiting 1 min between each activation to avoid habituation. (We record a minimum of three responses for each neuron).
9. To release larvae, pry apart agarose with forceps, taking care not to injure the animal. This animal can be allowed to develop further and the procedure can be repeated at an older stage to characterize development of the behavior. The embryo can also be remounted for high-resolution confocal imaging of the activated cell to correlate behavior with cellular structure, as described below.
10. Transfer larva to culture plate with fresh blue/embryo water. We use a 24-well plate to keep track of individual larvae.

Representative Results

Figure 1. Diagram of a mounted zebrafish larva and representative neurons involved in the larval touch response. Zebrafish larvae were partially mounted in 1.5% low melt agarose (represented by dashed lines surrounding the rostral portion of the larva). A trigeminal neuron (in the head) and a Rohon-Beard neuron (in the trunk) are depicted in red. Mauthner cells are outlined by dashed lines in the larva. The optic cable (white) is shown positioned over the RB neuron cell body.

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Low Melt agarose	Sigma	A9045	or equivalent
Petri dish (100x15 mm)	Any	Any
Non-Sterile scalpel blades	Fine Scientific Tools, Inc.	10011-00	or equivalent
blue/embryo water			10 L ddH2O 0.6 g Instant Ocean 6 drops methylene blue
High speed camera	AOS Technologies, Inc.	X-PRI (130025-10)	or equivalent
Glass Pasteur pipette	Fisher	1367820B	or equivalent (10-15 mm diameter)
473 nm portable laser	Crystal lasers	CL-473-050	or higher power, with TTL option
S48 Stimulator	Astro-Med, Inc. Grass Instrument division	S48K	or equivalent
Tricaine	Sigma	A5040
200 μm optic fiber	ThorLabs	AFS200/220Y-CUSTOM	Patch Cord, Length: 3 m, End A: FC/PC, End B: FC/PC, Jacket: FT030
50 μm optic fiber	ThorLabs	AFS50/125Y-CUSTOM	Patch Cord, Length: 3 m, End A: FC/PC, End B: FC/PC, Jacket: FT030
24 culture plates	Genesee	25-102	or equivalent