TY  - JOUR
TI  - Whole-mount Senescence-Associated Beta-Galactosidase (SA-β-GAL) Activity Detection Protocol for Adult Zebrafish
AU  - Marzullo, Marta 
AU  - El Maï, Mounir 
AU  - Ferreira, Miguel Godinho
VL  - 12
IS  - 13
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/07/05
SP  - e4457
C1  - Bio-protocol 2022;12:e4457
DO  - 10.21769/BioProtoc.4457
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21769/BioProtoc.4457
AB  - Senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-GAL) is an enzyme that accumulates in the lysosomes of senescent cells, where it hydrolyses β-galactosides. With p16, it represents a well-recognized biomarker used to assess senescence both in vivo and in cell culture. The use of a chromogenic substrate, such as 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoyl-β-d-galactopyranoside (X-Gal), allows the detection of SA-β-GAL activity at pH 6.0 by the release of a visible blue product. Senescence occurs during aging and is part of the aging process itself. We have shown that prematurely aged zebrafish accumulate senescent cells detectable by SA-β-GAL staining in different tissues, including testis and gut. Here, we report a detailed protocol to perform an SA-β-GAL assay to detect senescent cell accumulation across the entire adult zebrafish organism (Danio rerio). We also identify previously unreported organs that show increased cell senescence in telomerase mutants, including the liver and the spinal cord.
KW  - SA-β-GAL
KW  - Senescence
KW  - Aging
KW  - Whole organism
KW  - Zebrafish
JF  - Bio-protocol
SN  - 2331-8325
PB  - Bio-protocol LLC.
BIO101  - False