Lens Transplantation in Zebrafish and its Application in the Analysis of Eye Mutants
Summary
Lens development involves interactions with other tissues. Several zebrafish eye mutants are characterized by an abnormally small lens size. Here we demonstrate a lens transplantation experiment to determine whether this phenotype is due to intrinsic causes or defective interactions with tissues that surround the lens.
Abstract
The lens plays an important role in the development of the optic cup[1,2]. Using the zebrafish as a model organism, questions regarding lens development can be addressed. The zebrafish is useful for genetic studies due to several advantageous characteristics, including small size, high fecundity, short lifecycle, and ease of care. Lens development occurs rapidly in zebrafish. By 72 hpf, the zebrafish lens is functionally mature [3]. Abundant genetic and molecular resources are available to support research in zebrafish. In addition, the similarity of the zebrafish eye to those of other vertebrates provides basis for its use as an excellent animal model of human defects[4-7]. Several zebrafish mutants exhibit lens abnormalities, including high levels of cell death, which in some cases leads to a complete degeneration of lens tissues [8].
To determine whether lens abnormalities are due to intrinsic causes or to defective interactions with the surrounding tissues, transplantation of a mutant lens into a wild-type eye is performed. Using fire-polished metal needles, mutant or wild-type lenses are carefully dissected from the donor animal, and transferred into the host. To distinguish wild-type and mutant tissues, a transgenic line is used as the donor. This line expresses membrane-bound GFP in all tissues, including the lens. This transplantation technique is an essential tool in the studies of zebrafish lens mutants.
Protocol
Discussion
Several steps require special attention during lens transplantations.
- Sharpened needles: It’s better to prepare several needles before carrying out lens transplantation, and the tip of the needles should be as thin as possible. A thicker needle will tear more tissue because of its wider diameter, causing a failure in the eye to heal.
- Arranging the embryos: Right before transplantation you must position the embryos so they are lying on their sides. When positioning, the 1.2% agarose can …
Acknowledgements
This procedure follows to a large extent the transplantation technique developed for cave fish by the lab of Bill Jeffrey.
Materials
| Material Name | Tipo | Company | Catalogue Number | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1mm diameter tungsten wire | A Johnson Matthey | 45086 | ||
| Agarose(low melting point) | Sigma | 39346 | ||
| Borosilicate glass capillaries | World Precision Instruments | TW 100-4 | ||
| Forceps | Dumont #5 | 11252-30 | ||
| Pasteur pipette | Fisher | 13-678-20C | ||
| Pipette pump | Fisher | 13-683C | ||
| Petri Dish | CardinalHealth | D1906 | ||
| Penicillin-streptomycin | GIBCO | 15140-122 |
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