Here, we present a protocol to visualize developing hearts in zebrafish in 4-Dimensions (4-D). 4-D imaging, via light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM), takes 3-Dimensional (3-D) images over time, to reconstruct developing hearts. We show qualitatively and quantitatively that shear stress activates endocardial Notch signaling during chamber development, which promotes cardiac trabeculation.
Messerschmidt, V., Bailey, Z., Baek, K. I., Ding, Y., Hsu, J. J., Bryant, R., Li, R., Hsiai, T. K., Lee, J. Light-sheet Fluorescence Microscopy to Capture 4-Dimensional Images of the Effects of Modulating Shear Stress on the Developing Zebrafish Heart. J. Vis. Exp. (138), e57763, doi:10.3791/57763 (2018).