Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: We developed an optimized sample preparation workflow tailored for high-spatial resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI IMS) of adult zebrafish tissue. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are an important model organism that would benefit from the development of molecular imaging approaches that allow comprehensive, spatially resolved analysis of multiple molecular species in a single experiment. However, imaging zebrafish tissue has been limited by challenges in preserving tissue morphology during sample preparation, particularly because swim bladders are prone to tearing. To address this, we established a MALDI IMS workflow suitable for both whole-body and organ-specific imaging using a single embedding strategy. We demonstrate the utility of this workflow by mapping lipid distributions along the zebrafish body-axis and within discrete brain regions. Whole-body imaging at 10 µm pixel size identified organ-specific lipid signatures, including PC(22:6_32:6) in the retina, 5a-cyprinol sulfate in gastrointestinal tissue, and sulfatide and plasmalogen species specific to nervous tissue. High-spatial resolution IMS of the brain (5 µm pixel size) followed by histological staining showed that sulfatide and plasmalogen species co-localize throughout the brain and are present in a small, specialized region corresponding to intertectal neurons. These findings establish a robust embedding strategy suitable for high-spatial resolution MALDI IMS in adult zebrafish, followed by additional staining of the same tissue section for multimodal imaging.
Source: ChemRxiv
Institutions: Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Language: English
Subfield: Spectroscopy
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7167894326