Case Western Reserve University

9 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Neuroscience

Electrode Fabrication and Implantation in Aplysia californica for Multi-channel Neural and Muscular Recordings in Intact, Freely Behaving Animals

Miranda J. Cullins¹, Hillel J. Chiel^1,2,3

¹Biology, Case Western Reserve University, ²Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, ³Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University

A technique is described for implanting four in vivo electrodes to monitor the neuromuscular control of feeding behavior in Aplysia californica.

Immunology and Infection

Cercarial Transformation and in vitro Cultivation of Schistosoma mansoni Schistosomules

John N. Milligan¹, Emmitt R. Jolly¹

¹Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University

We describe an in vitro method for culturing schistosomula of the flatworm parasite Schistosoma mansoni, via the harvesting and transformation of infective cercariae from the fresh water snail intermediate host Biomphalaria glabrata.

Medicine

In vivo Dual Substrate Bioluminescent Imaging

Michael K. Wendt¹, Joseph Molter¹, Christopher A. Flask¹, William P. Schiemann¹

¹Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University

Herein we describe the methods to construct, visualize, and quantify the bioluminescent reactions of both firefly and renilla luciferase enzymes expressed in metastatic breast cancer cells during their growth and metastasis in vivo.

Immunology and Infection

Intravital Imaging of the Mouse Popliteal Lymph Node

H. L. Rachel Liou¹, Jay T. Myers¹, Deborah S. Barkauskas¹, Alex Y. Huang²

¹Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University , ²Department of Pediatrics, Pathology and Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University

Recent advances in 2-photon microscopy have enabled real-time in situ imaging of live tissues in animal models, thereby enhancing our ability to investigate cellular behavior in both physiologic and pathologic conditions. Here, we outline the preparations required to perform intravital imaging of the mouse popliteal lymph node.

Neuroscience

An In Vitro Preparation for Eliciting and Recording Feeding Motor Programs with Physiological Movements in Aplysia californica

Jeffrey M. McManus¹, Hui Lu¹, Hillel J. Chiel^1,2,3

¹Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University , ²Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University , ³Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University

We describe a technique to extracellularly record and stimulate from nerves, muscles, and individual identified neurons in vitro while eliciting and observing different types of feeding behaviors in the feeding apparatus of Aplysia.

Bioengineering

Viral Nanoparticles for In vivo Tumor Imaging

Amy M. Wen¹, Karin L. Lee¹, Ibrahim Yildiz¹, Michael A. Bruckman¹, Sourabh Shukla¹, Nicole F. Steinmetz²

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University , ²Department of Biomedical Engineering, Radiology, and Materials Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University

Plant viral nanoparticles (VNPs) are promising platforms for applications in biomedicine. Here, we describe the procedures for plant VNP propagation, purification, characterization, and bioconjugation. Finally, we show the application of VNPs for tumor homing and imaging using a mouse xenograft model and fluorescence imaging.

Neuroscience

Extracellularly Identifying Motor Neurons for a Muscle Motor Pool in Aplysia californica

Hui Lu¹, Jeffrey M. McManus¹, Hillel J. Chiel^1,2,3

¹Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University , ²Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University , ³Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University

In animals with large identified neurons (e.g. mollusks), analysis of motor pools is done using intracellular techniques^1,2,3,4. Recently, we developed a technique to extracellularly stimulate and record individual neurons in Aplysia californica⁵. We now describe a protocol for using this technique to uniquely identify and characterize motor neurons within a motor pool.

Medicine

MR Molecular Imaging of Prostate Cancer with a Small Molecular CLT1 Peptide Targeted Contrast Agent

Xueming Wu¹, Daniel Lindner², Guan-Ping Yu¹, Susann Brady-Kalnay³, Zheng-Rong Lu¹

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University , ²Department of Translational Hematology & Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University , ³Department of Molecular Biology & Microbiology, Case Western Reserve University

To demonstrate MR cancer molecular imaging with a small peptide targeted MRI contrast agent specific to clotted plasma proteins in tumor stroma in a mouse prostate cancer model.

Neuroscience

Intravital Imaging of Axonal Interactions with Microglia and Macrophages in a Mouse Dorsal Column Crush Injury

Teresa A. Evans¹, Deborah S. Barkauskas², Jay T. Myers³, Alex Y. Huang³

¹Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, ²Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, ³Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University

Two-photon intravital imaging can be used to investigate interactions among different cell types in the spinal cord in their native tissue environment in a bone marrow chimeric animal with a dorsal column traumatic spinal cord crush injury.