Soc for experimental Biol Annual Meeting - Salzburg 2012

Morten Bo S. Svendsen (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) and
John F. Steffensen (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

By injecting 1 IJm microspheres containing an oxygen-dependent
phosphorescent dye into the vascular system and tissue of the transparent
glass catfish (Kryptopterus bichirris), it is possible to measure near realtime
oxygen partial pressure in vivo. We used a commercially-available
digital single-lens reflex camera mounted with an optical long pass filter
(II = 490 nm) and excited the phosphorescent dye in the microspheres
inside the fish with externally-mounted blue light emitting diodes
(lip = 470 nm) to image the oxygen partial pressure. This method makes
it possible to investigate oxygen partial pressures in the vascular system
and different tissues of fish without having to insert any probes into the
animal.
After injection of the microspheres and a recovery period from the
anaesthesia, in vivo oxygen partial pressure can be determined by just
taking a picture of the live fish exposed to blue light. As no electrodes or
sensors are attached, the method allows a wide range of experiments
investigating in vivo oxygen levels under different environmental
perturbations.
This poster will show results and method.
Email addressforcorrespondence: mortenbosvendsen@gmail.com