PUBLICATION

Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity of Adult Zebrafish

Authors
Tappeiner, C., Gerber, S., Enzmann, V., Balmer, J., Jazwinska, A., and Tschopp, M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-120531-18
Date
2012
Source
Frontiers in Zoology   9(1): 10 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Jazwinska, Anna, Tschopp, Markus
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
none
PubMed
22643065 Full text @ Front. Zool.
Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the visual acuity of adult zebra-fish by assessing the optokinetic reflex. Using a modified commercially available op-tomotor device (OptoMotry(R)), virtual three-dimensional gratings of variable spatial frequency or contrast were presented to adult zebrafish. In a first experiment, visual acuity was evaluated by changing the spatial frequency at different angular veloc-ities. Thereafter, contrast sensitivity was evaluated by changing the contrast level at different spatial frequencies.

Results

At the different tested angular velocities (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 d/s) and a contrast of 100%, visual acuity values ranged from 0.56 to 0.58 c/d. Contrast sensitivity measured at different spatial frequencies (0.011, 0.025, 0.5, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.55 c/d) with an angular velocity of 10 d/s and 25 d/s revealed an inverted U-shaped contrast sensitivity curve. The highest mean contrast sensitivity (+/-SD) values of 20.49 +/- 4.13 and 25.24 +/- 8.89 were found for a spatial frequency of 0.05 c/d (angular velocity 10 d/s) and 0.1 c/d (angular velocity 25 d/s), respectively.

Conclusions

Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity measurements in adult zebrafish with the OptoMotry(R) device are feasible and reveal a remarkably higher VA compared to larval zebrafish and mice.

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