PUBLICATION

Quantification of locomotor activity in larval zebrafish: considerations for the design of high-throughput behavioral studies

Authors
Ingebretson, J.J., and Masino, M.A.
ID
ZDB-PUB-130710-15
Date
2013
Source
Frontiers in neural circuits   7: 109 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
locomotor activity, high-throughput screening assays, larval zebrafish, measurement, model organism, development
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Larva
  • Motor Activity/physiology*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Research Design/standards*
  • Video Recording/methods*
  • Video Recording/standards*
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
23772207 Full text @ Front. Neural Circuits
Abstract

High-throughput behavioral studies using larval zebrafish often assess locomotor activity to determine the effects of experimental perturbations. However, the results reported by different groups are difficult to compare because there is not a standardized experimental paradigm or measure of locomotor activity. To address this, we investigated the effects that several factors, including the stage of larval development and the physical dimensions (depth and diameter) of the behavioral arena, have on the locomotor activity produced by larval zebrafish. We provide evidence for differences in locomotor activity between larvae at different stages and when recorded in wells of different depths, but not in wells of different diameters. We also show that the variability for most properties of locomotor activity is less for older than younger larvae, which is consistent with previous reports. Finally, we show that conflicting interpretations of activity level can occur when activity is assessed with a single measure of locomotor activity. Thus, we conclude that although a combination of factors should be considered when designing behavioral experiments, the use of older larvae in deep wells will reduce the variability of locomotor activity, and that multiple properties of locomotor activity should be measured to determine activity level.

Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping