Jonz, Michael G.

I am interested in the structure, function and development of oxygen sensing mechanisms in vertebrates. Recently, I have begun to explore the potential of the zebrafish gill preparation as a model to study oxygen chemoreceptors, and to understand how oxygen sensing may have evolved in vertebrates.

I incorporate techniques of immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy and patch-clamp electrophysiology to study the morphology and function of neuroepithelial cells (NECs) of the gill. These cells are peripheral oxygen chemoreceptors in fish and appear to be phylogenetically related to oxygen chemoreceptors in mammals, such as those of the carotid body. NECs are innervated and fully functional at about 7 days postfertilization in gill primordia of zebrafish larvae.