Coupling cellular dynamics with animal behaviour in small teleost models

小型鱼类已经成为研究细胞功能机制以及这些机制如何导致动物行为改变的有吸引力的实验室模型。斑马鱼就是一个很好的例子，它提供了实时观察透明幼虫发育过程的能力，并在一生中展示了一系列具有代表性的脊椎动物行为。这些更具成本效益的脊椎动物模型与其哺乳动物近亲共享高度保守的基因组，以及从出生到衰老的许多共同生物过程。然而，利用小型硬骨鱼模型来研究基本的细胞程序及其与行为活动的关联只能通过专门的设备来实现。大多数当代检测细胞功能的方法包括使用转基因动物和基因工程，注射细胞内抑制剂和激活剂，以及染料示踪剂来跟踪细胞迁移。同样，自动化行为设备现在是细胞操作后行为表型和监测复杂行为（包括学习、歧视性任务或受伤后恢复期间）的黄金标准。将小型硬骨鱼与这些强大的细胞和行为方法相结合，为基于发现的研究提供了创新和跨学科的机会，这在许多其他实验脊椎动物系统中是不可能的。******一个具有研究细胞功能和动物行为专业知识的多学科研究小组将领导一个专门针对斑马鱼和墨西哥洞穴鱼的细胞到行为系统。该系统将由两个平台组成。第一个平台包括一个微型注射单元，配有移液器和立体显微镜，用于创建转基因鱼线，跟踪细胞迁移，并提供化合物来改变胚胎到成年发育阶段的细胞活性。第二个平台将允许对胚胎和幼鱼进行高通量行为筛选和分析，除了使用最先进的行为设备和监测软件观察成鱼更复杂的行为外。该系统将使研究人员能够深入了解特定细胞类型在许多重要生物过程中的作用，以及这些作用如何与行为输出相结合。我们将为HQP提供独特的机会，参与生物学、生物医学工程、生态学和健康领域的职业发展所需的尖端培训。所需设备的可用性将进一步有助于马尼托巴大学的基础科学家与加拿大和国外新兴的研究人员群体之间建立新的合作关系，这些研究人员利用鱼类作为其各种研究项目的模型。**

Small fish species have become attractive laboratory models to study the mechanisms of cellular function and how these can lead to modifications in animal behaviour. The zebrafish is an excellent example of this, offering the ability to observe developmental processes in real-time in live transparent larvae, and displaying an array of representative vertebrate behaviours throughout life. These more cost-effective vertebrate models share a highly conserved genome with their mammalian relatives, along with many common biological processes from birth to senescence. However, taking advantage of small teleost models to investigate fundamental cellular programs and their association with behavioural activity can only be realized with specialized equipment. Most contemporary methods to examine cellular function involve the use of transgenic animals and genetic engineering, the injection of intracellular inhibitors and activators, and dye tracers to track cell migration. Likewise, automated behavioural equipment is now the gold standard for behavioural phenotyping following cellular manipulation and for monitoring complex behaviours including learning, discriminatory tasks, or during recovery after injury. The use of small teleosts in conjunction with these powerful cellular and behavioural approaches offer innovative and interdisciplinary opportunities for discovery-based research not possible in many other experimental vertebrate systems. ******A multidisciplinary team of researchers with expertise in studying cell function and animal behaviour will lead a Cells to Behaviour System specialized for zebrafish and Mexican cavefish. This system will be comprised of two platforms. The first platform consists of a micro-injection unit complete with a pipette puller and stereo microscope to create transgenic fish lines, track cellular migration, and deliver compounds to modify cellular activity across embryonic to adult stages of development. A second platform will allow for high throughput behavioural screening and analysis of embryos and larvae, in addition to observations of more complex behaviours in adult fish using state-of-the art behavioural equipment and monitoring software. The proposed system will allow researchers to make fundamental insights into the roles of specific cell types on many important biological processes and how these are coupled with behavioural output. Our HQP will be provided with unique opportunities to engage in cutting-edge training required for careers in biology, biomedical engineering, ecology, and health. The availability of the requested equipment will further serve to build new collaborations between basic scientists at the University of Manitoba and the emerging community of researchers in Canada and abroad utilizing fish as a model for their diverse research programs. **