This video describes the protocol which is developed to dissect adult and larval zebrafish lenses to analyze cortical lens morphology and structural integrity of the lens sutures.
Protocol
1. Dissection of Larval and Adult Zebrafish Lenses Anesthetize fish from 6 dpf larvae to adulthood with tricaine until non-responsive to touch but still showing a strong heartbeat. Measure fish standard length as per Schilling (2002) for staging. Immediately excise eyes using micro-dissection scissors and place into a dissection dish in PBS (Figure 1 shown for adult eyes). Make a custom 35 mm dish filled with silicone for lens dissection…
Representative Results
Figure 1: Zebrafish lens dissection. (A) Eyes are dissected from anesthetized fish and placed posterior side up (B). (C) Eyes are immobilized by forceps via the optic disc (od) and two to three radial incisions are made in retina and sclera from the optic disc to the zonules. (D) Fold the flaps out to reveal the lens. (E) Rotate the eye to face cornea up, immobilize the lens indirectly via the cornea and pull away th…
Materials
Phosphate buffered saline (PBS)
Fisher Scientific
BP399
Glass bottom microwell dish (35mm Petri dish, 14 mm microwell, #1.5 coverglass)