Live Visualization of Calcified Bones in Zebrafish and Medaka Larvae and Juveniles Using Calcein and Alizarin Red S

Zebrafish and medaka are valuable model vertebrates for genetic studies. The advent of CRISPR-Cas9 technology has greatly enhanced our capability to produce specific gene mutants in zebrafish and medaka. Analyzing the phenotypes of these mutants is essential for elucidating gene function, though suc...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rina Koita, Sae Oikawa, Taisei Tani, Masaru Matsuda, Akinori Kawamura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Bio-protocol LLC 2024-12-01
Series:Bio-Protocol
Online Access:https://bio-protocol.org/en/bpdetail?id=5142&type=0
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1825206611522617344
author Rina Koita
Sae Oikawa
Taisei Tani
Masaru Matsuda
Akinori Kawamura
author_facet Rina Koita
Sae Oikawa
Taisei Tani
Masaru Matsuda
Akinori Kawamura
author_sort Rina Koita
collection DOAJ
description Zebrafish and medaka are valuable model vertebrates for genetic studies. The advent of CRISPR-Cas9 technology has greatly enhanced our capability to produce specific gene mutants in zebrafish and medaka. Analyzing the phenotypes of these mutants is essential for elucidating gene function, though such analyses often yield unexpected results. Consequently, providing researchers with accessible and cost-effective phenotype analysis methods is crucial. A prevalent technique for investigating calcified bone development in these species involves using transgenic fish that express fluorescent proteins labeling calcified bones; however, acquiring these fish and isolating appropriate crosses can be time-consuming. We present a comprehensive protocol for visualizing ossified bones in zebrafish and medaka larvae and juveniles using calcein and alizarin red S staining, which is both economical and efficient. This method, applicable to live specimens during the ossification of bones, avoids apparent alterations in skeletal morphology and allows for the use of different fluorescent dyes in conjunction with transgenic labeling, thus enhancing the analysis of developmental processes in calcifying bones, such as vertebrae and fin rays.
format Article
id doaj-art-1be403ef937b47859d2fa713c3eff4df
institution Kabale University
issn 2331-8325
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Bio-protocol LLC
record_format Article
series Bio-Protocol
spelling doaj-art-1be403ef937b47859d2fa713c3eff4df2025-02-07T08:16:22ZengBio-protocol LLCBio-Protocol2331-83252024-12-01142410.21769/BioProtoc.5142Live Visualization of Calcified Bones in Zebrafish and Medaka Larvae and Juveniles Using Calcein and Alizarin Red SRina Koita0Sae Oikawa1Taisei Tani2Masaru Matsuda3Akinori Kawamura4Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Shimo-Okubo 255, Sakura-ku, Saitama, JapanCenter for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, 350 Mine-machi, Utsunomiya, JapanDivision of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Shimo-Okubo 255, Sakura-ku, Saitama, JapanDivision of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Shimo-Okubo 255, Sakura-ku, Saitama, JapanCenter for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, 350 Mine-machi, Utsunomiya, JapanDivision of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Shimo-Okubo 255, Sakura-ku, Saitama, JapanZebrafish and medaka are valuable model vertebrates for genetic studies. The advent of CRISPR-Cas9 technology has greatly enhanced our capability to produce specific gene mutants in zebrafish and medaka. Analyzing the phenotypes of these mutants is essential for elucidating gene function, though such analyses often yield unexpected results. Consequently, providing researchers with accessible and cost-effective phenotype analysis methods is crucial. A prevalent technique for investigating calcified bone development in these species involves using transgenic fish that express fluorescent proteins labeling calcified bones; however, acquiring these fish and isolating appropriate crosses can be time-consuming. We present a comprehensive protocol for visualizing ossified bones in zebrafish and medaka larvae and juveniles using calcein and alizarin red S staining, which is both economical and efficient. This method, applicable to live specimens during the ossification of bones, avoids apparent alterations in skeletal morphology and allows for the use of different fluorescent dyes in conjunction with transgenic labeling, thus enhancing the analysis of developmental processes in calcifying bones, such as vertebrae and fin rays.https://bio-protocol.org/en/bpdetail?id=5142&type=0
spellingShingle Rina Koita
Sae Oikawa
Taisei Tani
Masaru Matsuda
Akinori Kawamura
Live Visualization of Calcified Bones in Zebrafish and Medaka Larvae and Juveniles Using Calcein and Alizarin Red S
Bio-Protocol
title Live Visualization of Calcified Bones in Zebrafish and Medaka Larvae and Juveniles Using Calcein and Alizarin Red S
title_full Live Visualization of Calcified Bones in Zebrafish and Medaka Larvae and Juveniles Using Calcein and Alizarin Red S
title_fullStr Live Visualization of Calcified Bones in Zebrafish and Medaka Larvae and Juveniles Using Calcein and Alizarin Red S
title_full_unstemmed Live Visualization of Calcified Bones in Zebrafish and Medaka Larvae and Juveniles Using Calcein and Alizarin Red S
title_short Live Visualization of Calcified Bones in Zebrafish and Medaka Larvae and Juveniles Using Calcein and Alizarin Red S
title_sort live visualization of calcified bones in zebrafish and medaka larvae and juveniles using calcein and alizarin red s
url https://bio-protocol.org/en/bpdetail?id=5142&type=0
work_keys_str_mv AT rinakoita livevisualizationofcalcifiedbonesinzebrafishandmedakalarvaeandjuvenilesusingcalceinandalizarinreds
AT saeoikawa livevisualizationofcalcifiedbonesinzebrafishandmedakalarvaeandjuvenilesusingcalceinandalizarinreds
AT taiseitani livevisualizationofcalcifiedbonesinzebrafishandmedakalarvaeandjuvenilesusingcalceinandalizarinreds
AT masarumatsuda livevisualizationofcalcifiedbonesinzebrafishandmedakalarvaeandjuvenilesusingcalceinandalizarinreds
AT akinorikawamura livevisualizationofcalcifiedbonesinzebrafishandmedakalarvaeandjuvenilesusingcalceinandalizarinreds