Neural Regeneration Laboratory and Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology

2 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Neuroscience

Localizing Protein in 3D Neural Stem Cell Culture: a Hybrid Visualization Methodology

Sophie Imbeault^*1, Nicolas Valenzuela^*2, Stephen Fai², Steffany A.L. Bennett¹

¹Neural Regeneration Laboratory and Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, ²Carleton Immersive Media Studio, Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism, Carleton University

Here, we describe how to produce, expand, and immunolabel postnatal hippocampal neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in three-dimensional (3D) culture. Next, using hybrid visualization technologies, we demonstrate how digital images of immunolabelled cryosections can be used to reconstruct and map the spatial position of immunopositive cells throughout the entire 3D neurosphere.

Biology

Performing Vaginal Lavage, Crystal Violet Staining, and Vaginal Cytological Evaluation for Mouse Estrous Cycle Staging Identification

Ashleigh C. McLean^1,2,3, Nicolas Valenzuela^3,4, Stephen Fai^3,4, Steffany A.L. Bennett^1,3

¹Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Neural Regeneration Laboratory and Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, ²Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa , ³CIHR Program in Neurodegenerative Lipidomics, University of Ottawa , ⁴Carleton Immersive Media Studio, Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism

Here, we describe how to identify the stage of the murine reproductive (proestrus, estrus, metestrus, or diestrus) by simple, non-invasive collection and cytological assessment of vaginal smear samples. We further describe how vaginal cytology reflects circulating hormonal levels underlying transition through the murine reproductive cycle.