Microstructured Devices for Optimized Microinjection and Imaging of Zebrafish Larvae

Summary

Microinjection of zebrafish embryos and larvae is a crucial but challenging technique used in many zebrafish models. Here, we present a range of microscale tools to aid in the stabilization and orientation of zebrafish for both microinjection and imaging.

Abstract

Zebrafish have emerged as a powerful model of various human diseases and a useful tool for an increasing range of experimental studies, spanning fundamental developmental biology through to large-scale genetic and chemical screens. However, many experiments, especially those related to infection and xenograft models, rely on microinjection and imaging of embryos and larvae, which are laborious techniques that require skill and expertise. To improve the precision and throughput of current microinjection techniques, we developed a series of microstructured devices to orient and stabilize zebrafish embryos at 2 days post fertilization (dpf) in ventral, dorsal, or lateral orientation prior to the procedure. To aid in the imaging of embryos, we also designed a simple device with channels that orient 4 zebrafish laterally in parallel against a glass cover slip. Together, the tools that we present here demonstrate the effectiveness of photolithographic approaches to generate useful devices for the optimization of zebrafish techniques.

Introduction

Zebrafish have emerged as a powerful model for many fields, from studies of fundamental developmental biology to large-scale genetic and chemical screens^1,2. Routine genetic manipulations, such as gene overexpression, knockdown, CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis, and transgenesis rely on microinjection of genetic material into the single-cell zygote, which has led to the development of simple, easy-to-use, commercially available tools for orienting and stabilizing eggs for injection³. Other approaches, such as transplantation and infection, often require microinjection into later stage embryos an....

Protocol

Microinjection of larvae was approved by the Massachusetts General Hospital Subcommittee on Research Animal Care under Protocol 2011N000127.

1. Device Fabrication

NOTE: All computer assisted drawing (CAD) files used to design photolithography masks described here (Figure 1) are available for download. See Table of Materials for links.

1. Fabricate the master mold wafer in a Class 1,000 clean room using standard photolithographic techniques⁷. For the microstructure arrays and channels, pattern the epoxy-based negative photoresist sequentially in 3 laye....

Results

The approach described here demonstrates the design (Figure 1) and fabrication of devices for use with 2 dpf zebrafish, using photolithographic (Figure 2) and soft-lithographic (Figure 3) techniques. This method allows rapid testing of many design iterations and modifications, and alterations and optimization of microstructure dimensions for use with zebrafish at other stages of development may exten.......

Discussion

Here, we describe the use of devices we recently developed to facilitate 2 dpf zebrafish microinjection⁵, and introduce a simple agarose-free mounting device for convenient imaging of embryos. These tools highlight the utility of photolithographic techniques for fabrication of devices useful for zebrafish techniques.

We have found MSA devices particularly useful for injection of cells or particles prone to aggregation within the microinjection needle, such as fungal con.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Dow Corning Sylgard 184 Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)	Ellsworth Adhsives	184 SIL ELAST KIT 0.5KG	For casting the devices. Kit includes PDMS monomer and Initiator
Low gelling temperature agarose	Sigma Aldrich	A9414-10G	For casting agarose devices
PFDTS silane	Sigma Aldrich	448931-10G	For casting of negative PDMS molds
Tricaine (MS-222)	Sigma Aldrich	E10521-10G	To anesthetize zebrafish
Rhodamine Dextran 70,000 Da	ThermoFisher	D1818	To trace microinjections
Leukotriene B4 (LTB4)	Cayman Chemicals	20110	Neutrophil chemoattractant
N-Formylmethionine-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)	Sigma Aldrich	F3506-50MG	Neutrophil chemoattractant
15 cm Petri dish	Fisher scientific	08-757-148	For Casting from the master wafer
Glass-bottom 6-well plates	MatTek	P06G-0-20-F	For imaging devices
Borosilicate glass microcapillaries	World Scientific Instruments	TW-100-4	For microinjection needles
Transfer pipettes	Sigma Aldrich	Z350796	For transferring zebrafish embryos
Microloader tips	Fisher scientific	E5242956003	For loading the microinjection needles
Harris Uni-Core 1.5 mm punch	Ted Pella Inc.	15111-15	To punch ports in PDMS imaging devices
No. 11 Scalpel	Fine Science Tools	10011-00	For cutting PDMS
Dumont No. 5 Forceps	Fine Science Tools	11252-10	For dechorionating embryos and breaking microinjection needle tips
Marzhauser Micromanipulator	ASI	MM33-R	For manipulating microinjection needle
Magnetic stand	MSC	SPI - 87242624	For mounting micromanipulator
MPPI-3 Picopump controller	ASI	MPPI-3	To control microinjection volume and timing
EVOS inverted fluorescent microscope	ThermoFisher	EVOS FL	To image injected embryos
Dissecting microscope	Nikon	SMZ745	For visualizing microinjecion
AutoCAD software	Autodesk		Download AutoCAD files from: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.4282853 and on the ZFIN community protocols wiki page: https://wiki.zfin.org/display/prot/ZFIN+ Protocol+Wiki