Microscopic modulation and analysis of islets of Langerhans in living zebrafish larvae

Abstract

Microscopic analysis of molecules and physiology in living cells and systems is a powerful tool in life sciences. While in vivo subcellular microscopic analysis of healthy and diseased human organs remains impossible, zebrafish larvae allow studying pathophysiology of many organs using in vivo microscopy. Here, we review the potential of the larval zebrafish pancreas in the context of islets of Langerhans and Type 1 diabetes. We highlight the match of zebrafish larvae with the expanding toolbox of fluorescent probes that monitor cell identity, fate and/or physiology in real time. Moreover, fast and efficient modulation and localization of fluorescence at a subcellular level, through fluorescence microscopy, including confocal and light sheet (single plane illumination) microscopes tailored to in vivo larval research, is addressed. These developments make the zebrafish larvae an extremely powerful research tool for translational research. We foresee that living larval zebrafish models will replace many cell line‐based studies in understanding the contribution of molecules, organelles and cells to organ pathophysiology in whole organisms.

Ameliorative Effects of Flavonoids from Platycodon grandiflorus Aerial Parts on Alloxan-Induced Pancreatic Islet Damage in Zebrafish

“…Many methods, including genetic mutation, chemical induction and dietary alteration, have been used for inducing metabolic disease models in zebrafish [ 24 , 25 ]. Recently, studies on pancreas development and modulation in zebrafish have been applied as a model for diabetes and indicate that this model is closely associated with diabetes [ 26 , 27 ]. In addition, it was confirmed that the studies using zebrafish are a good animal model for diabetes research from the efficacy of glimepiride, a common drug for the treatment of diabetes, and it is used as a positive control in previous studies [ 13 , 28 ].…”

Microspectroscopy: functional imaging of biological systems

“…The beauty of zebrafish larvae is the possibility of exploring the fundamentals of organ development and malfunction in vivo . This model system also allows easy genetic modifications ranging from transient knockdowns to transgenic models or the integration of genetically encoded fluorescent proteins in knock‐in models [1]. The review also illustrates two microscopic approaches, confocal microscopy, and light sheet imaging, useful to visualize the subcellular localization of specific fluorescent markers.…”