Development and regeneration of the zebrafish maxillary barbel: a novel study system for vertebrate tissue growth and repair.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Barbels are integumentary sense organs found in fishes, reptiles and amphibians. The zebrafish, Danio rerio, develops paired nasal and maxillary barbels approximately one month post fertilization. Small in diameter and optically clear, these adult appendages offer a window on the development, maintenance and function of multiple cell types including skin cells, neural-crest derived pigment cells, circulatory vessels, taste buds and sensory nerves. Importantly, barbels in other otophysan fishes (e.g., catfish) are known to regenerate; however, this capacity has not been tested in zebrafish.

Methodology/principal findings

We describe the development of the maxillary barbel in a staged series of wild type and transgenic zebrafish using light microscopy, histology and

SUBMITTER: LeClair EE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2806924 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature