Name: sequential application of glass coverslips to assess the compressive stiffness of the mouse lens: strain and morphometric analyses
Uploaded: 2016-05-03T12:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Sequential Application of Glass Coverslips to Assess the Compressive Stiffness of the Mouse Lens: Strain and Morphometric Analyses at JoVE.com

This work was supported by National Eye Institute Grant R01 EY017724 (VMF) and National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Grant K99 AR066534 (DSG).

All animal procedures were performed in accordance with recommendations in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals by the National Institutes of Health and under an approved protocol by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at The Scripps Research Institute.
1. Lens Dissection
<ol>
	<li>Euthanize mice according to recommendations in the National Institutes of Health &#34;Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals&#34; and approved institution animal use protocols...

<ol>
	<li>Lovicu, F. J., Robinson, 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=.">.</a> Development of the ocular lens. , (2004).</li><li>Piatigorsky, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lens+differentiation+in+vertebrates.+A+review+of+cellular+and+molecular+features.">Lens differentiation in vertebrates. A review of cellular and molecular features.</a> Differentiation. 19 (3), 134-153 (1981).</li><li>Glasser, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Restoration+of+accommodation:+surgical+options+for+correction+of+presbyopia.">Restoration of accommodation: surgical options for correction of presbyopia.</a> Clin Exp Optom. 91 (3), 279-295 (2008).</li><li>Keeney, A. H., Hagman, R. 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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=Dynamic+mechanical+properties+of+human+lenses.">Dynamic mechanical properties of human lenses.</a> Exp Eye Res. 80 (3), 425-434 (2005).</li><li>Fisher, R. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Elastic+properties+of+the+human+lens.">Elastic properties of the human lens.</a> Exp Eye Res. 11 (1), 143 (1971).</li><li>Krueger, R. R., Sun, X. K., Stroh, J., Myers, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Experimental+increase+in+accommodative+potential+after+neodymium:+yttrium-aluminum-garnet+laser+photodisruption+of+paired+cadaver+lenses.">Experimental increase in accommodative potential after neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser photodisruption of paired cadaver lenses.</a> Ophthalmology. 108 (11), 2122-2129 (2001).</li><li>Burd, H. J., Wilde, G. S., Judge, 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=An+improved+spinning+lens+test+to+determine+the+stiffness+of+the+human+lens.">An improved spinning lens test to determine the stiffness of the human lens.</a> Exp Eye Res. 92 (1), 28-39 (2011).</li><li>Glasser, A., Campbell, M. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Presbyopia+and+the+optical+changes+in+the+human+crystalline+lens+with+age.">Presbyopia and the optical changes in the human crystalline lens with age.</a> Vision Res. 38 (2), 209-229 (1998).</li><li>Pau, H., Kranz, 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+increasing+sclerosis+of+the+human+lens+with+age+and+its+relevance+to+accommodation+and+presbyopia.">The increasing sclerosis of the human lens with age and its relevance to accommodation and presbyopia.</a> Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 229 (3), 294-296 (1991).</li><li>Hollman, K. W., O'Donnell, M., Erpelding, T. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mapping+elasticity+in+human+lenses+using+bubble-based+acoustic+radiation+force.">Mapping elasticity in human lenses using bubble-based acoustic radiation force.</a> Exp Eye Res. 85 (6), 890-893 (2007).</li><li>Baradia, H., Nikahd, N., Glasser, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mouse+lens+stiffness+measurements.">Mouse lens stiffness measurements.</a> Exp Eye Res. 91 (2), 300-307 (2010).</li><li>Gokhin, D. 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=Tmod1+and+CP49+synergize+to+control+the+fiber+cell+geometry,+transparency,+and+mechanical+stiffness+of+the+mouse+lens.">Tmod1 and CP49 synergize to control the fiber cell geometry, transparency, and mechanical stiffness of the mouse lens.</a> PLoS One. 7 (11), e48734 (2012).</li><li>Sindhu Kumari, 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=Role+of+Aquaporin+0+in+lens+biomechanics.">Role of Aquaporin 0 in lens biomechanics.</a> Biochem Biophys Res Commun. , (2015).</li><li>Fudge, D. 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=Intermediate+filaments+regulate+tissue+size+and+stiffness+in+the+murine+lens.">Intermediate filaments regulate tissue size and stiffness in the murine lens.</a> Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 52 (6), 3860-3867 (2011).</li><li>Kuszak, J. R., Mazurkiewicz, M., Zoltoski, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Computer+modeling+of+secondary+fiber+development+and+growth:+I.+Nonprimate+lenses.">Computer modeling of secondary fiber development and growth: I. Nonprimate lenses.</a> Mol Vis. 12, 251-270 (2006).</li><li>Scarcelli, G., Kim, P., Yun, S. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vivo+measurement+of+age-related+stiffening+in+the+crystalline+lens+by+Brillouin+optical+microscopy.">In vivo measurement of age-related stiffening in the crystalline lens by Brillouin optical microscopy.</a> Biophys J. 101 (6), 1539-1545 (2011).</li></ol>

There are several key considerations when using this method to measure lens stiffness. First, the coverslips are applied to the lens at a slightly oblique angle (8 - 8.5&#176;) with respect to the bottom of the chamber (&#952;). This will apply a very small component of the load equatorially rather than axially. However, this equatorial load is considered negligible because sin &#952; &#8776; 0.119. If this method is adapted for larger lenses, the angle of the coverslips to the bottom of the chamber would need...

The lens is a transparent and avascular organ in the anterior chamber of the eye that is responsible for fine focusing of light onto the retina. A clear basement membrane, called the lens capsule, surrounds a bulk of elongated fiber cells covered by an anterior monolayer of epithelial cells1,2. Life-long growth of the lens depends on the continuous proliferation and differentiation of epithelial cells at the lens equator into new fiber cells that are added onto previous generations of fiber cells in a concentric manner2. Over time, lens fiber cells undergo compaction, resulting in a rigid center in the middle of the lens called the nucleus1. Accommodation, defined as a dioptric change in the optical power of the eye, occurs in humans when the ciliary muscles contract to deform the lens and allow a true increase in optical power to focus on near objects3-5. In the unaccommodated eye, the lens is held in a relatively flattened state due to tension from zonular fibers. When the ciliary muscles contract, the tension on the lens is released, leading to decreased lens equatorial diameter and increased axial thickness. Age-related changes in the lens cause presbyopia, a progressive loss of lens accommodation, which leads to the need for reading glasses. 
Several studies have linked presbyopia to age-related increase in the intrinsic stiffness of the lens6-11. Stiffness is defined as the resistance of an elastic object to deform under applied load. A variety of methods have been used to examine stiffness of human lenses, including spin compression12-14, actuator compression15, probe indentation16, dynamic mechanical analysis 6,10 and bubble-based acoustic radiation force17. While mouse lenses do not accommodate or develop presbyopia, mouse models for lens pathologies are valuable tools because mice are less expensive than larger animals, well characterized genetically and undergo accelerated age-related changes due to rapid aging. A handful of studies have examined mouse lens stiffness with compression methods and demonstrated changes in lens stiffness due to aging or targeted genetic disruptions18-21. Thus, mouse lenses are good models for studying age-related changes in lens stiffness. 
This protocol describes a simple and inexpensive, yet precise and reproducible, compression method for determining mouse lens stiffness based on application of glass coverslips onto the lens in conjunction with photographing the lens through a dissection microscope and mirror. This method yields robust strain and morphometric data with an easily fabricated and assembled apparatus. The representative results confirm that mouse lenses increase in stiffness with age.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="811">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:361px;">Fine tip straight forceps</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Fine Scientific Tools</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">11252-40</td>
			<td style="width:193px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Microdissection scissors, straight edge</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Fine Scientific Tools</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15000-00</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Curved forceps</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Fine Scientific Tools</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">11272-40</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Seizing forceps</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Hammacher</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">HSC 702-93</td>
			<td>Optional</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Dissection dish</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">12565154</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">60mm petri dish</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">0875713A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">1X phosphate buffered saline (PBS)</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">14190</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">18mm x 18mm glass coverslips</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">12-542A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Measurement chamber with divots to hold lenses</td>
			<td style="width:139px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>Custom-made (see Figure 1)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Right-angle mirror</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Edmund Optics</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">45-591</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Light source</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Schott/Fostec</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">8375</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Illuminated dissecting microscope</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Olympus</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SZX-ILLD100</td>
			<td>With SZ-PT phototube</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Digital camera</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Nikon</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Coolpix 990</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

sequential application of glass coverslips to assess the compressive stiffness of the mouse lens: strain and morphometric analyses

The eye lens is a transparent organ that refracts and focuses light to form a clear image on the retina. In humans, ciliary muscles contract to deform the lens, leading to an increase in the lens&#39; optical power to focus on nearby objects, a process known as accommodation. Age-related changes in lens stiffness have been linked to presbyopia, a reduction in the lens&#39; ability to accommodate, and, by extension, the need for reading glasses. Even though mouse lenses do not accommodate or develop presbyopia, mouse models can provide an invaluable genetic tool for understanding lens pathologies, and the accelerated aging observed in mice enables the study of age-related changes in the lens. This protocol demonstrates a simple, precise, and cost-effective method for determining mouse lens stiffness, using glass coverslips to apply sequentially increasing compressive loads onto the lens. Representative data confirm that mouse lenses become stiffer with age, like human lenses. This method is highly reproducible and can potentially be scaled up to mechanically test lenses from larger animals.

The stiffness and dimensions of 2-, 4- and 8-month-old mouse lenses were measured. Mice were all wild-type animals on a pure C57BL6 strain background obtained from the TSRI Animal Breeding Facility, and each lens was loaded with 1 to 10 coverslips. The axial and equatorial strains were calculated as a function of applied load by measuring the axial and equatorial diameters of the lens after the addition of each coverslip, and then normalizing each change in diameter to the corresponding u...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Sequential Application of Glass Coverslips to Assess the Compressive Stiffness of the Mouse Lens: Strain and Morphometric Analyses at JoVE.com

Sequential Application of Glass Coverslips to Assess the Compressive Stiffness of the Mouse Lens: Strain and Morphometric Analyses

Age-related increases in eye lens stiffness are linked to presbyopia. This protocol describes a simple, cost-effective method for measuring mouse lens stiffness. Mouse lenses, like human lenses, become stiffer with age. This method is precise and can be adapted for lenses from larger animals.

The eye lens is a transparent organ that refracts and focuses light to form a clear image on the retina. In humans, ciliary muscles contract to deform the ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to evaluate the compressive stiffness and geometry of mouse lenses using a simple and inexpensive approach. This method can answer key questions in the lens field. Such as how different genetic and experimental perturbations affect lens biomechanical properties.The main advantages of this technique are that it is precise, reproducible, and does not require expensive or specialized equipment. This method provides insight into the properties on mouse lenses, with potential application to larger model organisms such as rats and rabbits. Visualization of the method is critical because lens dissection and coverslip application steps are difficult to learn without demonstration.Demonstrating the procedure will be Catherine Cheng, a post doc from my laboratory. Begin the dissection using curved forceps to depress the tissue around the eye of a euthanized mouse bringing the eye out of the socket. Then, remove the eye and place it in a dissection dish containing fresh PBS under a dissecting microscope.Cut off the optic nerve as close to the eyeball as possible. And gently and carefully insert fine, straight tweezers into the eyeball through the hole where the optic nerve exits the posterior of the organ. Carefully make an incision with scissors from the posterior to the edge of the cornea, taking care not to damage the lens.Continue the incision along the junction between the cornea and the sclera, at least halfway around the eyeball. And gently push on the cornea to remove the lens from the eye through the opening. Then, use fine tipped straight forceps to carefully remove any large debris that is still attached to the lens.And visually confirm that the lens is free of damage. At least two hours before starting the stiffness measurements, use an analytical balance to weigh at least 10 cover slips from the same box. Determine the average weight of the cover slips.Then, pre wet the cover slips and a right angle mirror in room temperature PBS. While the materials are being hydrated, fill the measurement chamber with 65 to 75 milliliters of PBS. And place the chamber under a dissecting microscope set to a 30 X magnification, with illumination from the bottom and a fiber optic light source on the left and right sides.When the cover slips are ready, place the right angle mirror into the chamber at a constant distance from the divot that will be used to hold the lens. Next, using curved forceps, carefully transfer the dissected lenses to the measurement chamber. Set the power optic power supply to 80%of the maximum light intensity, and adjust the power supply output based on the ambient lighting, user preference, and picture quality as needed.Obtain top view images of the unloaded lenses from directly overhead of the chamber. Then, take a picture of the mirror edge in focus, followed by a side view image of the unloaded lens through the mirror outside of the divot. Then, place a lens into the divot, and confirm that the lens is seated securely and straight within the divot on it's anterior or posterior pole.Take a photo of the lens in the mirror. Then, gently place a cover slip onto the lens. After two minutes, take another side view image of the loaded lens.Continue adding cover slips, obtaining side view images two minutes after the addition of each cover slip, until the total of 10 cover slips have been applied. Then, remove all of the cover slips, wait a final two minutes, and obtain side view images of the lens inside and outside of the divot. And a top view image of the lens outside the divot.To determine the lens nucleus size, place a lens into a clean petri dish filled with PBS and use fine, straight forceps to gently decapsulate the lens. To off the cortical fiber cells, roll the lens between gloved fingers. Next, gently rinse the lens nucleus in the PBS and place the nucleus back into the measurement chamber.Acquire an image of the lens nucleus through the right angle mirror. Finally, to analyze the images, use the appropriate image analysis software to measure the equatorial and axial diameters of the lenses before and after each loading step. Measure the diameter of each lens nucleus as well.In this representative experiment, the stiffness and dimensions of two, four, and eight month old mouse lenses were measured and the axial and equatorial strains were calculated. The axial strain is a logarithmic function of applied load with a statistically significant, age dependent decrease in the axial and equatorial strains under the maximum applied load, indicating that the mouse lens stiffens with age. The image data collected during this experiment were also used to determine several other lens morphological characteristics.As expected, the axial and equatorial diameters, and the lens volume, increased with age. The aspect ratio indicates that the lens has a slightly larger equatorial diameter than axial diameter. And this parameter did not change with age.The diameter, volume, and fraction of the lens nucleus increase with age, suggesting that the lens nucleus remodels to increase in relative size as the lens ages. Once mastered, this technique can be completed in 30 to 45 minutes per lens, if performed properly. While attempting this procedure, it's important to position the lens evenly inside the divot, and to allow the lens to stress relax for two minutes between each additional cover slip.After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to assess the compressive stiffness, and morphometrics of mouse lenses using the sequential application of cover slips. This precise, simple, and inexpensive technique paves the way for lens researchers to explore the biomechanical effects of gene mutations in mice.

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Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Lens Transplantation in Zebrafish and its Application in the Analysis of Eye Mutants

The lens plays an important role in the development of the optic cup[1,2]. Using the zebrafish as a model organism, questions regarding lens development can be addressed. The zebrafish is useful for genetic studies due to several advantageous characteristics, including small size, high fecundity, short lifecycle, and ease of care. Lens development occurs rapidly in zebrafish. By 72 hpf, the zebrafish lens is functionally mature [3]. Abundant genetic and molecular resources are available to support research in zebrafish. In addition, the similarity of the zebrafish eye to those of other vertebrates provides basis for its use as an excellent animal model of human defects[4-7]. Several zebrafish mutants exhibit lens abnormalities, including high levels of cell death, which in some cases leads to a complete degeneration of lens tissues [8]. To determine whether lens abnormalities are due to intrinsic causes or to defective interactions with the surrounding tissues, transplantation of a mutant lens into a wild-type eye is performed. Using fire-polished metal needles, mutant or wild-type lenses are carefully dissected from the donor animal, and transferred into the host. To distinguish wild-type and mutant tissues, a transgenic line is used as the donor. This line expresses membrane-bound GFP in all tissues, including the lens. This transplantation technique is an essential tool in the studies of zebrafish lens mutants.

Lens development involves interactions with other tissues. Several zebrafish eye mutants are characterized by an abnormally small lens size. Here we demonstrate a lens transplantation experiment to determine whether this phenotype is due to intrinsic causes or defective interactions with tissues that surround the lens.

The lens plays an important role in the development of the optic cup[1,2]. Using the zebrafish as a model organism, questions regarding lens development ...

Purification of the M. magneticum Strain AMB-1 Magnetosome Associated Protein MamA&Delta;41

Magnetotactic bacteria comprise a diverse group of aquatic microorganisms that are able to orientate themselves along geomagnetic fields. This behavior is believed to aid their search for suitable environments (1). This capability is conferred by the magnetosome, a subcellular organelle that consists of a linear-chain assembly of lipid vesicles each able to biomineralize and enclose a ~50-nm crystal of magnetite or greigite. A principle component of the magnetosome that was shown to be required for the formation of functional vesicles is MamA. MamA is a highly abundant magnetosome-associated protein which is one of the most characterized magnetosome-associated proteins in vivo (2-6). This article focuses on the purification of MamA, which despite being studied in vivo, no clear functional or structural details have been identified for it. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that MamA is a tetra-tricopeptide repeat (TPR) containing protein. TPR is a structural motif found as such or forming part of a bigger fold in a wide range of proteins, it serves as a template for protein-protein interactions and mediates multi-protein complexes (7). TPRs are involved in many crucial tasks in eukaryotic cell organelle processes and many bacterial pathways (8-14). In order to understand MamA, a unique TPR containing protein, highly purified protein is required as a first step. In this article, we present the purification protocol for a stable MamA deletion mutant (MamA&Delta;41) from M. magneticum AMB-1.

Purification of the &lt;em&gt;M. magneticum&lt;/em&gt; Strain AMB-1 Magnetosome Associated Protein MamA&amp;Delta;41

MamA is a unique Magnetosome associated protein which was shown to be involved in magnetosome activation. Here we present the purification protocol of MamA deletion mutant (MamA&Delta;41) from M. magneticum AMB-1.

Magnetotactic bacteria comprise a diverse group of aquatic microorganisms that are able to orientate themselves along geomagnetic fields. This behavior is ...

Biophysical Assays to Probe the Mechanical Properties of the Interphase Cell Nucleus: Substrate Strain Application and Microneedle Manipulation

In most eukaryotic cells, the nucleus is the largest organelle and is typically 2 to 10 times stiffer than the surrounding cytoskeleton; consequently, the physical properties of the nucleus contribute significantly to the overall biomechanical behavior of cells under physiological and pathological conditions. For example, in migrating neutrophils and invading cancer cells, nuclear stiffness can pose a major obstacle during extravasation or passage through narrow spaces within tissues.1 On the other hand, the nucleus of cells in mechanically active tissue such as muscle requires sufficient structural support to withstand repetitive mechanical stress. Importantly, the nucleus is tightly integrated into the cellular architecture; it is physically connected to the surrounding cytoskeleton, which is a critical requirement for the intracellular movement and positioning of the nucleus, for example, in polarized cells, synaptic nuclei at neuromuscular junctions, or in migrating cells.2 Not surprisingly, mutations in nuclear envelope proteins such as lamins and nesprins, which play a critical role in determining nuclear stiffness and nucleo-cytoskeletal coupling, have been shown recently to result in a number of human diseases, including Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, and dilated cardiomyopathy.3 To investigate the biophysical function of diverse nuclear envelope proteins and the effect of specific mutations, we have developed experimental methods to study the physical properties of the nucleus in single, living cells subjected to global or localized mechanical perturbation. Measuring induced nuclear deformations in response to precisely applied substrate strain application yields important information on the deformability of the nucleus and allows quantitative comparison between different mutations or cell lines deficient for specific nuclear envelope proteins. Localized cytoskeletal strain application with a microneedle is used to complement this assay and can yield additional information on intracellular force transmission between the nucleus and the cytoskeleton. Studying nuclear mechanics in intact living cells preserves the normal intracellular architecture and avoids potential artifacts that can arise when working with isolated nuclei. Furthermore, substrate strain application presents a good model for the physiological stress experienced by cells in muscle or other tissues (e.g., vascular smooth muscle cells exposed to vessel strain). Lastly, while these tools have been developed primarily to study nuclear mechanics, they can also be applied to investigate the function of cytoskeletal proteins and mechanotransduction signaling.

We present two independent, microscope-based tools to measure the induced nuclear and cytoskeletal deformations in single, living adherent cells in response to global or localized strain application. These techniques are used to determine nuclear stiffness (i.e., deformability) and to probe intracellular force transmission between the nucleus and the cytoskeleton.

In most eukaryotic cells, the nucleus is the largest organelle and is typically 2 to 10 times stiffer than the surrounding cytoskeleton; consequently, the ...

Generation of Mice Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from somatic cells provides a means to create valuable tools for basic research and may also produce a source of patient-matched cells for regenerative therapies. iPSCs may be generated using multiple protocols and derived from multiple cell sources. Once generated, iPSCs are tested using a variety of assays including immunostaining for pluripotency markers, generation of three germ layers in embryoid bodies and teratomas, comparisons of gene expression with embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and production of chimeric mice with or without germline contribution2. Importantly, iPSC lines that pass these tests still vary in their capacity to produce different differentiated cell types2. This has made it difficult to establish which iPSC derivation protocols, donor cell sources or selection methods are most useful for different applications.
The most stringent test of whether a stem cell line has sufficient developmental potential to generate all tissues required for survival of an organism (termed full pluripotency) is tetraploid embryo complementation (TEC)3-5. Technically, TEC involves electrofusion of two-cell embryos to generate tetraploid (4n) one-cell embryos that can be cultured in vitro to the blastocyst stage6. Diploid (2n) pluripotent stem cells (e.g. ESCs or iPSCs) are then injected into the blastocoel cavity of the tetraploid blastocyst and transferred to a recipient female for gestation (see Figure 1). The tetraploid component of the complemented embryo contributes almost exclusively to the extraembryonic tissues (placenta, yolk sac), whereas the diploid cells constitute the embryo proper, resulting in a fetus derived entirely from the injected stem cell line.
Recently, we reported the derivation of iPSC lines that reproducibly generate adult mice via TEC1. These iPSC lines give rise to viable pups with efficiencies of 5-13%, which is comparable to ESCs3,4,7 and higher than that reported for most other iPSC lines8-12. These reports show that direct reprogramming can produce fully pluripotent iPSCs that match ESCs in their developmental potential and efficiency of generating pups in TEC tests. At present, it is not clear what distinguishes between fully pluripotent iPSCs and less potent lines13-15. Nor is it clear which reprogramming methods will produce these lines with the highest efficiency. Here we describe one method that produces fully pluripotent iPSCs and "all- iPSC" mice, which may be helpful for investigators wishing to compare the pluripotency of iPSC lines or establish the equivalence of different reprogramming methods.

Generating induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines produces lines of differing developmental potential even when they pass standard tests for pluripotency. Here we describe a protocol to produce mice derived entirely from iPSCs, which defines the iPSC lines as possessing full pluripotency1.

The production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from somatic cells provides a means to create valuable tools for basic research and may also ...

Measuring the Stiffness of Ex Vivo Mouse Aortas Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Arterial stiffening is a significant risk factor and biomarker for cardiovascular disease and a hallmark of aging. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a versatile analytical tool for characterizing viscoelastic mechanical properties for a variety of materials ranging from hard (plastic, glass, metal, etc.) surfaces to cells on any substrate. It has been widely used to measure the stiffness of cells, but less frequently used to measure the stiffness of aortas. In this paper, we will describe the procedures for using AFM in contact mode to measure the ex vivo elastic modulus of unloaded mouse arteries. We describe our procedure for isolation of mouse aortas, and then provide detailed information for the AFM analysis. This includes step-by-step instructions for alignment of the laser beam, calibration of the spring constant and deflection sensitivity of the AFM probe, and acquisition of force curves. We also provide a detailed protocol for data analysis of the force curves.

Measuring the Stiffness of Ex Vivo Mouse Aortas Using Atomic Force Microscopy

We present detailed protocols for isolation of aortas from mouse and measurement of their elastic modulus using atomic force microscopy.

Arterial stiffening is a significant risk factor and biomarker for cardiovascular disease and a hallmark of aging. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a ...

A Morphometric and Cellular Analysis Method for the Murine Mandibular Condyle

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) has the capacity to adapt to external stimuli, and loading changes can affect the position of condyles, as well as the structural and cellular components of the mandibular condylar cartilage (MCC). This manuscript describes methods for analyzing these changes and a method for altering the loading of the TMJ in mice (i.e., compressive static TMJ loading). The structural evaluation illustrated here is a simple morphometric approach that uses the Digimizer software and is performed in radiographs of small bones. In addition, the analysis of cellular changes leading to alterations in collagen expression, bone remodeling, cell division, and proteoglycan distribution in the MCC is described. The quantification of these changes in histological sections - by counting the positive fluorescent pixels using image software and measuring the distance mapping and stained area with Digimizer - is also demonstrated. The methods shown here are not limited to the murine TMJ, but could be used on additional bones of small experimental animals and in other regions of endochondral ossification.

This manuscript presents methods for analyzing morphometric and cellular changes within the mandibular condyle of rodents.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) has the capacity to adapt to external stimuli, and loading changes can affect the position of condyles, as well as the ...

A Simple Method for Isolation of Soybean Protoplasts and Application to Transient Gene Expression Analyses

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is an important crop species and has become a legume model for the studies of genetic and biochemical pathways. Therefore, it is important to establish an efficient transient gene expression system in soybean. Here, we report a simple protocol for the preparation of soybean protoplasts and its application for transient functional analyses. We found that young unifoliate leaves from soybean seedlings resulted in large quantities of high quality protoplasts. By optimizing a PEG-calcium-mediated transformation method, we achieved high transformation efficiency using soybean unifoliate protoplasts. This system provides an efficient and versatile model for examination of complex regulatory and signaling mechanisms in live soybean cells and may help to better understand diverse cellular, developmental and physiological processes of legumes.

We developed a simple and efficient protocol for the preparation of large quantities of soybean protoplasts to study complex regulatory and signaling mechanisms in live cells.

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is an important crop species and has become a legume model for the studies of genetic and biochemical pathways. ...

Measurement of Liver Stiffness Using Atomic Force Microscopy Coupled with Polarization Microscopy

Matrix stiffening has been recognized as one of the key drivers of the progression of liver fibrosis. It has profound effects on various aspects of cell behavior such as cell function, differentiation, and motility. However, as these processes are not homogeneous throughout the whole organ, it has become increasingly important to understand changes in the mechanical properties of tissues on the cellular level.
To be able to monitor the stiffening of collagen-rich areas within the liver lobes, this paper presents a protocol for measuring liver tissue elastic moduli with high spatial precision by atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM is a sensitive method with the potential to characterize local mechanical properties, calculated as Young&#39;s (also referred to as elastic) modulus. AFM coupled with polarization microscopy can be used to specifically locate the areas of fibrosis development based on the birefringence of collagen fibers in tissues. Using the presented protocol, we characterized the stiffness of collagen-rich areas from fibrotic mouse livers and corresponding areas in the livers of control mice.
A prominent increase in the stiffness of collagen-positive areas was observed with fibrosis development. The presented protocol allows for a highly reproducible method of AFM measurement, due to the use of mildly fixed liver tissue, that can be used to further the understanding of disease-initiated changes in local tissue mechanical properties and their effect on the fate of neighboring cells.

We present a protocol to measure the elastic moduli of collagen-rich areas in normal and diseased liver using atomic force microscopy. The simultaneous use of polarization microscopy provides high spatial precision for localizing collagen-rich areas in the liver sections.

Matrix stiffening has been recognized as one of the key drivers of the progression of liver fibrosis. It has profound effects on various aspects of cell ...

Developing an Ovariectomized Mouse Model with Elevated FSH Level

Exploring Independent Effects of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone In Vivo in a Mouse Model

During the transition from a reproductive to a nonreproductive phase (menopause), many women experience significant physiological and pathological changes, including decreased bone mass, increased blood lipids, and increased visceral adiposity. Levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) rise during the menopausal transition. Many studies have shown that FSH in various extragonadal tissues and organs is associated with the pathogenesis of multiple diseases. Thus, building an animal model that can help study the independent effects of FSH in vivo is particularly important. In this study, C57BL/6 female mice were ovariectomized and supplemented with estradiol valerate (OVX + E2) to eliminate the effect of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The OVX + E2 mice received solvent (N.S.) or different doses of recombinant FSH via intraperitoneal injection to create a mouse model (OVF) characterized by relatively stable estrogen and rising FSH levels. Thus, we successfully generated an experimental mouse model to mimic the early stage of menopause transition, characterized by elevated serum FSH levels. The OVF model has the advantages of being stable, low cost, and easy to operate, which is suitable for studies to explore the extragonadal actions of FSH. Here, we describe detailed protocols for the mouse OVF model.

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Relationship Between FSH and Pathophysiological Changes in Perimenopausal Women - Insights from a Mouse Model 

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in various extragonadal tissues and organs is associated with the pathogenesis of multiple diseases. The ovariectomized and FSH-treated mouse model (OVF) can be used to explore the extragonadal actions of FSH.

During the transition from a reproductive to a nonreproductive phase (menopause), many women experience significant physiological and pathological ...

Preparation and Imaging of Murine Ocular Lens Whole Mounts

Whole Mount Imaging to Visualize and Quantify Peripheral Lens Structure, Cell Morphology, and Organization

The ocular lens is a transparent flexible tissue that alters its shape to focus light from different distances onto the retina. Aside from a basement membrane surrounding the organ, called the capsule, the lens is entirely cellular consisting of a monolayer of epithelial cells on the anterior hemisphere and a bulk mass of lens fiber cells. Throughout life, epithelial cells proliferate in the germinative zone at the lens equator, and equatorial epithelial cells migrate, elongate, and differentiate into newly formed fiber cells. Equatorial epithelial cells substantially alter morphology from randomly packed cobble-stone-shaped cells into aligned hexagon-shaped cells forming meridional rows. Newly formed lens fiber cells retain the hexagonal cell shape and elongate toward the anterior and posterior poles, forming a new shell of cells that are overlaid onto previous generations of fibers. Little is known about the mechanisms that drive the remarkable morphogenesis of lens epithelial cells to fiber cells. To better understand lens structure, development, and function, new imaging protocols have been developed to image peripheral structures using whole mounts of ocular lenses. Here, methods to quantify capsule thickness, epithelial cell area, cell nuclear area and shape, meridional row cell order and packing, and fiber cell widths are shown. These measurements are essential for elucidating the cellular changes that occur during lifelong lens growth and understanding the changes that occur with age or pathology.

Author Spotlight: In-Depth Morphometric Examination and Quantification of Native Lens Structure Using Whole Mount Imaging 

The present protocols describe novel whole mount imaging for the visualization of peripheral structures in the ocular lens with methods for image quantification. These protocols can be used in studies to better understand the relationship between lens microscale structures and lens development/function.

The ocular lens is a transparent flexible tissue that alters its shape to focus light from different distances onto the retina. Aside from a basement ...