A robust paradigm for studying regeneration after traumatic spinal cord injury in zebrafish

Abstract

Background: Zebrafish are vertebrates with a high potential of regeneration after injury in the central nervous system. Therefore, they have emerged as a useful model system for studying traumatic spinal cord injuries.

New method: Using larval zebrafish, we have developed a robust paradigm to model the effects of anterior spinal cord injury, which correspond to the debilitating injuries of the cervical and thoracic regions in humans. Our new paradigm consists of a more anterior injury location compared to previous studies, a modified behavioral assessment using the visual motor response, and a new data analysis code.

Results: Our approach enables a spinal cord injury closer to the hindbrain with more functional impact compared to previous studies using a more posterior injury location. Results reported in this work reveal recovery over seven days following spinal cord injury.

Comparing with existing methods: The present work describes a modified paradigm for the in vivo study of spinal cord regeneration after injury using larval zebrafish, including an anterior injury location, a robust behavioral assessment, and a new data analysis software.

Conclusions: Our findings lay the foundation for applying this paradigm to study the effects of drugs, nutrition, and other treatments to improve the regeneration process.

Keywords: regeneration; spinal cord injury; visual motor response; zebrafish.