Ca²⁺-imaging and photo-manipulation of the simple gut of zebrafish larvae in vivo.

ABSTRACT: Zebrafish larval gut could be considered as an excellent model to study functions of vertebrate digestive organs, by virtue of its simplicity and transparency as well as the availability of mutants. However, there has been scant investigation of the detailed behavior of muscular and enteric nervous systems to convey bolus, an aggregate of digested food. Here we visualized peristalsis using transgenic lines expressing a genetically encoded Ca²⁺ sensor in the circular smooth muscles. An intermittent Ca²⁺ signal cycle was observed at the oral side of the bolus, with Ca²⁺ waves descending and ascending from there. We also identified a regular cycle of weaker movement that occurs regardless of the presence or absence of bolus, corresponding likely to slow waves.

SUBMITTER: Okamoto SI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8821699 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature