Adult zebrafish, in contrast to mammals, regrow axons descending from the brainstem after spinal cord transection. L1.1, a homolog of the mammalian recognition molecule L1, is upregulated by brainstem neurons during axon regrowth. However, its functional relevance for regeneration is unclear. Here, we show with a novel morpholino-based approach that reducing L1.1 protein expression leads to impaired locomotor recovery as well as reduced regrowth and synapse formation of axons of supraspinal origin after spinal cord transection. This indicates that L1.1 contributes to successful regrowth of axons from the brainstem and locomotor recovery after spinal cord transection in adult zebrafish.

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A number of genes affecting axonal projections are currently being identified in zebrafish mutant screens. Analyzing the expression of these genes in the adult brain in relation to specific neuronal populations could yield insights into new functional contexts, such as the successful axonal regeneration in adult zebrafish. Here, we provide a relatively simple procedure for non-radioactive in situ hybridization in sections of adult zebrafish brains in combination with retrograde axonal tracing using the fluorescent neuronal tracer rhodamine dextran amine (RDA). A lesion is inflicted on the spinal cord of adult zebrafish and a crystal of RDA is then applied to the lesion site resulting in retrograde labeling of neurons in the brain through their spinal axons. Six to eighteen days later fish are perfusion-fixed, and in situ hybridization is carried out on vibratome-cut floating sections using a protocol simplified from that used for whole-mounted zebrafish embryos. This procedure leads to robust double labeling of axotomized neurons with RDA and an in situ hybridization signal for the growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43). This method can be used to identify gene expression in specific populations of projection neurons and to detect changes in gene expression in axotomized neurons in the CNS of adult zebrafish.