Name: in vivo two-photon imaging of cortical neurons in neonatal mice
Uploaded: 2018-10-18T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about In Vivo Two-photon Imaging of Cortical Neurons in Neonatal Mice at JoVE.com

The authors thank T. Sato, M. Kanbayashi, and S. Kouyama for their technical assistance. This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP15K14322 and JP16H06143, the Takeda Science Foundation, the Uehara Memorial Foundation, and the Collaborative Research Project of Niigata University Brain Research Institute 2017-2923 (H.M.) and by KAKENHI JP16K14559, JP15H01454, and JP15H04263 and Grant-in Scientific Research on Innovation Areas &#34;Dynamic regulation of Brain Function by Scrap &#38; Build System&#34; (JP16H06459) from MEXT (T.I.).

Experiments should be performed in accordance with the animal welfare guidelines prescribed by the experimenter&#39;s institution.
1. Preparation of Pups for Imaging
NOTE: Pups with sparsely labeled cortical neurons can be obtained by in utero electroporation (IUE) of Supernova vectors5,6. The Supernova system consists of the following two vectors: TRE-Cre and CAG-loxP-STOP-loxP-Gene X-ires-tTA-WPRE. ...

<ol>
	<li>Lendvai, B., Stern, E. A., Chen, B., Svoboda, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Experience-dependent+plasticity+of+dendritic+spines+in+the+developing+rat+barrel+cortex+in+vivo.">Experience-dependent plasticity of dendritic spines in the developing rat barrel cortex in vivo.</a> Nature. 404 (6780), 876-881 (2000).</li><li>Grutzendler, J., Kasthuri, N., Gan, W. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Long-term+dendritic+spine+stability+in+the+adult+cortex.">Long-term dendritic spine stability in the adult cortex.</a> Nature. 420 (6917), 812-816 (2002).</li><li>Carrillo, J., Nishiyama, N., Nishiyama, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dendritic+translocation+establishes+the+winner+in+cerebellar+climbing+fiber+synapse+elimination.">Dendritic translocation establishes the winner in cerebellar climbing fiber synapse elimination.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience. 33 (18), 7641-7653 (2013).</li><li>Portera-Cailliau, C., Weimer, R. M., De Paola, V., Caroni, P., Svoboda, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Diverse+modes+of+axon+elaboration+in+the+developing+neocortex.">Diverse modes of axon elaboration in the developing neocortex.</a> PLoS Biology. , e272 (2005).</li><li>Mizuno, H., 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=NMDAR-regulated+dynamics+of+layer+4+neuronal+dendrites+during+thalamocortical+reorganization+in+neonates.">NMDAR-regulated dynamics of layer 4 neuronal dendrites during thalamocortical reorganization in neonates.</a> Neuron. 82 (2), 365-379 (2014).</li><li>Luo, W., 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=Supernova:+A+Versatile+Vector+System+for+Single-Cell+Labeling+and+Gene+Function+Studies+in+vivo.">Supernova: A Versatile Vector System for Single-Cell Labeling and Gene Function Studies in vivo.</a> Scientific Reports. 6, 35747 (2016).</li><li>Mizuno, H., Hirano, T., Tagawa, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evidence+for+activity-dependent+cortical+wiring:+formation+of+interhemispheric+connections+in+neonatal+mouse+visual+cortex+requires+projection+neuron+activity.">Evidence for activity-dependent cortical wiring: formation of interhemispheric connections in neonatal mouse visual cortex requires projection neuron activity.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience. 27 (25), 6760-6770 (2007).</li><li>Saito, T., Nakatsuji, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Efficient+gene+transfer+into+the+embryonic+mouse+brain+using+in+vivo+electroporation.">Efficient gene transfer into the embryonic mouse brain using in vivo electroporation.</a> Developmental Biology. 240 (1), 237-246 (2001).</li><li>Tabata, H., Nakajima, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Efficient+in+utero+gene+transfer+system+to+the+developing+mouse+brain+using+electroporation:+visualization+of+neuronal+migration+in+the+developing+cortex.">Efficient in utero gene transfer system to the developing mouse brain using electroporation: visualization of neuronal migration in the developing cortex.</a> Neuroscience. 103 (4), 865-872 (2001).</li><li>Mizuno, H., Hirano, T., Tagawa, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pre-synaptic+and+post-synaptic+neuronal+activity+supports+the+axon+development+of+callosal+projection+neurons+during+different+post-natal+periods+in+the+mouse+cerebral+cortex.">Pre-synaptic and post-synaptic neuronal activity supports the axon development of callosal projection neurons during different post-natal periods in the mouse cerebral cortex.</a> European Journal of Neuroscience. 31 (3), 410-424 (2010).</li><li>Matsui, A., Yoshida, A. C., Kubota, M., Ogawa, M., Shimogori, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mouse+in+utero+electroporation:+controlled+spatiotemporal+gene+transfection.">Mouse in utero electroporation: controlled spatiotemporal gene transfection.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (54), e3024 (2011).</li><li>Holtmaat, A., 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=Long-term,+high-resolution+imaging+in+the+mouse+neocortex+through+a+chronic+cranial+window.">Long-term, high-resolution imaging in the mouse neocortex through a chronic cranial window.</a> Nature Protocols. 4 (8), 1128-1144 (2009).</li><li>Nakai, J., Ohkura, M., Imoto, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+high+signal-to-noise+Ca(2+)+probe+composed+of+a+single+green+fluorescent+protein.">A high signal-to-noise Ca(2+) probe composed of a single green fluorescent protein.</a> Nature Biotechnology. 19 (2), 137-141 (2001).</li><li>Chen, T. W., 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=Ultrasensitive+fluorescent+proteins+for+imaging+neuronal+activity.">Ultrasensitive fluorescent proteins for imaging neuronal activity.</a> Nature. 499 (7458), 295-300 (2013).</li><li>Mizuno, H., 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=Patchwork-Type+Spontaneous+Activity+in+Neonatal+Barrel+Cortex+Layer+4+Transmitted+via+Thalamocortical+Projections.">Patchwork-Type Spontaneous Activity in Neonatal Barrel Cortex Layer 4 Transmitted via Thalamocortical Projections.</a> Cell Reports. 22 (1), 123-135 (2018).</li><li>Zong, H., Espinosa, J. S., Su, H. H., Muzumdar, M. D., Luo, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mosaic+analysis+with+double+markers+in+mice.">Mosaic analysis with double markers in mice.</a> Cell. 121 (3), 479-492 (2005).</li><li>Young, P., 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=Single-neuron+labeling+with+inducible+Cre-mediated+knockout+in+transgenic+mice.">Single-neuron labeling with inducible Cre-mediated knockout in transgenic mice.</a> Nature Neuroscience. 11 (6), 721-728 (2008).</li><li>Liu, 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=Neonatal+Repeated+Exposure+to+Isoflurane+not+Sevoflurane+in+Mice+Reversibly+Impaired+Spatial+Cognition+at+Juvenile-Age.">Neonatal Repeated Exposure to Isoflurane not Sevoflurane in Mice Reversibly Impaired Spatial Cognition at Juvenile-Age.</a> Neurochemical Research. 42 (2), 595-605 (2017).</li><li>Kondo, M., Kobayashi, K., Ohkura, M., Nakai, J., Matsuzaki, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Two-photon+calcium+imaging+of+the+medial+prefrontal+cortex+and+hippocampus+without+cortical+invasion.">Two-photon calcium imaging of the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus without cortical invasion.</a> eLIFE. 6, e26839 (2017).</li><li>Nakazawa, S., Mizuno, H., Iwasato, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+dynamics+of+cortical+neuron+dendritic+trees+revealed+by+long-term+in+vivo+imaging+in+neonates.">Differential dynamics of cortical neuron dendritic trees revealed by long-term in vivo imaging in neonates.</a> Nature Communications. 9 (1), 3106 (2018).</li></ol>

Critical Steps in the Protocol and Troubleshooting:
The most critical step of the protocol is the removal of the skull (Protocol step 3.2). Upon insertion, the razor blade often adheres to the dura, causing dural bleeding and damage to the brain. This can be avoided by adding a drop of cortex buffer on the skull and removing the skull in cortex buffer.
Bleeding from the dura and the skin after cranial window preparation leads to occlusion of the window. To avoid this, ...

The precise wiring of neuronal circuits in the cerebral cortex is essential for higher brain functions including perception, cognition, and learning and memory. Cortical circuits are dynamically refined during postnatal development. Studies have investigated the process of cortical circuit formation using histological and in vitro culture analyses. However, the dynamics of circuit formation in living mammals has remained mostly unexplored.
Two-photon microscopy has been widely used for the in vivo analyses of neuronal circuits in the adult mouse brain1,2. However, owing to technical challenges, only a limited number of studies have addressed neuronal circuit formation in newborn mice. For example, Carrillo et al. performed the time-lapse imaging of climbing fibers in the cerebellum in the second postnatal week3. Portera-Cailliau et al. reported the imaging of axons in cortical layer 1 in the first postnatal week4. In the present study, we summarize a protocol for the observation of layer 4 cortical neurons and their dendrites in newborn mice. Results obtained by applying this protocol, which includes two methodologies, are reported in our recent publication5. First, we use the Supernova vector system5,6 for labeling individual neurons in the neonatal brain. In the Supernova system, the fluorescent proteins used for neuronal labeling are exchangeable and labeled cell-specific gene knockdown and editing/knockout analyses are also possible. Second, we describe a surgical procedure for cranial window preparation in fragile neonatal mice. Together, these methodologies allow the in vivo observation of individual neurons in neonatal brains.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>pK031. TRE-Cre</td>
			<td>Authors</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>Available from RIKEN BRC and Addgene</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pK029. CAG-loxP-STOP-loxP-RFP-ires-tTA-WPRE</td>
			<td>Authors</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>Available from RIKEN BRC and Addgene</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pK273. CAG-loxP-STOP-loxP-CyRFP-ires-tTA-WPRE</td>
			<td>Authors</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>Available from authors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isoflurane</td>
			<td>Wako</td>
			<td>099-06571</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>410 Anaesthesia Unit (isoflurane gas machine)</td>
			<td>Univentor</td>
			<td>8323101</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vetbond (tissue adhesive)</td>
			<td>3M</td>
			<td>084-1469SB</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>M&#181;ltiFlex Round (loading tip)</td>
			<td>Sorenson</td>
			<td>13810</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gelfoam (gelatin sponge)</td>
			<td>Pfizer</td>
			<td>09-0353-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Agarose</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A9793</td>
			<td>Low melting point</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Round-shaped coverslip</td>
			<td>Matsunami</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>Custom made</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Unifast 2 (dental cement)</td>
			<td>GC</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Titanium bar</td>
			<td>Authors</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>Custom made (see Figure 1G)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rimadyl (carprofen)</td>
			<td>Zoetis</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>Injectable</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2-photon microscope</td>
			<td>Zeiss</td>
			<td>LSM7MP</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Titanium-sapphire laser</td>
			<td>Spertra-Physics</td>
			<td>Mai-Tai eHPDS</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Titanium plate</td>
			<td>Authors</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>Custom made (see Figure 2A)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IMARIS, FilamentTracer, MeasurementPro</td>
			<td>BITPLANE</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goniometer stage</td>
			<td>Thorlabs</td>
			<td>GN2/M</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

in vivo two-photon imaging of cortical neurons in neonatal mice

Two-photon imaging is a powerful tool for the in vivo analysis of neuronal circuits in the mammalian brain. However, a limited number of in vivo imaging methods exist for examining the brain tissue of live newborn mammals. Herein we summarize a protocol for imaging individual cortical neurons in living neonatal mice. This protocol includes the following two methodologies: (1) the Supernova system for sparse and bright labeling of cortical neurons in the developing brain, and (2) a surgical procedure for the fragile neonatal skull. This protocol allows the observation of temporal changes of individual cortical neurites during neonatal stages with a high signal-to-noise ratio. Labeled cell-specific gene silencing and knockout can also be achieved by combining the Supernova with RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing systems. This protocol can, thus, be used for analyzing the developmental dynamics of cortical neurons, molecular mechanisms that control the neuronal dynamics, and changes in neuronal dynamics in disease models.

Figures 2D - 2F show representative results of two-photon time-lapse imaging of layer 4 cortical neurons using the present protocol. For the purpose of analysis, select neurons with clear dendritic morphology throughout the imaging periods. We analyzed the dendritic morphology of imaged neurons using morphological analysis software. Representative dendritic morphology reconstruction is shown in Figure 2F. Neurons showing disc...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about In Vivo Two-photon Imaging of Cortical Neurons in Neonatal Mice at JoVE.com

In Vivo Two-photon Imaging of Cortical Neurons in Neonatal Mice

We present an in vivo two-photon imaging protocol for imaging the cerebral cortex of neonatal mice. This method is suitable for analyzing the developmental dynamics of cortical neurons, the molecular mechanisms that control the neuronal dynamics, and the changes in neuronal dynamics in disease models.

In Vivo Two-photon Imaging of Cortical Neurons in Neonatal Mice

Two-photon imaging is a powerful tool for the in vivo analysis of neuronal circuits in the mammalian brain. However, a limited number of in vivo imaging ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

A Thin-skull Window Technique for Chronic Two-photon In vivo Imaging of Murine Microglia in Models of Neuroinflammation

A Thin-skull Window Technique for Chronic Two-photon In vivo Imaging of Murine Microglia in Models of Neuroinflammation

Traditionally in neuroscience, in vivo two photon imaging of the murine central nervous system has either involved the use of open-skull1,2 or ...

In vivo Imaging of the Mouse Spinal Cord Using Two-photon Microscopy

In vivo Imaging of the Mouse Spinal Cord Using Two-photon Microscopy

In vivo imaging using two-photon microscopy 1 in mice that have been genetically engineered to express fluorescent proteins in specific cell types 2-3 has ...

In Vivo Two-photon Imaging Of Experience-dependent Molecular Changes In Cortical Neurons

In Vivo Two-photon Imaging Of Experience-dependent Molecular Changes In Cortical Neurons

The brain's ability to change in response to experience is essential for healthy brain function, and abnormalities in this process contribute to a variety ...

In Vivo Two-Photon Microscopy of Single Nerve Endings in Skin

In Vivo Two-Photon Microscopy of Single Nerve Endings in Skin

Nerve endings in skin are involved in physiological processes such as sensing1 as well as in pathological processes such as neuropathic pain2. Their ...

Two-Photon in vivo Imaging of Dendritic Spines in the Mouse Cortex Using a Thinned-skull Preparation

Two-Photon in vivo Imaging of Dendritic Spines in the Mouse Cortex Using a Thinned-skull Preparation

In the mammalian cortex, neurons form extremely complicated networks and exchange information at synapses. Changes in synaptic strength, as well as ...

Two-photon Imaging of Cellular Dynamics in the Mouse Spinal Cord

Two-photon (2P) microscopy is utilized to reveal cellular dynamics and interactions deep within living, intact tissues. Here, we present a method for ...

Simultaneous Two-photon In Vivo Imaging of Synaptic Inputs and Postsynaptic Targets in the Mouse Retrosplenial Cortex

Simultaneous Two-photon In Vivo Imaging of Synaptic Inputs and Postsynaptic Targets in the Mouse Retrosplenial Cortex

This video shows the craniotomy procedure that allows chronic imaging of neurons in the mouse retrosplenial cortex (RSC) using in vivo two-photon ...

Quantification of Filamentous Actin (F-actin) Puncta in Rat Cortical Neurons

Quantification of Filamentous Actin F-actin Puncta in Rat Cortical Neurons

Filamentous actin protein (F-actin) plays a major role in spinogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and synaptic stability. Changes in dendritic F-actin rich ...

Two-photon Calcium Imaging in Neuronal Dendrites in Brain Slices

Calcium (Ca2+) imaging is a powerful tool to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of intracellular Ca2+ signals in neuronal dendrites. Ca2+ ...

Visualizing Protein Kinase A Activity In Head-fixed Behaving Mice Using In Vivo Two-photon Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Neuromodulation exerts powerful control over brain function. Dysfunction of neuromodulatory systems results in neurological and psychiatric disorders. ...