The role of chemokine signaling in habenular axon projection in zebrafish

The habenula is a conserved region of the brain that affects emotion and behavior, located in dorsal diencephalon zebrafish. Previous work has shown chemokine signaling plays significant role direction habenular axon growth. receptor cxcr4b expressed precursors Cxcr4b protein found on newly forming axons. Chemokine ligands Cxcl12a Cxcl12b are both around developing habenula. focus this research to examine relationship these two chemokines determine their respective roles directing outgrowth. relative expression domains interest, as it unknown if overlap. Additionally, we identifying fish heterozygous for mutation cxcl12b gene axons larvae lacking functional Cxcl12b. To explore Cxc12a have performed overexpression experiments using heat shock protocol carrying fluorescent marker its However, current transgenic method confirm cxcl12a interferes with visualization region. We plan employ chemical validate disruption does not compromise observation