Eye Lens Dissection: A Technique to Observe Zebrafish Lens Morphology

- A zebrafish eye comprises cornea, sclera, lens, and retina. The cornea is a transparent tissue that allows light to enter into the eye. The sclera is an opaque tissue that is continuous with the cornea, forming an outer protective layer. The lens is a spherical structure that focuses light onto the retina, which is a light sensitive layer of tissue that converts light into a neural signal.

To dissect the eye, fill a Petri dish with silicone and let it set. Now, place an anesthetized fish in the dish and excise the eyes using a micro-scissor. Transfer the eyes to a plate filled with PBS to maintain a constant pH in the tissue and orient the eye with the posterior side facing up. Hold the eye with forceps and carefully make three radial cuts through the sclera and retina.

Next, fold the tissue out to reveal the lens. Now, position the eye with the anterior side facing up and remove the sclera and retina. Scoop out the lens from the dissected eye and remove any remaining tissue around it. In the following protocol, we will perform larval and adult zebrafish lense dissections to analyze lens morphology.

After confirmation of sufficient sedation with tricaine, use microdissection scis