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PubMed · 12204308

High-throughput behavioral screening method for detecting auditory response defects in zebrafish.

Pascal I Bang·Pamela C Yelick·Jarema J Malicki·William F Sewell
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Abstract

We have developed an automated, high-throughput behavioral screening method for detecting hearing defects in zebrafish. Our assay monitors a rapid escape reflex in response to a loud sound. With this approach, 36 adult zebrafish, restrained in visually isolated compartments, can be simultaneously assessed for responsiveness to near-field 400 Hz sinusoidal tone bursts. Automated, objective determinations of responses are achieved with a computer program that obtains images at precise times relative to the acoustic stimulus. Images taken with a CCD video camera before and after stimulus presentation are subtracted to reveal a response to the sound. Up to 108 fish can be screened per hour. Over 6500 fish were tested to validate the reliability of the assay. We found that 1% of these animals displayed hearing deficits. The phenotypes of non-responders were further assessed with radiological analysis for defects in the gross morphology of the auditory system. Nearly all of those showed abnormalities in conductive elements of the auditory system: the swim bladder or Weberian ossicles.

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Acoustic StimulationAir SacsAnimalsHearingImage Processing, Computer-AssistedMutationReflex, StartleSpectrum AnalysisZebrafishJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

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Pascal I Bang, Pamela C Yelick, Jarema J Malicki, William F Sewell. 2002-08-30. High-throughput behavioral screening method for detecting auditory response defects in zebrafish.. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-0270(02)00118-8

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