Methylnitrosourea (MNU)-induced retinal degeneration and regeneration in the zebrafish: histological and functional characteristics.

Maurer, Ellinor; Tschopp, Markus; Tappeiner, Christoph; Sallin, Pauline; Jazwinska, Anna; Enzmann, Volker (2014). Methylnitrosourea (MNU)-induced retinal degeneration and regeneration in the zebrafish: histological and functional characteristics. Journal of visualized experiments(92), e51909. MYJoVE Corporation 10.3791/51909

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Retinal degenerative diseases, e.g. retinitis pigmentosa, with resulting photoreceptor damage account for the majority of vision loss in the industrial world. Animal models are of pivotal importance to study such diseases. In this regard the photoreceptor-specific toxin N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) has been widely used in rodents to pharmacologically induce retinal degeneration. Previously, we have established a MNU-induced retinal degeneration model in the zebrafish, another popular model system in visual research. A fascinating difference to mammals is the persistent neurogenesis in the adult zebrafish retina and its regeneration after damage. To quantify this observation we have employed visual acuity measurements in the adult zebrafish. Thereby, the optokinetic reflex was used to follow functional changes in non-anesthetized fish. This was supplemented with histology as well as immunohistochemical staining for apoptosis (TUNEL) and proliferation (PCNA) to correlate the developing morphological changes. In summary, apoptosis of photoreceptors occurs three days after MNU treatment, which is followed by a marked reduction of cells in the outer nuclear layer (ONL). Thereafter, proliferation of cells in the inner nuclear layer (INL) and ONL is observed. Herein, we reveal that not only a complete histological but also a functional regeneration occurs over a time course of 30 days. Now we illustrate the methods to quantify and follow up zebrafish retinal de- and regeneration using MNU in a video-format.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Head Organs and Neurology (DKNS) > Clinic of Ophthalmology
10 Strategic Research Centers > ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research > ARTORG Center - Organs-on Chip Technologies

UniBE Contributor:

Tschopp, Markus, Tappeiner, Christoph, Sallin, Pauline, Enzmann, Volker

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1940-087X

Publisher:

MYJoVE Corporation

Language:

English

Submitter:

Christoph Tappeiner

Date Deposited:

15 Jan 2015 10:02

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:38

Publisher DOI:

10.3791/51909

PubMed ID:

25350292

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.61494

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/61494

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