Evaluating Toxicity of Chemicals using a Zebrafish Vibration Startle Response Screening System

Gaëlle Hayot, Daniel Marcato, Christina a. Cramer von clausbruch, Giuseppina Pace, Uwe Strähle, John k. Colbourne, Christian Pylatiuk, Ravindra Peravali, Carsten Weiss, Stefan Scholz, Thomas Dickmeis

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Abstract

We developed a simple screening system for the evaluation of neuromuscular and general toxicity in zebrafish embryos. The modular system consists of electrodynamic transducers above which tissue culture dishes with embryos can be placed. Multiple such loudspeaker-tissue culture dish pairs can be combined. Vibrational stimuli generated by the electrodynamic transducers induce a characteristic startle and escape response in the embryos. A belt-driven linear drive sequentially positions a camera above each loudspeaker to record the movement of the embryos. In this way, alterations to the startle response due to lethality or neuromuscular toxicity of chemical compounds can be visualized and quantified. We present an example of the workflow for chemical compound screening using this system, including the preparation of embryos and treatment solutions, operation of the recording system, and data analysis to calculate benchmark concentration values of compounds active in the assay. The modular assembly based on commercially available simple components makes this system both economical and flexibly adaptable to the needs of particular laboratory setups and screening purposes.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere66153
JournalJournal of visualized experiments : JoVE
Volume203
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Jan 2024

Bibliographical note

We thankfully acknowledge the excellent technical assistance of the support staff at the IBCS-BIP fish facility and screening center. This work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 965406 (PrecisionTox). This output reflects only the authors' view, and the European Union cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

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