Mueller Kaspar P, Schnaedelbach Oliver D R, Russig Holger D, Neuhauss Stephan C F
Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich.
J Vis Exp. 2011 Oct 12(56):3556. doi: 10.3791/3556.
Investigations into the visual system development and function necessitate quantifiable behavioral models of visual performance that are easy to elicit, robust, and simple to manipulate. A suitable model has been found in the optokinetic response (OKR), a reflexive behavior present in all vertebrates due to its high selection value. The OKR involves slow stimulus-following movements of eyes alternated with rapid resetting saccades. The measurement of this behavior is easily carried out in zebrafish larvae, due to its early and stable onset (fully developed after 96 hours post fertilization (hpf)), and benefitting from the thorough knowledge about zebrafish genetics, for decades one of the favored model organisms in this field. Meanwhile the analysis of similar mechanisms in adult fish has gained importance, particularly for pharmacological and toxicological applications. Here we describe VisioTracker, a fully automated, high-throughput system for quantitative analysis of visual performance. The system is based on research carried out in the group of Prof. Stephan Neuhauss and was re-designed by TSE Systems. It consists of an immobilizing device for small fish monitored by a high-quality video camera equipped with a high-resolution zoom lens. The fish container is surrounded by a drum screen, upon which computer-generated stimulus patterns can be projected. Eye movements are recorded and automatically analyzed by the VisioTracker software package in real time. Data analysis enables immediate recognition of parameters such as slow and fast phase duration, movement cycle frequency, slow-phase gain, visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity. Typical results allow for example the rapid identification of visual system mutants that show no apparent alteration in wild type morphology, or the determination of quantitative effects of pharmacological or toxic and mutagenic agents on visual system performance.
对视觉系统发育和功能的研究需要易于引发、稳健且易于操作的视觉表现量化行为模型。在视动反应（OKR）中发现了一种合适的模型，视动反应是所有脊椎动物都具有的一种反射行为，因其具有很高的选择价值。视动反应包括眼睛缓慢跟随刺激的运动以及快速的复位扫视。由于斑马鱼幼体的视动反应出现早且稳定（受精后96小时小时小时完全发育），并且受益于对斑马鱼遗传学的深入了解（几十年来斑马鱼一直是该领域备受青睐的模式生物之一），所以这种行为的测量在斑马鱼幼体中很容易进行。与此同时，对成年鱼类似机制的分析也变得越来越重要，特别是在药理学和毒理学应用方面。在此，我们描述了VisioTracker，这是一种用于视觉表现定量分析的全自动高通量系统。该系统基于Stephan Neuhauss教授团队的研究成果，并由TSE Systems公司重新设计。它由一个用于小鱼的固定装置组成，该装置由配备高分辨率变焦镜头的高质量摄像机进行监测。鱼容器被一个鼓形屏幕包围，计算机生成的刺激模式可以投射在该屏幕上。眼睛运动由VisioTracker软件包实时记录并自动分析。数据分析能够立即识别诸如慢相和快相持续时间、运动周期频率、慢相增益、视敏度和对比敏感度等参数。典型的结果例如能够快速识别在野生型形态上没有明显变化的视觉系统突变体，或者确定药理学、有毒和诱变剂对视觉系统性能的定量影响。
