Zebrafish retinal slice preparation.

Abstract

This paper describes the protocol for generating thin (approximately 100 microm) slices of the zebrafish retina. Retinal slices retain the cytoarchitecture and synaptic contacts found in vivo, allowing neurons to be identified prior to physiological recordings. These characteristics distinguish retinal slices from both isolated cell and eyecup preparations. Studies using the zebrafish retinal slice have classified different retinal cell types, documented voltage- and ligand-gated current responses in distal bipolar neurons, and correlated physiological responses with neuronal morphology. Data collected using this protocol have provided baseline information about retinal circuitry that can be directly applied to behavioral studies examining visual function and/or mutants with visual system defects.