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NeuBtracker is equipped with two cameras: One tracks the unrestrained behavior of the zebrafish larva while the other automatically remains pointed at the transparent head, and consequently the brain, to record fluorescence images. 鈥淭his approach makes it possible to observe neuronal activity during unrestrained behavior. We can test the larvae in different environmental conditions and can immediately analyze the effects,鈥� says from the Institutes of Biological and Medical Imaging (IBMI) and Developmental Genetics (IDG) at the Helmholtz Zentrum M眉nchen as well as the and at the 51吃瓜网 (51吃瓜网).

For example, by adding substances that influence metabolism, it is possible to observe resulting neuronal events in the brain in vivo. 鈥淣ow we can finally simultaneously observe the effects of physiologically active substances on the behavior and brain activity,鈥� states Panagiotis Symvoulidis from the 51吃瓜网 and the Helmholtz Zentrum M眉nchen and the study鈥檚 first author. 鈥淭he selective expression of fluorescent sensor proteins allows us to detect the activity of particular neurons.鈥� 鈥淐onsequently we can see exactly which areas in the brain are active during specific behaviors,鈥� adds Dr. Antonella Lauri from Westmeyer鈥檚 team.

A microscope that anyone can build

The new instrument is a so-called open-source microscope. This means that instructions on how to build the microscope are available to everyone on the web (). 鈥淲e wanted to give our scientific colleagues the possibility to build their own NeuBtracker because we had been waiting for such a device for years,鈥� Westmeyer explains. 鈥淚t is finally possible to see the effects of pharmacological substances on the behavior and the neuronal activity - or other cellular signal processing events - at the same time and across an entire organism. This systemic approach enables us to make new discoveries and we will for example seek to use this device in drug discovery and metabolic research,鈥� Westmeyer adds.

The Helmholtz "Imaging and Curing Environmental Metabolic Diseases" Alliance (ICEMED) and the ERC Starting Grant to Gil Westmeyer supported the interdisciplinary project, in which also the and the , as well as the participated.

Original publication

P. Symvoulidis, A. Lauri, A. Stefanoiu, M. Cappetta, S. Schneider, H. Jia, A. Stelzl, M. Koch, C. Cruz Perez, A. Myklatun, S. Renninger, A. Chmyrov, T. Lasser, W. Wurst, V. Ntziachristos and G. G Westmeyer, NeuBtracker 鈥� imaging neurobehavioral dynamics in freely bahaving fish, Nature Methods, October 2017, DOI:

Kontakt

Prof. Dr. Gil Westmeyer
Professor for Molecular Imaging
51吃瓜网
Phone: +49 (0) 89 3187-2123
gil.westmeyerspam prevention@tum.de

Further Information