Name: live imaging of the zebrafish embryonic brain by confocal microscopy
Uploaded: 2009-04-01T00:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Live Imaging of the Zebrafish Embryonic Brain by Confocal Microscopy at JoVE.com

<p class="jove_content">Many thanks to Dr. Jennifer Gutzman who first developed this technique in the Sive lab.  Thanks also to J. B. Green at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Boston, MA who kindly provided the plasmid encoding CAAX-GFP mRNA. The confocal imaging was conducted at the W. M. Keck Foundation Biological Imaging Facility at the Whitehead. HS is supported by NIHMH70926. EG is supported by an NSF pre-doctoral fellowship.</p>

<p class="jove_title">1. Preparing the mRNA for Injection</p>
<ol>
<li>The mRNA used in this procedure is transcribed from a plasmid encoding CAAX-eGFP (memGFP) mRNA. First linearize the plasmid according to Gutzman et al, 2008.</li>
<li>Then transcribe memGFP mRNA using the mMessage mMachine kit.</li>
<li>Dilute the resulting mRNA to 1&mu;g/&mu;l, aliquot, and store at -80&deg;C.</li>
<li>Prepare an injection mold of 1% agarose with lanes the width of embryos at the one cell stage.</li>
<li>On the day before injection, set up mating cage...

<ol>
	<li>Gutzman, J. H., Graeden, E., Sive, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Formation+of+the+zebrafish+midbrain-hindbrain+boundary+constriction+requires+laminin-dependent+basal+constriction.">Formation of the zebrafish midbrain-hindbrain boundary constriction requires laminin-dependent basal constriction.</a> <em style='font-style: italic'>Mech Dev</em>. <b>125</b> (974), 11-12 (2008).</li><li>Westerfield, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> <em style='font-style: italic'>The Zebrafish Book: a Guide for the Laboratory Use of Zebrafish</em>. , (1995).</li></ol>

<p class="jove_content">In this video, we demonstrate a method for mRNA injection into single cell zebrafish embryos. Here, we use mRNA encoding a membrane-targeted GFP to label each cell. We then demonstrate how to mount and image the developing brain at single cell resolution. This technique has allowed us to study a novel type of cell shape change, basal constriction, required for formation of the midbrain-hindbrain boundary (Gutzman et al, 2008). Similar analysis of other phenomena has the potential to significantly expand our understanding...

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		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
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<tr>
<td>SeaKem GTG agarose</td>
<td>   Reagent</td>
<td>Lonza</td>
<td>50027</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>3-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester (Tricaine)</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma</td>
<td>A-5040</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Capillary tubing</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Frederick Haer and Co.</td>
<td>30-30-1</td>
<td>Borosil 1.0mmOD x 0.5mm ID/fiber 100mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Silicone vacuum grease</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>VWR</td>
<td>W0S717</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>Forceps</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>11232-20</td>
<td>Dumont #5 Bio Inox</td>
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<td>1-200 &#x03BC;l Pipette tips</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Tip One, US Scientific</td>
<td>111-0806</td>
<td>These are the correct size for 24 hpf embryos. </td>
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<tr>
<td>mMessage mMachine transcription kit</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Ambion</td>
<td>AM1340</td>
<td>SP6 RNA polymerase</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Zeiss LSM 510 scanning confocal </td>
<td>Microscope</td>
<td>Zeiss</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>Micromanipulator</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Narishige</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Microinjector</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Medical Systems Research Products Harvard Apparatus</td>
<td>PLI-100</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>Micropipette puller</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Sutter Instruments</td>
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live imaging of the zebrafish embryonic brain by confocal microscopy

In this video, we demonstrate the method our lab has developed to analyze the cell shape changes and rearrangements required to bend and fold the developing zebrafish brain (Gutzman et al, 2008). Such analysis affords a new understanding of the underlying cell biology required for development of the 3D structure of the vertebrate brain, and significantly increases our ability to study neural tube morphogenesis. The embryonic zebrafish brain is shaped beginning at 18 hours post fertilization (hpf) as the ventricles within the neuroepithelium inflate. By 24 hpf, the initial steps of neural tube morphogenesis are complete. Using the method described here, embryos at the one cell stage are injected with mRNA encoding membrane-targeted green fluorescent protein (memGFP). After injection and incubation, the embryo, now between 18 and 24 hpf, is mounted, inverted, in agarose and imaged by confocal microscopy. Notably, the zebrafish embryo is transparent making it an ideal system for fluorescent imaging. While our analyses have focused on the midbrain-hindbrain boundary and the hindbrain, this method could be extended for analysis of any region in the zebrafish to a depth of 
80-100 &mu;m.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Live Imaging of the Zebrafish Embryonic Brain by Confocal Microscopy at JoVE.com

Live Imaging of the Zebrafish Embryonic Brain by Confocal Microscopy

<p class="jove_content">In this video, we demonstrate a method by which to analyze the developing vertebrate brain in live zebrafish embryos at single cell resolution by confocal microscopy. This includes the method by which we inject the single-cell zebrafish embryo and subsequently mount and image the developing brain. </p>

In this video, we demonstrate the method our lab has developed to analyze the cell shape changes and rearrangements required to bend and fold the ...

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