This protocol outlines the steps for preparing zebrafish embryos for imaging in a DaXi light-sheet microscope. The protocol involves dechorionation, embedding in low-gelling temperature agarose, positioning embryos for imaging, removing the agarose surrounding the tail, and setting up time-lapses with tricaine to prevent embryo movement.
- Glass-bottom cell culture dish (35mm Cell Culture Dish with Glass Bottom 20mm – Stellar Scientific)
- Low-gelling temperature agarose (Sigma, A0701)
- Custom-made capillary
- Dissection knife
- Forceps
- Embryo-medium solution
- Tricaine (0.016%)
- Dechorionate embryos in a glass-bottom cell culture dish.
- Gently transfer embryos into a 0.7% solution of low-gelling temperature agarose.
- Position embryos at the correct position and angle for imaging using a custom-made capillary.
- Once the agarose solidifies, use a dissection knife and forceps to remove the agarose surrounding the tail to permit full development and tail elongation.
- Set up time lapses with a gentle flow of fresh and filtered embryo-medium solution with 0.016% tricaine to prevent embryo movement (after 15 hpf).