Zebra-Sens

Principal Investigators: Mireille Rossel and Benjamin Delprat

Technical Manager: Jérôme Sarniguet

Steering Committee: Anne-Françoise Roux, Mireille Rossel, Laurent Givalois, Tangui Maurice, Benjamin Delprat, Nadine Mestre-Frances, Jérôme Sarniguet

The ZebraSens platform was developed by two laboratories—MMDN (JM Verdier) and LGMR (AF Roux)—to conduct functional analyses of sensory and behavioral deficits in degenerative diseases.

This facility brings together, on the same site and in close proximity to the MMDN Laboratory’s“Ze-Neuro”breeding facility, state-of-the-art equipment for analyzing vision, hearing, and locomotor behavior in zebrafish from the larval stage through to adulthood, namely:

1 Visiobox®
1 Zebracube®
1 Zebrabox High Speed® (1,000 FPS)
2 Zebrabox® (30 FPS)
1 Zebrabox® equipped with a high-speed camera (140 FPS)
1 Seahorse®

Since March 2022, the Zebrasens facility has been part of the ZEFIX platform, a technology platform specializing in zebrafish and Xenopus aquatic models, which is integrated into the UAR Biocampus Montpellier. ZEIX is a multi-site organization comprising four technical facilities for breeding and experimentation in Montpellier. Its goal is to provide the spaces, equipment, expertise, and training necessary for hosting and implementing projects related to the aquatic models Danio rerio (zebrafish) and Xenopus laevis (xenopus).

EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE ON SET:

– The Visiobox® assesses vision by measuring theOptokinetic Response(OKR). This test evaluates visual acuity in zebrafish in a stress-free environment using an automated process.

Visual acuity measured by OKR involves the eye movements of fish. These movements are triggered by the display of black-and-white stripes at regular intervals with high contrast. The size, contrast, and color of the stripes can be adjusted to increase the difficulty and accurately assess the visual acuity of wild or mutant fish. It is possible to measure the visual acuity of 4 fish simultaneously.

– The ZebraCube® enables the study of three-dimensional (XYZ) locomotor activity in adult fish. The fish are tracked using video, making it possible to determine the distance traveled, periods of rest and activity, and the fish’s position within the tanks. In addition, it is possible to measure social behavior (“shoaling”) as well as spatial memory (T-maze and double H-maze) and spatial memory involving pattern recognition and external stimuli (Y-maze).

– The Zebrabox High Speed® allows for the measurement of auditory acuity in larvae starting at 5 dpf. This system features a vibration module and a high-resolution camera (1,000 frames per second). This system is thus capable of measuring the curvature of the larva’s body in response to a sound stimulus of a selected frequency and intensity. This curvature is characteristic of predator avoidance behavior and provides information on the fish’s hearing acuity.

– Zebrabox® devices can measure the locomotor activity of larvae starting at 5 dpf (tracking) as well as their mobility (quantification). The VMR (Visual Motor Response) test measures this locomotor activity in response to sudden changes in light intensity, whether isolated or repeated. The larvae are video-tracked, making it possible to determine the distance traveled, the larvae’s resting and active phases, and their position in the well.

The ASR (Acoustic Startle Response) test is used to determine the hearing acuity of larvae in response to a sound stimulus of a specific frequency and intensity.

Note: A ZEBRABOX equipped with a 140 fps high-speed camera can capture rapid movements, such as epileptic seizures.

Note: The Zebrabox® and Zebracube® can also be used to track the locomotor activity of the Drosophila model.

The Seahorse XFe24: enables the measurement of oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in live larvae using a 24-well plate format. The OCR is a key indicator of mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis, as well as ATP production rates.

Prices available upon request: jerome.sarniguet(at)inserm.fr

Acknowledgments: The“ZebraSens Phenotyping” platform was primarily funded by the Association SOS Rétinite France, with support from the Caisse d’Epargne.