Abstract:
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an essential model organism in biomedical research, favored due to its genetic similarity to humans and cost-effective maintenance. With approximately 75% of its genome shared with humans and over 25,000 genes, zebrafish offer a powerful platform for complex genetic studies. This study presents a surface analysis of zebrafish using COXEM’s EM-40 Tabletop Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), revealing detailed insights into its microstructural and compositional properties. The results demonstrate the utility of the EM-40 SEM in capturing high-resolution images that enhance the understanding of zebrafish surface morphology and its applications in biomedical research.
Zebrafish (Danio rerio). Image Credit: COXEM Co. Ltd.
Introduction:
The zebrafish has become an essential model organism in life sciences, particularly in genetic and biomedical research. Its unique advantages, including a rapid reproductive cycle, transparent embryos, and well-characterized genetics, have made it an indispensable tool for studying gene function and modeling human diseases. The zebrafish’s contributions to research have led to advancements in the study of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and regenerative medicine. Despite its small size, zebrafish have provided invaluable insights into human biology. The use of advanced imaging technologies, such as the tabletop SEM, further extends the potential of zebrafish research by allowing detailed surface characterization at the micro and nano scale, which is critical for advancing our understanding of their biological properties.
Materials and Methods:
For surface analysis, zebrafish samples were prepared using a fixation and dehydration process. Initially, samples were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) for 24 hours. This was followed by a sequential dehydration protocol, immersing the samples in increasing concentrations of methanol (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% in phosphate-buffered tissue) for 10 minutes per step. After dehydration, the samples were prepared for imaging using COXEM’s EM-40 Tabletop SEM, capable of magnifications up to 250,000x and an accelerating voltage of up to 30 kV. This preparation allowed for the detailed visualization of the zebrafish’s external morphology and microstructural properties.
Image Credit: COXEM Co. Ltd.
Results:
The high-resolution imaging capabilities of COXEM’s EM-40 SEM revealed intricate details of zebrafish surface structures at various magnifications. At 114x magnification, the general morphology of the zebrafish, including skin texture and scale patterns, was observed. At 10,000x magnification, finer microstructural features, such as surface ridges, cellular structures, and junctions, were clearly distinguishable. These features are critical for understanding the functional aspects of zebrafish physiology, including locomotion and external protection. Moreover, the SEM images provided valuable insights into the zebrafish’s skin composition and surface texture, which are often linked to genetic expression and environmental adaptation.
Discussion:
The ability to capture detailed images of zebrafish surface morphology using the EM-40 SEM provides an enhanced perspective on its external structure, which is not possible with traditional optical microscopy. The uniform surface patterns observed in the zebrafish skin suggest a highly organized structure that likely plays a crucial role in its physiological functions. The EM-40 SEM’s advanced imaging capabilities enable the study of surface topography at micro and nano scales, facilitating the observation of subtle morphological changes and textures. These insights are particularly valuable in understanding the zebrafish’s biological responses to genetic manipulation, disease models, and environmental factors, furthering its role in biomedical research.
Conclusions:
Zebrafish have been integral to biomedical research, providing a cost-effective and genetically similar model for human disease studies. The use of COXEM’s EM-40 Tabletop SEM has proven to be a powerful tool in visualizing zebrafish surface structures with high precision. This study underscores the importance of advanced imaging technologies in revealing the complex microstructural features of model organisms, contributing to our broader understanding of their biology. By leveraging the capabilities of the EM-40 SEM, researchers can gain deeper insights into zebrafish morphology, facilitating its continued use in genetic, biomedical, and pharmaceutical research. This study highlights the importance of advanced analytical tools in the characterization of biomedical materials, contributing to the optimization of human biomedical research.
This work emphasizes the relevance of improved analytical methods in biomedical material characterization, which will help to optimize human biomedical research.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Saint COXEM Co. Ltd.
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