The Zebrafish Swim Tunnel comprises a temperature control tank, a propeller, a test section, and an AC motor.
In the experiment, zebrafish were placed in the tunnel, where an adjustable flow required them to swim to stay in place. The test section was spacious enough to permit a variety of swimming behaviors.
Throughout the test, the water temperature was kept at the acclimation temperature of 28 °C. To minimize visual disturbances, the zebrafish were tested under infrared light. An infrared camera and high-speed cameras were positioned above the tunnel to capture the swimming tests.
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The Zebrafish Swim Tunnel is a specialized device designed to study aging and interventions for aging in zebrafish. Various animal models, including rodents (Peinado et al., 2011), worms (Ni & Li, 2010), flies (Brandt & Vilcinskas, 2013), and fish (Gilbert, Zerulla, & Tierney, 2014), have been utilized for aging research. Among these, zebrafish have proven to be particularly effective due to the strong correlation between their aging characteristics and those of humans (Gilbert, Zerulla, & Tierney, 2014). Research has demonstrated that exercise can effectively counteract aging symptoms in both humans and zebrafish (Koopman & Van Loon, 2009; Gilbert, Zerulla, & Tierney, 2014).
The Zebrafish Swim Tunnel is a valuable tool for studying the impact of exercise on zebrafish swimming performance. It features a rectangular buffer tank with a tunnel-like test area, driven by an electric motor-operated propeller. During the swim tunnel task, zebrafish are required to swim against an increasing water flow, providing exercise training. Researchers then observe the fish for improvements in swimming performance (Gilbert, Zerulla, & Tierney, 2014). This apparatus is ideal for research on aging, senescence, and physical performance in zebrafish.
Additional devices for studying various behaviors in zebrafish include the Zebrafish Y Maze, the Zebrafish Two-Problem T Maze, the Zebrafish Sociability Chamber, the 5-Choice Chamber, and the 3-Choice Chamber.
The Zebrafish Swim Tunnel features a clear rectangular tank with a 10-liter capacity and a flow velocity range of 4-35 cm/s. Within this tank is a transparent tunnel-shaped test section measuring 30 cm in length, 10 cm in width, and 10 cm in height. This test section is equipped with a propeller linked to an AC motor, which is regulated by an electronic controller to manage the water flow speed.
Position the subject in the Zebrafish Swim Tunnel and let it swim at a gentle flow speed of 4.5 cm/s for a duration of 30 minutes.
Following habituation, begin the Endurance Swim Tunnel task. Incrementally raise the water flow speed by 4.5 cm/s in 10 steps until the subject ceases swimming and appears to be pushed to the end of the test area for 5 seconds. Then, let the subject recover at a flow speed of 4.5 cm/s for 45 minutes. Perform one trial per week for a total of 4 weeks.
Elevate the water flow speed swiftly by 4.5 cm/s in a single step. Terminate the trial when the subject halts swimming and appears to be propelled to the end of the test area for 5 seconds. Subsequently, permit the subject to recuperate at a flow speed of 4.5 cm/s for 15 minutes. Perform one trial per week for a consecutive span of 4 weeks.
In their study, Gilbert, Zerulla, and Tierney (2013) explored the influence of aging on zebrafish swimming behavior. The research subjects were categorized into three groups: the youthful group (n=7), the middle-aged group (n=7), and the elderly group (n=7). Initially, the subjects underwent habituation followed by training using the Endurance Swim Tunnel Task. Subsequently, they were exposed to the Sprint Swim Tunnel task within the Zebrafish Swim Tunnel apparatus.
The findings of the investigation indicated a decline in both endurance (p<0.001) and sprint performance (P<0.001) as the subjects’ age increased. Interestingly, exercise training via the Endurance Swim Tunnel task led to an enhancement in swimming performance among the youthful (p<0.001) and middle-aged groups (p=0.001), but not in the elderly group.
Furthermore, it was noted that training resulted in improved tail beat amplitude across all age groups (p<0.001). However, the turning frequency decreased with age across all groups (p<0.001), with no noticeable alteration due to training.
In summary, the study’s outcomes suggested that both zebrafish performance and trainability diminish with advancing age.
Executing the Zebrafish Swim Tunnel task is straightforward and demands minimal pretraining of the subjects. The apparatus minimizes handling of the subjects, thereby reducing stress. Additionally, the water flow speed within the apparatus can be easily adjusted as needed. Maintaining the water temperature in the Zebrafish tunnel is facilitated by a temperature buffer tank. This task is well-established and validated for investigating both physical capability and swimming performance in zebrafish.
Observations may be influenced by unexpected stimuli. The task can be time-intensive. Endurance training may induce fatigue in the subjects, potentially resulting in stress, although providing adequate recovery time could mitigate this. Factors such as sex, size, age, and strain of the subject may impact the observations.
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