Nathan J Nadolski1, Casey X L Wong2,3, Jennifer C Hocking4,5,6,7. 1. Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. 3. Women & Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. 4. Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. jhocking@ualberta.ca. 5. Women & Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. jhocking@ualberta.ca. 6. Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. jhocking@ualberta.ca. 7. Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, 5-01 Medical Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H7, Canada. jhocking@ualberta.ca.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The electroretinogram (ERG) is a powerful approach for investigating visual function in zebrafish ocular disease models. However, complexity, cost, and a literature gap present as significant barriers for the introduction of this technology to new zebrafish laboratories. Here, we introduce a simplified and effective method to obtain zebrafish ERGs. METHODS: In-house assembled recording electrodes and a custom 3D-printed platform were used to gather high-quality and consistent ERG data from zebrafish at 3 developmental timepoints-larval, juvenile, and adult. Fish were tested under both scotopic (dark-adapted) and photopic (light-adapted) conditions to differentiate between the rod and cone systems, respectively. RESULTS: Robust ERG waveforms across all developmental timepoints were obtained using the methodology presented here. We observed an overall increase in signal amplitude as development progressed, reflecting maturation of the zebrafish retina. Oscillatory potentials could also be isolated from the generated waveforms. CONCLUSIONS: This simplified approach to the zebrafish ERG can generate waveforms comparable to the existing approaches and helps reduce barriers for zebrafish laboratories studying ocular development and disease.
PURPOSE: The electroretinogram (ERG) is a powerful approach for investigating visual function in zebrafish ocular disease models. However, complexity, cost, and a literature gap present as significant barriers for the introduction of this technology to new zebrafish laboratories. Here, we introduce a simplified and effective method to obtain zebrafish ERGs. METHODS: In-house assembled recording electrodes and a custom 3D-printed platform were used to gather high-quality and consistent ERG data from zebrafish at 3 developmental timepoints-larval, juvenile, and adult. Fish were tested under both scotopic (dark-adapted) and photopic (light-adapted) conditions to differentiate between the rod and cone systems, respectively. RESULTS: Robust ERG waveforms across all developmental timepoints were obtained using the methodology presented here. We observed an overall increase in signal amplitude as development progressed, reflecting maturation of the zebrafish retina. Oscillatory potentials could also be isolated from the generated waveforms. CONCLUSIONS: This simplified approach to the zebrafish ERG can generate waveforms comparable to the existing approaches and helps reduce barriers for zebrafish laboratories studying ocular development and disease.
Authors: Juliane Hammer; Paul Röppenack; Sarah Yousuf; Christian Schnabel; Anke Weber; Daniela Zöller; Edmund Koch; Stefan Hans; Michael Brand Journal: Front Cell Dev Biol Date: 2022-02-01