Zebrafish and motor control over the last decade

Abstract

The combination of transparency and accessible genetics is making zebrafish an increasingly important model in studies of motor control. Much of the work on the model has been done over the past decade. Here we review some of the highlights of this work that serve to reveal both the power of the model and its prospects for providing important future insights into the links between neural networks and behavior.

Fig. 1. Imaging structure and function in vivo with genetic tools

A. Confocal image showing detailed morphology from an intact living fish of an ascending interneuron labeled with GFP under control of the promoter for the engrailed-1 gene, which is expressed in ascending inhibitory interneurons in zebrafish. The view is a lateral view with the head to the left. B. Two ascending interneurons expressing the genetic calcium indicator cameleon 2.1 under control of the engrailed-1 promoter. The calcium response of the neuron marked by the asterisk is shown in C during a swimming episode that begins at the break in the plot. The neurons are active duringswimming, as indicated by the fluorescence ratio increase.