Flexibility of the cardiorespiratory system under oxygen deficiency in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The primary aim of this study is to explore the cardiovascular flexibility in higher vertebrate under extreme environmental situations as we believe that it would lead us to better understand the natural mechanisms related to it. We have selected zebrafish as our model organism due to its various properties which are suitable for this type of study (Discussed in the initial paragraph of introduction section). Our goal is to get an insight into these phenomenon using non-invasive digital imaging techniques wherever possible. We want to determine the inter-relationship of erythroids ontogenetic development, GATA-1 and Epo expression and cardiovascular behavior under extreme hypoxic conditions and oxygen consumption in vhl-/- mutant that expresses hypoxic situation under normoxic conditions. In addition, we want to observe the re-animated heart beat post-anoxia and to develop a protocol that would be suitable for studies in which millimeter sized animal total blood volume quantification is desired.