title: Neuronal labeling patterns in the spinal cord of adult transgenic Zebrafish.
abstract: We describe neuronal patterns in the spinal cord of adult zebrafish. We studied the distribution of cells and processes in the three spinal regions reported in the literature: the 8th vertebra used as a transection injury site, the 15th vertebra mainly used for motor cell recordings and also for crush injury, and the 24th vertebra used to record motor nerve activity. We used well-known transgenic lines in which expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) is driven by promoters to hb9 and isl1 in motoneurons, alx/chx10 and evx1 interneurons, ngn1 in sensory neurons and olig2 in oligodendrocytes, as well as antibodies for neurons (HuC/D, NF and SV2) and glia (GFAP). In isl1:GFP fish, GFP-positive processes are retained in the upper part of ventral horns and two subsets of cell bodies are observed. The pattern of the transgene in hb9:GFP adults is more diffuse and fibers are present broadly through the adult spinal cord. In alx/chx10 and evx1 lines we respectively observed two and three different GFP-positive populations. Finally, the ngn1:GFP transgene identifies dorsal root ganglion and some cells in dorsal horns. Interestingly some GFP positive fibers in ngn1:GFP fish are located around Mauthner axons and their density seems to be related to a rostrocaudal gradient. Many other cell types have been described in embryos and need to be studied in adults. Our findings provide a reference for further studies on spinal cytoarchitecture. Combined with physiological, histological and pathological/traumatic approaches, these studies will help clarify the operation of spinal locomotor circuits of adult zebrafish.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) and Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada, H2X 0A9.
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stil
authors.affiliation: Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) and Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada, H2X 0A9.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drapeau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000067778:ELAV-Like Protein 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015027:Zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D000067778:ELAV-Like Protein 3; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C531385:Mnx1 protein, zebrafish; C063843:insulin gene enhancer binding protein Isl-1; C486337:neurog1 protein, zebrafish
keywords: adult zebrafish; locomotor circuits; neuronal patterns; spinal cord; transgenic lines