这项工作是支持的美国bythe小儿外科协会基金会奖（AG）和健康K08DK098271全国学院（AG）。

威斯康星州的动物护理和使用委员会的批准大学的所有程序。 1.准备解决方案<ol><li>使用1×磷酸盐缓冲盐水（PBS），为解剖缓冲液和冲洗液。 </li><li>由30克蔗糖和地点到瓶中制备30％的蔗糖。添加99毫升1×PBS中并加入1毫升10％的叠氮化钠。调匀，直到所有的蔗糖溶解。直到需要保存在4℃。 </li><li>制备通过混合的1×PBS，3％牛血清白蛋白（BSA）和0.1％的Triton-X-100的封闭溶液。调匀，直到需要在冰箱里储存。 </li><li>制备在1×PBS中的8％的多聚甲醛（PFA）溶液通过称重的PFA的适量的1×PBS中，然后孵育在65℃直到它完全溶解。商店在25毫升等份在-20℃冷冻，直到需要。稀释至4％PFA中的1×PBS在使用的当天。 </li></ol> 2.胚胎和肠道解剖离子<ol><li>按照机构动物护理和使用委员会批准的方案，安乐死定时怀孕小鼠和子宫转移到60毫米培养皿中含有冰冷的1×PBS。 </li><li>在使用锋利的剪刀解剖镜下，切开子宫壁并暴露出胚胎。除去从子宫和地点胚胎成含冰冷的1×PBS中的清洁60毫米培养皿。 </li><li>安乐死在冰冷的1X PBS每个胚胎被斩首。如果您使用的是含有荧光蛋白转基因小鼠，在荧光照明，标识正转基因胚胎。 </li><li>解剖使用解剖显微镜每个胚GI道。用细镊子，定向，使得所述左侧朝上，右侧是针对培养皿底部的胚胎。从胚胎中取出上体壁以暴露内部器官。将背体壁和内脏之间的细镊子。铬oss骨粉对对方的镊子在剪刀状切割动作，从胚胎取出内脏。 </li><li>从周围器官进一步分解剖GI道远，然后将每个GI道到含有冰冷的1×PBS 1.5ml微量离心管中。 </li></ol> 3.固定GI大片<ol><li>冲洗每个GI道3次，用冰冷的1×PBS，然后替换用4％PFA。固定在摇摆平台在RT 1.5小时在1.5 ml微量离心管在胃肠道。冲洗胃肠道3次，每次5分钟，RT，然后进行1小时的摇动平台上。在此阶段，存储在胃肠道，在4℃下在30％蔗糖中含有1x PBS中的0.1％的叠氮化钠，直到需要。 注意：可替换地，存储在30％蔗糖的胚胎为长达一年而不对组织的完整性的任何影响。在30％的蔗糖样品的存储允许的样品无论是对免疫染色或进入十月为低温sectioni的购买处理NG。另外，继续进行下面详细介绍的免疫协议。 </li></ol> 4.免疫染色协议<ol><li>如果样本已储存在30％的蔗糖，冲洗他们在摇摆平台上在1×PBS中3次20分钟。 </li><li>放置在胃肠道进入封闭溶液在摇摆平台上1小时，在室温。 </li><li>除去封闭液孵育胃肠道与稀释于封闭为任一4小时，在室温或O / N在4℃下在摇摆平台上的解决方案的主要抗体的适当的量。使用1：1000稀释的人抗胡抗体（血清自患者获得），1：1000稀释的鸡抗 - 绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）的抗体和1：100稀释的山羊抗胆碱抗体。 注意：我们利用了从患者局部获得的人抗胡抗体，然而，抗胡抗体是可商购的，例如，小鼠抗胡，（使用1：500稀释）。 </li><li>在冲洗1X PBS胃肠道3次，每次5分钟，然后进行1小时，在室温在摇摆平台上。 </li><li>在封闭溶液在摇摆平台上为4小时，在室温或O / N在4℃下500：取代的1×PBS稀释1的二次抗体。使用驴抗人胺反应性染料如Dylight，驴抗鸡的Cy2和驴抗山羊Cy5的。如果使用小鼠抗胡抗体然后用1:500稀释的驴抗小鼠胺反应性染料405。 注：内源性GFP和tdTomato表达和免疫染色随发育年龄的清晰度的强度。我们通常免疫染色胚胎胆单独在0.2ml管中加入150μl的染色溶液，以减少所使用的抗体的量，同时确保组织的有效染色。 </li><li>冲洗在1×PBS中的3倍胃肠道5分钟，然后进行1小时，在室温在摇摆平台上。 </li><li>放置几滴荧光封固剂用DAPI的载玻片上。沉浸GI TRA克拉到荧光封固剂并直接在组织上添加一个玻璃盖。荧光封固剂-G是一种水溶性化合物，它提供了半永久性密封。 注：使用荧光安装介质如的Vectashield这是基于安装介质，防止褪色和抗体的漂白甘油。这两种产品使组织被存储的时间，在4℃下长期使用。 </li><li>捕捉利用共聚焦显微镜荧光每个人的图片。使用激发波长为荧光团和过滤器使用的表3中。 </li><li>使用根据用于捕捉图像共焦的类型适当的软件执行计算机辅助图像分析。 </li></ol>

<ol>
	<li>Gershon, M. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Developmental+determinants+of+the+independence+and+complexity+of+the+enteric+nervous+system.">Developmental determinants of the independence and complexity of the enteric nervous system.</a> Trends Neurosci. 33 (10), 446-456 (2010).</li><li>Amiel, J., Sproat-Emison, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hirschsprung+disease,+associated+syndromes+and+genetics:+a+review.">Hirschsprung disease, associated syndromes and genetics: a review.</a> J Med Genet. 45 (1), 1-14 (2008).</li><li>Erickson, C. S., Barlow, A. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Colonic+enteric+nervous+system+analysis+during+parenteral+nutrition.">Colonic enteric nervous system analysis during parenteral nutrition.</a> J Surg Res. 184 (1), 132-137 (2013).</li><li>Erickson, C. S., Zaitoun, I., Haberman, K. M., Gosain, A., Druckenbrod, N. R., Epstein, M. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sacral+neural+crest-derived+cells+enter+the+aganglionic+colon+of+Ednrb(-/-)+mice+along+extrinsic+nerve+fibers.">Sacral neural crest-derived cells enter the aganglionic colon of Ednrb(-/-) mice along extrinsic nerve fibers.</a> J Comp Neurol. 20 (3), 620-632 (2011).</li><li>Zaitoun, I., Erickson, C. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Altered+neuronal+density+and+neurotransmitter+expression+in+the+ganglionated+region+of+Ednrb+null+mice:+implications+for+Hirschsprung's+disease.">Altered neuronal density and neurotransmitter expression in the ganglionated region of Ednrb null mice: implications for Hirschsprung's disease.</a> Neurogastroenterol Motil. , (2013).</li><li>Margolis, K. G., Stevanovic, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enteric+neuronal+density+contributes+to+the+severity+of+intestinal+inflammation.">Enteric neuronal density contributes to the severity of intestinal inflammation.</a> Gastroenterology. 141 (2), 588-598 (2011).</li><li>Qu, Z. -. D., Thacker, M., Castelucci, P., Bagy&#225;nszki, M., Epstein, M. L., Furness, J. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Immunohistochemical+analysis+of+neuron+types+in+the+mouse+small+intestine.">Immunohistochemical analysis of neuron types in the mouse small intestine.</a> Cell Tissue Res. 334 (2), 147-161 (2008).</li><li>Bian, X. -. C., Bornstein, J. C., Bertrand, P. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nicotinic+transmission+at+functionally+distinct+synapses+in+descending+reflex+pathways+of+the+rat+colon.">Nicotinic transmission at functionally distinct synapses in descending reflex pathways of the rat colon.</a> Neurogastroenterol Motil. 15 (2), 161-171 (2003).</li><li>Johnson, C. D., Epstein, M. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Monoclonal+antibodies+and+polyvalent+antiserum+to+chicken+choline+acetyltransferase.">Monoclonal antibodies and polyvalent antiserum to chicken choline acetyltransferase.</a> J Neurochem. 46 (3), 968-976 (1986).</li><li>Tooyama, I., Kimura, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+protein+encoded+by+an+alternative+splice+variant+of+choline+acetyltransferase+mRNA+is+localized+preferentially+in+peripheral+nerve+cells+and+fibers.">A protein encoded by an alternative splice variant of choline acetyltransferase mRNA is localized preferentially in peripheral nerve cells and fibers.</a> J Chem Neuroanat. 17 (4), 217-226 (2000).</li><li>Koga, T., Bellier, J. -. P., Kimura, H., Tooyama, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Immunoreactivity+for+Choline+Acetyltransferase+of+Peripheral-Type+(pChAT)+in+the+Trigeminal+Ganglion+Neurons+of+the+Non-Human+Primate+Macaca+fascicularis.">Immunoreactivity for Choline Acetyltransferase of Peripheral-Type (pChAT) in the Trigeminal Ganglion Neurons of the Non-Human Primate Macaca fascicularis.</a> Acta histochemica et cytochemica. 46 (2), 59-64 (2013).</li><li>Sang, Q., Young, H. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+identification+and+chemical+coding+of+cholinergic+neurons+in+the+small+and+large+intestine+of+the+mouse.">The identification and chemical coding of cholinergic neurons in the small and large intestine of the mouse.</a> Anat Rec. 251 (2), 185-199 (1998).</li><li>Lei, J., Howard, M. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Targeted+deletion+of+Hand2+in+enteric+neural+precursor+cells+affects+its+functions+in+neurogenesis,+neurotransmitter+specification+and+gangliogenesis,+causing+functional+aganglionosis.">Targeted deletion of Hand2 in enteric neural precursor cells affects its functions in neurogenesis, neurotransmitter specification and gangliogenesis, causing functional aganglionosis.</a> Development (Cambridge, England). 138 (21), 4789-4800 (2011).</li><li>Erickson, C. S., Lee, S. J., Barlow-Anacker, A. J., Druckenbrod, N. R., Epstein, M. L., Gosain, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Appearance+of+cholinergic+myenteric+neurons+during+enteric+nervous+system+development:+comparison+of+different+ChAT+fluorescent+mouse+reporter+lines.">Appearance of cholinergic myenteric neurons during enteric nervous system development: comparison of different ChAT fluorescent mouse reporter lines.</a> Neurogastroenterol Motil. 26 (6), 874-884 (2014).</li><li>Teitelbaum, D. H., Caniano, D. A., Qualman, S. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+pathophysiology+of+Hirschsprung's-associated+enterocolitis:+importance+of+histologic+correlates.">The pathophysiology of Hirschsprung's-associated enterocolitis: importance of histologic correlates.</a> J Pediatr Surg. 24 (12), 1271-1277 (1989).</li><li>Aslam, A., Spicer, R. D., Corfield, A. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Children+with+Hirschsprung's+disease+have+an+abnormal+colonic+mucus+defensive+barrier+independent+of+the+bowel+innervation+status.">Children with Hirschsprung's disease have an abnormal colonic mucus defensive barrier independent of the bowel innervation status.</a> J Pediatr Surg. 32 (8), 1206-1210 (1997).</li><li>Puig, I., Champeval, D., De Santa Barbara, P., Jaubert, F., Lyonnet, S., Larue, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Deletion+of+Pten+in+the+mouse+enteric+nervous+system+induces+ganglioneuromatosis+and+mimics+intestinal+pseudoobstruction.">Deletion of Pten in the mouse enteric nervous system induces ganglioneuromatosis and mimics intestinal pseudoobstruction.</a> J Clin Invest. 119 (12), 3586-3596 (2009).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

我们的实验室和其他人已经表明，在HSCR肠缺陷不限于无神经节结肠但近侧延伸，连成神经节小肠5,15,16。这些改变包括改变在ENS神经元密度和神经递质的表型，并且可以考虑动力障碍已被观察到的患者HSCR。我们利用上述技术，我们在努力了解ENS形成的决定因素。具体地，这些技术已被用来可视化神经元一氧化氮合成酶（nNOS的）神经元，血管活性肠肽神经元（VIP），以及胆碱乙酰转移酶（C...

一个发挥作用的肠神经系统（ENS），控制运动，营养吸收和局部血流量，是生活中必不可少的1。该ENS是由神经嵴细胞（NCC）的增殖，迁移和定居的肠道，在那里他们分化成神经节含有神经元和神经胶质细胞形成。先天性巨结肠症（文中HSCR，在线孟德尔遗传），一个multigeneic先天性疾病与1 4000活产儿发病，可以被认为是原型病研究打乱ENS形成。在HSCR，NCC无法迁移并定居于远端肠2的可变长度。此外，其他常见的胃肠道（GI）中的儿科人群发育缺陷，如肛门直肠畸形，肠atresias，和运动障碍是与在基本ENS功能紊乱有关，并有可能与微妙，低估，解剖变化和功能性变化有关在ENS 3-6。因此，技术，使我们能够理解的ENS形成发展的决定因素可能会阐明其发病机制及小儿胃肠道疾病的潜在治疗轻。 以下迁移和殖民化，NCC分化为神经元特异性神经递质的表型标记。胆碱能神经元包括肠神经元7的约60％，并且可以通过染色胆碱乙酰转移酶（ChAT的），合成酶的兴奋性神经递质乙酰胆碱来检测。在历史上，试图可视胆碱能神经元是由不同的针对中枢神经系统的抗体的抗原特异性混淆（CNS）的ChAT的与外周神经系统（PNS）的ChAT的8-10。然而，针对胎盘胆碱抗体识别中枢和外周胆碱11-13，和我们最近所描述的技术，允许visuaENS胆碱能神经元的高灵敏度补肾中药较早发展比已取得的ChAT记者线14。 在这里，我们提出了解剖，固定小鼠胚胎胃肠道和免疫可视化ENS神经递质表达的神经元的技术。在这些研究中，我们已经利用交配R26R聊天的Cre小鼠：floxSTOP：tdTomato动物生产聊天的Cre; R26R：floxSTOP：tdTomato小鼠（整个手稿定义 ​​为聊天的Cre tdTomato）。这些动物，然后用纯合子聊天GFP报告小鼠交配，获得表达的小鼠都来检测胆碱表达荧光14记者。这两个记者动物是在C57BL / 6J背景和市售（Jackson实验室，巴港，缅因州）。

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate Buffered Saline</td>
			<td>Oxoid</td>
			<td>BR0014G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sucrose</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>S2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Azide</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>BP9221</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine Serum Albumin</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>BP1605</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>X100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>158127</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>60 mm Petri dishes</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>FB0875713A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorescence scope</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>SMZ-18 stereoscope</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissection microscope</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>SMZ-18 stereoscope</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fine forceps</td>
			<td>Fine science tools</td>
			<td>11252-20</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1.5 mL Eppendorf tubes</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>20170-038</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluoromount-G</td>
			<td>SouthernBiotech, Birmingham, AL</td>
			<td>0100-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glass slides</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>12-550-15</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cover glass</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>16004-330</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Confocal microscope</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>Nikon A1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nikon Elements</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

immunostaining to visualize murine enteric nervous system development

The enteric nervous system is formed by neural crest cells that proliferate, migrate and colonize the gut. Following colonization, neural crest cells must then differentiate into neurons with markers specific for their neurotransmitter phenotype. Cholinergic neurons, a major neurotransmitter phenotype in the enteric nervous system, are identified by staining for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the synthesizing enzyme for acetylcholine. Historical efforts to visualize cholinergic neurons have been hampered by antibodies with differing specificities to central nervous system versus peripheral nervous system ChAT. We and others have overcome this limitation by using an antibody against placental ChAT, which recognizes both central and peripheral ChAT, to successfully visualize embryonic enteric cholinergic neurons. Additionally, we have compared this antibody to genetic reporters for ChAT and shown that the antibody is more reliable during embryogenesis. This protocol describes a technique for dissecting, fixing and immunostaining of the murine embryonic gastrointestinal tract to visualize enteric nervous system neurotransmitter expression.

我们先前描述了小鼠表达GFP和tdTomato荧光记者，检测ChAT的表达14的产生。简单地说， 聊天的Cre小鼠交配R26R：floxSTOP：tdTomato动物生产聊天的Cre; R26R：floxSTOP：tdTomato小鼠（称为聊天的Cre tdTomato）。这些动物处死后交配的纯合的ChAT-GFP报道小鼠。胚胎中分离和组织之前被固定进行解剖并如上述进行免疫染色，并在表1中列出的抗体。远端小肠（SI）?...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Immunostaining to Visualize Murine Enteric Nervous System Development at JoVE.com

免疫染色可视化小鼠肠神经系统发育发育生物学|视频

Immunostaining to Visualize Murine Enteric Nervous System Development

The enteric nervous system is formed by neural crest cells that proliferate, migrate and colonize the gut. Neural crest cells differentiate into neurons with markers specific for their neurotransmitter phenotype. This protocol describes a technique for dissecting, fixing and immunostaining of the murine embryonic gastrointestinal tract to visualize enteric nervous system neurotransmitter expression.

免疫组化可视化小鼠肠神经系统的发展

The enteric nervous system is formed by neural crest cells that proliferate, migrate and colonize the gut. Following colonization, neural crest cells must ...

immunostaining-to-visualize-murine-enteric-nervous-system-development

Research

Education

JoVE Journal

JoVE Core

Biology

Developmental Biology

Human Biology

Nervous System

SCIENTISTS IN ACTION

11.3K 次观看.  University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. The enteric nervous system is formed by neural crest cells that proliferate, migrate and colonize the gut. Neural crest cells differentiate into neurons with markers specific for their neurotransmitter phenotype. This protocol describes a technique for dissecting, fixing and immunostaining of the murine embryonic gastrointestinal tract to visualize enteric nervous system neurotransmitter expression.

视频: Immunostaining to Visualize Murine Enteric Nervous System Development

Optimized Ex-ovo Culturing of Chick Embryos to Advanced Stages of Development

Research in anatomy, embryology, and developmental biology has largely relied on the use of model organisms. In order to study development in live embryos model organisms, such as the chicken, are often used. The chicken is an excellent model organism due to its low cost and minimal maintenance, however they present observational challenges because they are enclosed in an opaque eggshell. In order to properly view the embryo as it develops, the shell must be windowed or removed. Both windowing and ex ovo techniques have been developed to assist researchers in the study of embryonic development. However, each of the methods has limitations and challenges. Here, we present a simple, optimized ex ovo culture technique for chicken embryos that enables the observation of embryonic development from stage HH 19 into late stages of development (HH 40), when many organs have developed. This technique is easy to adopt in both undergraduate classes and more advanced research laboratories where embryo manipulations are conducted.

Optimized Ex-ovo Culturing of Chick Embryos to Advanced Stages of Development

Viewing and accessing the chicken embryo during development can be challenging. We have developed an ex ovo method that is simple, cost effective, and can easily be used in a classroom or research setting. This method provides access to the embryo into late stages of embryonic development (HH 40).

优化<em&gt;前OVO</em&gt;鸡胚培养，以发展的高级阶段

Research in anatomy, embryology, and developmental biology has largely relied on the use of model organisms. In order to study development in live embryos ...

科研

发育生物学

Using Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy to Image Zebrafish Eye Development

Light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) is gaining more and more popularity as a method to image embryonic development. The main advantages of LSFM compared to confocal systems are its low phototoxicity, gentle mounting strategies, fast acquisition with high signal to noise ratio and the possibility of imaging samples from various angles (views) for long periods of time. Imaging from multiple views unleashes the full potential of LSFM, but at the same time it can create terabyte-sized datasets. Processing such datasets is the biggest challenge of using LSFM. In this protocol we outline some solutions to this problem. Until recently, LSFM was mostly performed in laboratories that had the expertise to build and operate their own light sheet microscopes. However, in the last three years several commercial implementations of LSFM became available, which are multipurpose and easy to use for any developmental biologist. This article is primarily directed to those researchers, who are not LSFM technology developers, but want to employ LSFM as a tool to answer specific developmental biology questions. 
Here, we use imaging of zebrafish eye development as an example to introduce the reader to LSFM technology and we demonstrate applications of LSFM across multiple spatial and temporal scales. This article describes a complete experimental protocol starting with the mounting of zebrafish embryos for LSFM. We then outline the options for imaging using the commercially available light sheet microscope. Importantly, we also explain a pipeline for subsequent registration and fusion of multiview datasets using an open source solution implemented as a Fiji plugin. While this protocol focuses on imaging the developing zebrafish eye and processing data from a particular imaging setup, most of the insights and troubleshooting suggestions presented here are of general use and the protocol can be adapted to a variety of light sheet microscopy experiments.

Light sheet fluorescence microscopy is an excellent tool for imaging embryonic development. It allows recording of long time-lapse movies of live embryos in near physiological conditions. We demonstrate its application for imaging zebrafish eye development across wide spatio-temporal scales and present a pipeline for fusion and deconvolution of multiview datasets.

采用轻质板材荧光显微镜到图像斑马鱼眼睛发育

Light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) is gaining more and more popularity as a method to image embryonic development. The main advantages of LSFM ...

A Novel Mammary Fat Pad Transplantation Technique to Visualize the Vessel Generation of Vascular Endothelial Stem Cells

Endothelial cells (ECs) are the fundamental building blocks of the vascular architecture and mediate vascular growth and remodeling to ensure proper vessel development and homeostasis. However, studies on endothelial lineage hierarchy remain elusive due to the lack of tools to gain access as well as to directly evaluate their behavior in vivo. To address this shortcoming, a new tissue model to study angiogenesis using the mammary fat pad has been developed. The mammary gland develops mostly in the postnatal stages, including puberty and pregnancy, during which robust epithelium proliferation is accompanied by extensive vascular remodeling. Mammary fat pads provide space, matrix, and rich angiogenic stimuli from the growing mammary epithelium. Furthermore, mammary fat pads are located outside the peritoneal cavity, making them an easily accessible grafting site for assessing the angiogenic potential of exogenous cells. This work also describes an efficient tracing approach using fluorescent reporter mice to specifically label the targeted population of vascular endothelial stem cells (VESCs) in vivo. This lineage tracing method, coupled with subsequent tissue whole-mount microscopy, enable the direct visualization of targeted cells and their descendants, through which the proliferation capability can be quantified and the differentiation commitment can be fate-mapped. Using these methods, a population of bipotent protein C receptor (Procr) expressing VESCs has recently been identified in multiple vascular systems. Procr+ VESCs, giving rise to both new ECs and pericytes, actively contribute to angiogenesis during development, homeostasis, and injury repair. Overall, this manuscript describes a new mammary fat pad transplantation and in vivo lineage tracing techniques that can be used to evaluate the stem cell properties of VESCs.

This work demonstrates a novel approach to assess the proliferation, differentiation, and vessel-forming potential of vascular endothelial stem cells (VESCs) through mammary fat pad transplantation followed by whole-mount tissue preparation for microscopic observation. A lineage tracing strategy to investigate the behavior of VESCs in vivo is also presented.

新型乳腺脂肪移植技术可视化血管内皮干细胞的血管生成

Endothelial cells (ECs) are the fundamental building blocks of the vascular architecture and mediate vascular growth and remodeling to ensure proper ...

Multi-Photon Time Lapse Imaging to Visualize Development in Real-time: Visualization of Migrating Neural Crest Cells in Zebrafish Embryos

Congenital eye and craniofacial anomalies reflect disruptions in the neural crest, a transient population of migratory stem cells that give rise to numerous cell types throughout the body. Understanding the biology of the neural crest has been limited, reflecting a lack of genetically tractable models that can be studied in vivo and in real-time. Zebrafish is a particularly important developmental model for studying migratory cell populations, such as the neural crest. To examine neural crest migration into the developing eye, a combination of the advanced optical techniques of laser scanning microscopy with long wavelength multi-photon fluorescence excitation was implemented to capture high-resolution, three-dimensional, real-time videos of the developing eye in transgenic zebrafish embryos, namely Tg(sox10:EGFP) and Tg(foxd3:GFP), as sox10 and foxd3 have been shown in numerous animal models to regulate early neural crest differentiation and likely represent markers for neural crest cells. Multi-photon time-lapse imaging was used to discern the behavior and migratory patterns of two neural crest cell populations contributing to early eye development. This protocol provides information for generating time-lapse videos during zebrafish neural crest migration, as an example, and can be further applied to visualize the early development of many structures in the zebrafish and other model organisms.

A combination of the advanced optical techniques of laser scanning microscopy with long wavelength multi-photon fluorescence excitation was implemented to capture high-resolution, three-dimensional, real-time imaging of neural crest migration in Tg(sox10:EGFP) and Tg(foxd3:GFP) zebrafish embryos.

多光子时间推移成像实时可视化发展： 迁移神经嵴细胞在斑马鱼胚胎中的可视化

Congenital eye and craniofacial anomalies reflect disruptions in the neural crest, a transient population of migratory stem cells that give rise to ...

Organotypic Culture Method to Study the Development Of Embryonic Chicken Tissues

The embryonic chicken is commonly used as a reliable model organism for vertebrate development. Its accessibility and short incubation period makes it ideal for experimentation. Currently, the study of these developmental pathways in the chicken embryo is conducted by applying inhibitors and drugs at localized sites and at low concentrations using a variety of methods. In vitro tissue&#160;culturing is a technique that enables the study of tissues separated from the host organism, while simultaneously bypassing many of the physical limitations present when working with whole embryos, such as the susceptibility of embryos to high doses of potentially lethal chemicals. Here, we present an organotypic culturing protocol for culturing the embryonic chicken half head in vitro, which presents new opportunities for the examination of developmental processes beyond the currently established methods.

Here, we present an organotypic culturing protocol to grow embryonic chicken organs in vitro. Using this method, the development of embryonic chicken tissue can be studied, while maintaining a high degree of control over the culture environment.

脊髓培养法研究胚胎鸡组织的发展

The embryonic chicken is commonly used as a reliable model organism for vertebrate development. Its accessibility and short incubation period makes it ...

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

The Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) germline is used to study several biologically important processes including stem cell development, apoptosis, and chromosome dynamics. While the germline is an excellent model, the analysis is often two dimensional due to the time and labor required for three-dimensional analysis. Major readouts in such studies are the number/position of nuclei and protein distribution within the germline. Here, we present a method to perform automated analysis of the germline using confocal microscopy and computational approaches to determine the number and position of nuclei in each region of the germline. Our method also analyzes germline protein distribution that enables the three-dimensional examination of protein expression in different genetic backgrounds. Further, our study shows variations in cytoskeletal architecture in distinct regions of the germline that may accommodate specific spatial developmental requirements. Finally, our method enables automated counting of the sperm in the spermatheca of each germline. Taken together, our method enables rapid and reproducible phenotypic analysis of the C. elegans germline.

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

We present an automated method for three-dimensional reconstruction of the Caenorhabditis elegans germline. Our method determines the number and position of each nucleus within the germline and analyses germline protein distribution and cytoskeletal structure.

秀丽线虫生殖的计算分析研究细胞核、蛋白质和细胞骨架的分布

The Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) germline is used to study several biologically important processes including stem cell development, apoptosis, and ...

Ovarian Tissue Culture to Visualize Phenomena in Mouse Ovary

Mammalian females periodically ovulate an almost constant number of oocytes during each estrus cycle. To sustain such regularity and periodicity, regulation occurs at the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis level and on developing follicles in the ovary. Despite active studies, follicle development mechanisms are not clear because of the several steps involved from the dormant primordial follicle activation to ovulation, and because of the regulation complexity that differs at each follicular stage. To investigate the mechanisms of follicle development, and the dynamics of follicles throughout the estrus cycle, we developed a mouse ovarian tissue culture model that can be used to observe follicle development using a microscope. Systematic follicle development, periodical ovulation, and follicle atresia can all be reproduced in the cultured ovary model, and the culture conditions can be experimentally modulated. Here, we demonstrate the usefulness of this method in the study of the regulatory mechanisms of follicle development and other ovarian phenomena.

Ovarian tissue cultures can be used as models of follicle development, ovulation, and follicle atresia and indicate regulatory mechanisms of dynamic ovarian processes.

卵巢组织培养对小鼠卵巢现象的可视化

Mammalian females periodically ovulate an almost constant number of oocytes during each estrus cycle. To sustain such regularity and periodicity, ...

Visualize Drosophila Leg Motor Neuron Axons Through the Adult Cuticle

The majority of work on the neuronal specification has been carried out in genetically and physiologically tractable models such as C. elegans, Drosophila larvae, and fish, which all engage in undulatory movements (like crawling or swimming) as their primary mode of locomotion. However, a more sophisticated understanding of the individual motor neuron (MN) specification&#8212;at least in terms of informing disease therapies&#8212;demands an equally tractable system that better models the complex appendage-based locomotion schemes of vertebrates. The adult Drosophila locomotor system in charge of walking meets all of these criteria with ease, since in this model it is possible to study the specification of a small number of easily distinguished leg MNs (approximately 50 MNs per leg) both using a vast array of powerful genetic tools, and in the physiological context of an appendage-based locomotion scheme. Here we describe a protocol to visualize the leg muscle innervation in an adult fly.

Visualize Drosophila Leg Motor Neuron Axons Through the Adult Cuticle

Here we describe a protocol to visualize the axonal targeting with a florescent protein in adult legs of Drosophila by fixation, mounting, imaging, and post-imaging steps.

通过成人角质层可视化果蝇腿运动神经元轴突

The majority of work on the neuronal specification has been carried out in genetically and physiologically tractable models such as C. elegans, Drosophila ...

Three-dimensional Angiogenesis Assay System using Co-culture Spheroids Formed by Endothelial Colony Forming Cells and Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Studies in the field of angiogenesis have been aggressively growing in the last few decades with the recognition that angiogenesis is a hallmark of more than 50 different pathological conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, oculopathy, cardiovascular diseases, and tumor metastasis. During angiogenesis drug development, it is crucial to use in vitro assay systems with appropriate cell types and proper conditions to reflect the physiologic angiogenesis process. To overcome limitations of current in vitro angiogenesis assay systems using mainly endothelial cells, we developed a 3-dimensional (3D) co-culture spheroid sprouting assay system. Co-culture spheroids were produced by two human vascular cell precursors, endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with a ratio of 5 to 1. ECFCs+MSCs spheroids were embedded into type I collagen matrix to mimic the in vivo extracellular environment. A real-time cell recorder was utilized to continuously observe the progression of angiogenic sprouting from spheroids for 24 h. Live cell fluorescent labeling technique was also applied to tract the localization of each cell type during sprout formation. Angiogenic potential was quantified by counting the number of sprouts and measuring the cumulative length of sprouts generated from the individual spheroids. Five randomly-selected spheroids were analyzed per experimental group. Comparison experiments demonstrated that ECFCs+MSCs spheroids showed greater sprout number and cumulative sprout length compared with ECFCs-only spheroids. Bevacizumab, an FDA-approved angiogenesis inhibitor, was tested with the newly-developed co-culture spheroid assay system to verify its potential to screen anti-angiogenic drugs. The IC50 value for ECFCs+MSCs spheroids compared to the ECFCs-only spheroids was closer to the effective plasma concentration of bevacizumab obtained from the xenograft tumor mouse model. The present study suggests that the 3D ECFCs+MSCs spheroid angiogenesis assay system is relevant to physiologic angiogenesis, and can predict an effective plasma concentration in advance of animal experiments.

Three-dimensional co-culture spheroid angiogenesis assay system is designed to mimic the physiologic angiogenesis. Co-culture spheroids are formed by two human vascular cell precursors, ECFCs and MSCs, and embedded in collagen gel. The new system is effective for evaluating angiogenic modulators, and provides more relevant information to the in vivo study.

使用由内皮结肠形成细胞和间质干细胞形成的共培养球体的三维血管生成测定系统

Studies in the field of angiogenesis have been aggressively growing in the last few decades with the recognition that angiogenesis is a hallmark of more ...

Whole-Mount In Situ Hybridization in Zebrafish Embryos and Tube Formation Assay in iPSC-ECs to Study the Role of Endoglin in Vascular Development

Vascular development is determined by the sequential expression of specific genes, which can be studied by performing in situ hybridization assays in zebrafish during different developmental stages. To investigate the role of endoglin(eng) in vessel formation during the development of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia&#160;(HHT), morpholino-mediated targeted knockdown of eng in zebrafish are used to study its temporal expression and associated functions. Here, whole-mount in situ RNA hybridization (WISH) is employed for the analysis of eng and its downstream genes in zebrafish embryos. Also, tube formation assays are performed in HHT patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell-differentiated&#160;endothelial cells (iPSC-ECs; with eng mutations). A specific signal amplifying system using the whole amount In Situ Hybridization &#8211; WISH provides higher resolution and lower background results compared to traditional methods. To obtain a better signal, the post-fixation time is adjusted to 30 min after probe hybridization. Because fluorescence staining is not sensitive in zebrafish embryos, it is replaced with diaminobezidine (DAB) staining here. In this protocol, HHT&#160;patient-derived iPSC lines containing an eng mutation are differentiated into endothelial cells. After coating a plate with basement membrane matrix for 30 min at 37 &#176;C, iPSC-ECs are seeded as a monolayer into wells and kept at 37 &#176;C for 3 h. Then, the tube length and number of branches are calculated using microscopic images. Thus, with this improved WISH protocol, it is shown that reduced eng expression affects endothelial progenitor formation in zebrafish embryos. This is further confirmed by tube formation assays using iPSC-ECs derived from a patient with HHT. These assays confirm the role for eng in early vascular development.

Presented here is a protocol for whole-mount in situ RNA hybridization analysis in zebrafish and tube formation assay in patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells to study the role of endoglin in vascular formation.

斑马鱼胚胎全山原位杂交和管状测定在iPSC-ECs中研究恩多林在血管发育中的作用

Vascular development is determined by the sequential expression of specific genes, which can be studied by performing in situ hybridization assays in ...