Stimulus screens

Example: WBI identifies new cellular response properties to Cold

As an illustration of WBI's ability to uncover cellular responses to administered stimuli, we performed a WBI screen for thermally sensitive cells that respond to low temperatures. Young zebrafish were subjected to cool water (10ºC) while calcium dynamics were monitored throughout the organism. A specific cellular population, which localized to osteochondral tissue¹, exhibited robust, high-amplitude responses, thereby indicating seconds-timescale responsiveness in a type of tissue that has not been previously reported as being acutely calcium-responsive to cold. The particular cellular identity of this population is later determined.

WBI screen for cold-responsive cells. Transverse section of the anterior portion of the cranium shown pre- and post-exposure to cold. Raster of Ca2+ levels in osteochondral cells aligned to cold stimulus onset, showing time-locked responses in 6 animals.

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References

• 1. Skeletogenic Fate of Zebrafish Cranial and Trunk Neural Crest, PLoS ONE, 2012, Kague, Erika and Gallagher, Michael and Burke, Sally and Parsons, Michael and Franz-Odendaal, Tamara and Fisher, Shannon