Hepatocyte-specific ablation in zebrafish to study biliary-driven liver regeneration

J Vis Exp. 2015 May 20:(99):e52785. doi: 10.3791/52785.

Abstract

The liver has a great capacity to regenerate. Hepatocytes, the parenchymal cells of the liver, can regenerate in one of two ways: hepatocyte- or biliary-driven liver regeneration. In hepatocyte-driven liver regeneration, regenerating hepatocytes are derived from preexisting hepatocytes, whereas, in biliary-driven regeneration, regenerating hepatocytes are derived from biliary epithelial cells (BECs). For hepatocyte-driven liver regeneration, there are excellent rodent models that have significantly contributed to the current understanding of liver regeneration. However, no such rodent model exists for biliary-driven liver regeneration. We recently reported on a zebrafish liver injury model in which BECs extensively give rise to hepatocytes upon severe hepatocyte loss. In this model, hepatocytes are specifically ablated by a pharmacogenetic means. Here we present in detail the methods to ablate hepatocytes and to analyze the BEC-driven liver regeneration process. This hepatocyte-specific ablation model can be further used to discover the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms of biliary-driven liver regeneration. Moreover, these methods can be applied to chemical screens to identify small molecules that augment or suppress liver regeneration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Ablation Techniques / methods*
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Biliary Tract / cytology
  • Biliary Tract / physiology*
  • Female
  • Hepatocytes / cytology*
  • Hepatocytes / drug effects
  • Liver / cytology
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / physiology
  • Liver Regeneration / physiology*
  • Male
  • Metronidazole / pharmacology
  • Models, Animal
  • Nitroreductases / biosynthesis
  • Nitroreductases / genetics
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • Metronidazole
  • Nitroreductases