Analysis of Embryonic and Larval Zebrafish Skeletal Myofibers from Dissociated Preparations

Summary

Zebrafish are an emerging system for modeling human disorders of the skeletal muscle. We describe a fast and efficient method to isolate skeletal muscle myofibers from embryonic and larval zebrafish. This method yields a high-density myofiber preparation suitable for study of single skeletal muscle fiber morphology, protein subcellular localization, and muscle physiology.

Abstract

The zebrafish has proven to be a valuable model system for exploring skeletal muscle function and for studying human muscle diseases. Despite the many advantages offered by in vivo analysis of skeletal muscle in the zebrafish, visualizing the complex and finely structured protein milieu responsible for muscle function, especially in whole embryos, can be problematic. This hindrance stems from the small size of zebrafish skeletal muscle (60 μm) and the even smaller size of the sarcomere. Here we describe and demonstrate a simple and rapid method for isolating skeletal myofibers from zebrafish embryos and larvae. We also include protocols that illustrate post preparation techniques useful for analyzing muscle structure and function. Specifically, we detail the subsequent immunocytochemical localization of skeletal muscle proteins and the qualitative analysis of stimulated calcium release via live cell calcium imaging. Overall, this video article provides a straight-forward and efficient method for the isolation and characterization of zebrafish skeletal myofibers, a technique which provides a conduit for myriad subsequent studies of muscle structure and function.

Introduction

Skeletal muscle is a highly specialized tissue responsible for generating the contractile forces necessary for motility. Contraction is initiated through a process known as excitation-contraction (EC) coupling that converts electric signals to calcium release from intracellular stores^1,2 . Intracellular calcium release activates the sarcomere to shorten and generate force. The many specific components of the molecular machinery responsible for mediating neuromuscular junction transmission³, EC coupling^4,5 , and actin-myosin dependent contractions⁶ continue to be the ongoing subject of intense research. In addition, proteins ....

Protocol

1. Preparation of Poly-L-Lysine Coated Coverslips (Time: 1 hr)

Coating coverslips allows for rapid myofiber settling and adhesion. This may be performed during the dissociation step of the myofiber isolation (step 2 below).

1. Cut and place Parafilm on the bottom of a 60 mm Petri dish (any brand).
2. Place microscope cover glass slips (12 mm diameter) on Parafilm in a 60 mm tissue culture dish or place them individually in single wells of 24-well plates.

Note 1: These small round coverslips help to concentrate myofiber numbers and reduce excess antibody usage.

No....

Results

Fluorescent immunolabeling of myofibers (Figure 2)

Images showing expected fluorescent labeling pattern from myofibers immunostained after successful isolation and plating. The myofibers have been labeled with either anti-ryanodine receptor (1:100) (Figure 2A) or anti-α-actinin (1:100) (Figure 2B) antibodies, and reveal immunostaining of the triad and the Z-band respectively. Secondary antibodies used were Alexa Fluor 555 (1:500). Im.......

Discussion

Zebrafish are a powerful vertebrate model system for studying muscle development and function in vivo^25,27,28 . They have also emerged as a valuable asset for modeling human muscle diseases^14,15,20,29 . While great strides have been taken to advance the use and application of zebrafish for the study of muscle function and muscle disease, there is a constant critical need to develop tools that will allow more in depth analysis that compliments the genetic, morphologic, behavio.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
24-well culture plate	Corning	3524
10x PBS	Invitrogen Gibco	70011
CO2 Independent medium	Invitrogen Gibco	18045
Collagenase Type II	Worthington Biochemical	LS004186	Lot 41H12764
Collagenase Type IV	Worthington Biochemical	L5004188
8% Paraformaldehyde	Electron Microscopy Sciences	157-8
Methanol	Sigma	322415
Triton X-100	Sigma	X100
BSA	Sigma	A2153
Sheep serum	Sigma	S3772
Goat serum	Sigma	G9023
Glass coverslips	Fischerbrand	12-545-82 12CIR-1D
Poly-L-Lysine	Sigma	P4707
Pronase	Sigma	P5147
40 μm Filter	BD Biosciences	352340
70 μm Filter	BD Biosciences	352350
Prolong Gold antifade reagent	Invitrogen	P36931
Anti-α-Actinin antibody	Sigma	A5044
Anti-RYR antibody	Abcam	34C
Alexa Fluor antibody	Invitrogen	A-21425
TWEEN 20	Sigma	P1379
60 mm Petri dish	Fischerbrand	0875713A
Poly-L-Ornithine	Sigma	P4957
Microscope slide	Fischerbrand	12-550-15
Caffeine	Sigma	C0750