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A composition showing dorsal views of an undissected and dissected 4 days post fertilisation zebrafish brain. These embryos have been labelled with anti-acetylated tubulin antibody(green) that labels neuronal tracts and anti-SV2(magenta) that stains neuropil.

Neuropil is a region between neuronal cell bodies in the gray matter of the brain and blood-brain barrier (i.e. the central nervous system). It consists of a dense tangle of axon terminals, dendrites and glial cell processes. It is where synaptic connections are formed between branches of axons and dendrites.

Zebrafish embryo

A ventral view of a 60 hours post fertilisation transgenic zebrafish embryo. The embryo has been has been labelled with anti GFP(green) and anti-acetylated tubulin antibody(red) that labels neuronal tracts. This transgenic line Brn3a:GFP expresses GFP in many cells within the brain and neural retina. From this aspect the retinal ganglion cells and their axons which form the optic nerve can be seen projecting to the midline and crossing to travel dorsally and innervate the contralateral optic tectum habenula neurons, neurons in the optic tectum. The sensory neuromast cells are also beautifully labelled, these cells form part of the zebrafish lateral–line system and sense vibration.

Two zebrafish embryos at 3-4 days of development.
The one on the bottom is the wild-type showing
normal eye development. The one above has been
injected with 'Sonic hedgehog' (Shh) RNA, a
molecule which, when overexpressed, disrupts
normal signalling in the developing forebrain.
This results in greatly reduced eye development.
(See also B0001092C)

Zebrafish embryos

Transverse section through the brain of a
developing zebrafish embryo.

Zebrafish development

A dorsal view of a 3 days post fertilisation Tg(Dlx4/6:GFP) embryo. The embryo has been has been labelled with anti GFP(green) and anti-acetylated tubulin antibody(red) that labels neuronal tracts. This transgenic line expresses GFP in many dopaminergic and GABAergic cells within the brain. Here we can see beautiful expression in the optic tectum, cerebellum, epithalamus and telencephalon.

A dorsal view of a 4 days post fertilisation Tg(Dlx4/6:GFP) embryo. The embryo has been has been labelled with anti GFP(green), anti-acetylated tubulin antibody(red) that labels neuronal tracts and anti-SV2(blue) that stains neuropil. This transgenic line expresses GFP in many dopaminergic and GABAergic cells within the brain. This images focuses on the telencephalic expression but the tectal neurons projecting their axons into the tectal neuropil are also beautifully labelled.

A dorsal view of a dissected 4 days post fertilisation zebrafish brain. These embryos have been labelled with anti-acetylated tubulin antibody(green) that labels neuronal tracts and anti-SV2 (magenta) that stains neurophil.

Confocal micrograph of a transverse section of the brain of a zebrafish embryo, at the level of the hindbrain. The brain section was stained using an antibody that marks a calcium binding protein (calretinin). The image shows a big reticulospinal neuron and its processes, surrounded by other smaller neurons. Reticulospinal neurons are specific neurons found in the brains of fish that are thought to be involved in coordinating swimming.

Reticulospinal neuron

A dorsal view of a 4 days post fertilisation Tg(Dlx4/6:GFP) embryo. The embryo has been has been labelled with anti GFP(green), anti-acetylated tubulin antibody(red) that labels neuronal tracts and anti-SV2(blue) that stains neuropil. This transgenic line expresses GFP in many dopaminergic and GABAergic cells within the brain. Here we can see beautiful expression in the optic tectum, cerebellum and telencephalon. The tectal neurons projecting their axons into the tectal neuropil are beautifully labelled.

A lateral view of a 4 days post-fertilisation Tg(Brn3a:GFP) embryo labelled with anti-GFP(green) to show expression of the transgene and anti-acetylated tubulin(red) to label neuronal tracts. this transgenic line labels beautifully the retinal ganglion cells in the retina and their projection to the optic tectum. It also labels the habenular nuclei in the epithalamus and all of the sensory neuromast cells including those in the ear. Neuromasts are hair cells and form the receptors of the lateral line system that senses vibration.

A lateral view of a 4 days post fertilisation zebrafish brain. These embryos have been labelled with anti-acetylated tubulin antibody(green) that labels neuronal tracts and anti-SV2(magenta) that stains neurophil.

Early development of the zebrafish embryo.

A dorsal view of a 3 days post fertilisation zebrafish embryo labelled with anti-calretinin antibody(green) and anti-acetylated tubulin(red) antibody that labels neuronal tracts. Calretinin is a calcium binding protein, important for calcium signalling in the brain. We can see Calretinin positive nuclei and their processes in several different regions including the olfactory bulbs, epithalamus, optic tectum and cerebellum.

Confocal micrograph of a blind cavefish embryo at around five days post-fertilisation viewed from the side (lateral view). The cavefish Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus) has a seeing and a blind form; the latter lives in dark environments, and relies on other senses. 



with an antibody that targets a calcium binding protein (calretinin) shown in green, which highlights different neuronal types and their processes in the nervous system. The blind cavefish has specially adapted traits that its sighted relation (dwelling near the surface) does not. These include a greater number of sensory receptors and taste buds along its body; these taste buds are also more efficient than the equivalent cells in the seeing cavefish. 


The eyes are still present at this stage of development but they will degenerate naturally during the lifetime of the fish as they live in a dark environment where eyes are redundant. Adult cavefish are blind.

2011 Wellcome Image Award winner. Wellcome Image Awards 2011.

Cavefish embryo

A dorsal view 4 days post fertilisation zebrafish brain. These embryos have been labelled with anti-acetylated tubulin antibody(green) that labels neuronal tracts and anti-SV2(red) that stains neuropil.

A lateral view 4 days post fertilisation zebrafish brain. These embryos have been labelled with anti-acetylated tubulin antibody(green) that labels neuronal tracts and anti-SV2(red) that stains neuropil.

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