The zebrafish brain in research and teaching

http://advan.physiology.org/content/ajpadvan/35/2/188.full.pdf

The zebrafish brain in research and teaching: a simple in vivo and in vitro model for the study of spontaneous neural activity describes a series of laboratory practicals in which students prepare whole brain, brain slice, and immobilized non-anesthetised larval zebrafish preparations and undertake electrophysiological recordings from these preparations.

Students are provided with training in and experience of the preparation of solutions, use of microscopes, setting up and maintenance of in-vitro and in-vivo neuronal preparations, electrophysiological recordings and histological procedures. All procedures and equipment required for running these studies are clearly described; Instructor guidance notes for each practical session are also provided.

This resource was developed by Dr Vargas and colleagues from Reykjavik University, Iceland. It is published in: Advances in Physiology Education (2011) 35 (2): 188-196, with copyright being retained by the American Physiological Society.

It is suitable for use in undergraduate and postgraduate student education, short training courses in in-vivo sciences and for researchers wishing to utilise these preparations in functional studies of neuronal activity, plasticity, and neural development in the zebrafish brain.