OBJECTIVETo probe whether there are acupoint-like and meridian-like structures on the body surface of the zebrafish.

METHODSAdult zebrafish were put into a 10 micromol/L DiA water solution and then anaesthetized for observation under a fluorescent microscope.

RESULTSThe labeled substance appeared in round bright spots and some of them gather together to form a cluster which distributed through the body surface orderly. The labeled clusters along the long axis of the body distributed in four lines, dorsal line, dorsal lateral line, lateral line and ventral line. The lateral line could be divided into two lines, lateral superior line and lateral inferior line; and the ventral line into ventral lateral line and ventral line based on their nerve connection under high power microscope.

CONCLUSIONSensory organs of the zebrafish distributed orderly and formed clusters appearing orderly in lines throughout the body surface, which are much like acupoints and meridians described in traditional Chinese medicine.