Understanding cardiovascular physiology in zebrafish and Xenopus larvae: the use of microtechniques.
Zebrafish and Xenopus, genetically accessible vertebrates with an externally developing, optically clear embryo, are ideally suited for in vivo functional dissection of the embryonic development of the circulatory system. Physiological characterizations of the cardiovascular system are still imperative for a more complete understanding of the connections between genetic/epigenetic factors and cardiovascular development. Here, we review experimental tools and methods that have been developed to measure numerous cardiovascular parameters in these millimetre-sized animals.
University of Innsbruck, Institute for Zoology and Limnology, Techniker Str. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. thorsten.schwerte@uibk.ac.at
Thorsten
T
Schwerte
Regina
R
Fritsche
D000818:Animals; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D007814:Larva; D008904:Miniaturization; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D014981:Xenopus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*