The Expression of the Intermediate Filaments Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein and Keratin in the Visual Pathway of Danio Rerio

Abstract

There is some debate in zebrafish literature in regards of what type of intermediate filament (IF) is expressed in astrocytes of zebrafish optic nerve. Some research groups claim glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is prominent. Others argue cytokeratin is expressed, but not GFAP. Using Immuno histochemistry, GFAP and cytokeratins present in the zebrafish visual pathway were identified. Purified mouse monoclonal antibodies against GFAP and cytokeratin 18 were used in combination with goat anti-mouse IgG antibodies conjugated to Rhodamine Red-X and Alexa Fluor 488, respectively, to identify the IFs found in the zebrafish visual pathway. Observations of immuhistochemically stained tissues under an Olyumpus Fluoview FV1000 confirmed the presence of cytokeratin in the zebrafish optic nerve, but did not present evidence confirming or denying the presence of GFAP in the zebrafish optic nerve.