A12
Cellular mechanisms of lesion-induced pretectal visuo-motor plasticity in adult zebrafish
Principal Investigators:
Adult anamniote vertebrates have a large capacity to regenerate central nervous tissue and thus offer the possibility to study general aspects of restorative neurogenesis. Using the behavioral recovery of the optokinetic reflex after a pretectal stab wound lesion in zebrafish, we investigate if the observed reflex regeneration derives 1) from a production of new neurons with appropriate functional phenotype and/or 2) from sensory substitution by the remaining intact optokinetic or vestibulo-ocular reflex circuitry. Chlorin-e6 bead-induced ablation of individual cellular components responsible for visual-driven eye movements will reveal the capacity of different circuit elements for functional recovery.