Spectral properties of the zebrafish visual motor response

Abstract

Larval zebrafish react to changes in ambient illumination with a series of stereotyped motor responses, called the visual motor response (VMR). The VMR has been used widely in zebrafish models to analyze how genetic or environmental manipulations alter neurological function. Prior studies elicited the VMR using white light. In order to elucidate the underlying afferent pathways and to identify light wavelengths that elicit the VMR without also activating optogenetic reagents, we employed calibrated narrow-waveband light sources to analyze the spectral properties of the response. Narrow light wavebands with peaks between 399nm and 632nm triggered the characteristic phases of the VMR, but there were quantitative differences between responses to different light wavelengths at the same irradiant flux density. The O-bend component of the VMR was elicited readily at dark onset following illumination in 399nm or 458nm light, but was less prominent at the transition from 632nm light to dark. Conversely, stable motor activity in light was observed at 458nm, 514nm, and 632nm, but not at 399nm. The differential effect of discrete light wavebands on components of the VMR suggests they are driven by distinct photoreceptor populations. Furthermore, these data enable the selection of light wavebands to drive the VMR in a separate channel to the activation of optogenetic reagents and photosensitizers.

Magnetic fluctuations affect circadian patterns of locomotor activity in zebrafish

“…The circadian rhythms in the dynamics of the studied parameters at the first stage of the experiment correspond to the known patterns of zebrafish circadian behavior governed by daily changes in illumination [26]. Additional peaks at 15.84 h on the periodograms for the wall preference index and angular velocity are associated with a well-documented phenomenon of visual-motor response in zebrafish [37]. In the present case, fish preferred walls to the inner area of the aquarium and showed increased angular velocity at the moments of abrupt changes in illumination.…”

The zebrafish visual system transmits dimming information via multiple segregated pathways

“…Although direct evidence for color‐specific RGC channels in the larval zebrafish is currently lacking, there is anatomical and functional data suggesting that highly UV‐sensitive RGC channels likely exist in ventral retina (Zimmermann et al, 2018). Regardless of the retinal mechanism generating different OFF responses, it is clear that stereotyped visual behaviors in zebrafish larvae are evoked to similar extents by both broad‐spectrum and wavelength‐specific stimuli (optomotor response; Orger & Baier, 2005; and visual motor response; Burton, Zhou, Bai, & Burton, 2017). Therefore, it stands to reason that wavelength‐specific information converges upstream of the brain circuits that control these behaviors.…”

Visuomotor deficiency in panx1a knockout zebrafish is linked to dopaminergic signaling

“…The visual-motor behavioral assay (VMR) allowed measuring the responsiveness of zebrafish larvae to changes in light intensities 43 . This responsiveness requires an intact retina 44 , and photoreceptor populations with distinct spectral properties 45 . The advantage of this test compared to the optokinetic reflex test (OKR) is that it allows extracting behavioral responses caused by changes in the retinal ON and OFF pathways.…”