%0 Journal Article
%T Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity of adult zebrafish
%A Christoph Tappeiner
%A Simon Gerber
%A Volker Enzmann
%A Jasmin Balmer
%A Anna Jazwinska
%A Markus Tschopp
%J Frontiers in Zoology
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1742-9994-9-10
%X At the different tested angular velocities (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 d/s) and a contrast of 100%, visual acuity values ranged from 0.56 to 0.58 c/d. Contrast sensitivity measured at different spatial frequencies (0.011, 0.025, 0.5, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.55 c/d) with an angular velocity of 10 d/s and 25 d/s revealed an inverted U-shaped contrast sensitivity curve. The highest mean contrast sensitivity (¡ÀSD) values of 20.49£¿¡À£¿4.13 and 25.24£¿¡À£¿8.89 were found for a spatial frequency of 0.05 c/d (angular velocity 10 d/s) and 0.1 c/d (angular velocity 25 d/s), respectively.Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity measurements in adult zebrafish with the OptoMotry£¿ device are feasible and reveal a remarkably higher VA compared to larval zebrafish and mice.Zebrafish (Danio rerio), which were initially used as an animal model in developmental biology due to high fecundity and ease of maintenance, has found its way into visual research due to its excellent visual system with a cone-dominated retina [1]. In the past, measurements of visual functions have been performed in larval zebrafish [2]. Furthermore, visual acuity (VA) of larval zebrafish has previously been determined by assessing the optokinetic reflex (OKR) in a self-constructed set-up [3]. Certain visual functions of adult zebrafish (gain of eye velocity at different spatial frequencies and contrast levels) have been published [4-6]. However, no empirical data about VA of adult zebrafish are available up to now. A standardized and reliable method for VA measurements is a prerequisite to analyze genetically modified fish lines and to evaluate the effect of a therapeutic action (e.g. impact of drugs or genetic interventions on the visual system) in addition to histological and ophthalmological examination of adult zebrafish [7]. OKR measurements have the advantage of a stereotyped and robust behavior and no prior training of the animal is necessary. The OKR consists of a slow movement in the direction of a perceiv
%K Adult zebrafish
%K Visual acuity
%K Optokinetic reflex
%K Optomotry
%U http://www.frontiersinzoology.com/content/9/1/10