Aquatic Platform :

The Aquatic Platform (AP) comprehends 3 models: Fish Zebra, Xenopus and Axolotl. The objective of the Platform is to provide the scientific and technical support that allows the CMRB investigators to optimize their research projects. To accomplish that, the Platform counts on specialized personnel in continuous formation that allows maintaining the innovating capacity of the CMRB, as well as a specialized and personal attention to each research project. Each animal model presents specific requirements and grant different advantages to research, reason why the Platform of AA is structured in 4 areas:

Aquatic Animal laboratory :

Located in level 4 of the building, with capacity for 10 researchers and the necessary equipment for daily experiments:

• Fluorescence microscopy Room.
• Embryo microinjection and manipulation area.
• Adult animal manipulation (surgery and recovery) area.
• Molecular Biology area.

A unified laboratory allows us to foment the communication between investigators of different fields, and a multidisciplinary approach to broader projects, in order to reach a greater knowledge of the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that control development and the regenerative capacity in vertebrates.

Zebrafish :

The Fish Zebra (Danio rerio) is a small tropical fish with a fast development, a high prolificacy and transparent embryos. These properties offer several advantages to researchers interested in embryonic developing, regeneration, diseases and drug discovery.
Due to the high degree of conservation with other vertebrates and with Human, the Zebrafish has become an important tool for many biomedical research areas. Its capacity of regeneration and the ample knowledge of its genome, allows us to approach new areas of the regenerative medicine

Techniques and projects: We have personnel specialized in :

• Microinjections in embryos of DNAs, RNAs, Morpholinos.
• Injection of composed in adults.
• Injection of virus (adenovirus, lentivirus) in adults.
• Directed chemical Mutagenesis (ENU).
• Cardiac Surgery.
• Fin Surgery (pectoral and caudal fins)
• Histology (OCT blocks, antibody staining...)
• Molecular techniques (protein extraction, genomic DNA extraction, RNA extraction, whole-mount in situ, in situ sections...).
• Freezing of sperm.
• Defrost of sperm and in Vitro fertilization.

Xenopus :

Xenopus laevis is a model widely used to analyze the earliest steps of development in vertebrates. Since the transgenic techniques introduction, Xenopus has become in addition an excellent model to study later events of development, as organogenesis, limb development and regeneration. Its particular regenerative capacity that disappears progressively with the development turns it a unique model that connects the complete capacity of fish and Urodeles, with the absence of this capacity in mammals.

Techniques or projects:

• Hormonal Stimulation of females.
• Fertilization in vitro.
• Establishment of transgenic lines.

Axolotls :

The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is an amphibian, a type of salamander from the Caudata/Urodela order.
The Axolotls have been for a long time an important model for the study of the fertilization, embryology, regeneration and evolution. Our scientific interest in the Axolotls is based on its capacity to regenerate throughout all its life.

Techniques or projects:

• Limb amputation in adults.
• Limb amputation in embryos
• Viral Injection in adults.
• Viral Injection in embryos.