Protocol to visualize distinct motoneuron pools in adult zebrafish via injection of retrograde tracers

Maria Bertuzzi; Irene Pallucchi; Abdeljabbar El Manira

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101868

Protocol to visualize distinct motoneuron pools in adult zebrafish via injection of retrograde tracers

STAR Protoc. 2022 Dec 16;3(4):101868. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101868. Epub 2022 Dec 10.

Authors

Maria Bertuzzi¹, Irene Pallucchi¹, Abdeljabbar El Manira²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
² Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: abdel.elmanira@ki.se.

Abstract

In adult zebrafish, slow, intermediate, and fast muscle fibers occupy distinct regions of the axial muscle, allowing the use of retrograde tracers for selective targeting of the motoneurons (MNs) innervating them. Here, we describe a protocol to label distinct MN pools and tissue processing for visualization with confocal laser microscopy. We outline the different steps for selective labeling of primary and secondary MNs together with spinal cord fixation, isolation, mounting, and imaging. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Pallucchi et al. (2022)¹ and Ampatzis et al. (2013).².

Keywords: Microscopy; Model Organisms; Molecular/Chemical Probes.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Injections
Motor Neurons*
Muscles
Spinal Cord / diagnostic imaging
Zebrafish*