We are grateful to Gurdon laboratory members for useful discussion. K.M. is a Research Fellow at Wolfson College and is supported by the Herchel Smith Postdoctoral Fellowship and the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation. Gurdon laboratory is supported by grants from the Wellcome Trust (RG69899) and MRC to J.B.G.

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M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chordin+is+required+for+the+Spemann+organizer+transplantation+phenomenon+in+Xenopus+embryos.">Chordin is required for the Spemann organizer transplantation phenomenon in Xenopus embryos.</a> Developmental cell. 4 (2), 219-230 (2003).</li><li>Szenker, E., Lacoste, N., Almouzni, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+developmental+requirement+for+HIRA-dependent+H3.3+deposition+revealed+at+gastrulation+in+Xenopus.">A developmental requirement for HIRA-dependent H3.3 deposition revealed at gastrulation in Xenopus.</a> Cell reports. 1 (6), 730-740 (2012).</li><li>Heasman, J., Holwill, S., Wylie, C. 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The authors have nothing to disclose.

Nos detalle aquí un nuevo método para agotar factores maternos o para sobreexpresar factores exógenos antes de la fertilización. Este sistema requiere dos microinyecciones, pero en su lugar se salta de la cirugía de las ranas, utilizado en el método de transferencia de 7,17 host. Es óptimo para eliminar el paso de la cirugía rana en términos de cuidado de los animales. Por otra parte, no tenemos que tener en cuenta para la calidad de las ranas hembra de acogida para los experimentos de transferencia, lo que significa que podemos deshacernos de un factor biológico que afecta el éxito de los experimentos. Por lo tanto en este sistema la calidad de los ovocitos obtenidos de ranas cebados con PMSG es un factor biológico importante que es la clave para experimentos exitosos. La calidad de los ovocitos puede ser juzgado después de la recogida de ovario o después defolliculation. Si se observa alguna anomalía en estas etapas, es óptimo para recoger otro ovario de una nueva rana. Otro punto en el que se puede comprobar la calidad de los ovocitos es después de la maduración de ovocitos. Si es menos de 80% de progesteronaovocitos e tratados muestran signos de maduración, es posible que no pueda obtener el número suficiente de embriones para otros análisis. El uso de defolliculation enzimática en lugar de defolliculation manual es también otra ventaja de utilizar este sistema para reducir la mano de obra requerida para defolliculation. Sin embargo, todavía es posible que defolliculation manual puede dar un mejor desarrollo que el tratamiento enzimático. Como se muestra en la Figura 3, casi 10% de los ovocitos madurados in vitro se puede llegar a la etapa de natación renacuajo. Estos datos se recogen de 13 experimentos independientes, incluyendo los reportados en 8 y nuevos experimentos de inyección. Método de transferencia Host necesita 75-150 ovocitos en cada tratamiento para obtener datos significativos desde 30 a 60% de los ovocitos transferidos puede llegar a la etapa neurula 17. Nuestro método normalmente se inicia con 200 a 300 ovocitos en cada grupo experimental ya que aproximadamente el 40-60% de los embriones escindidos puede llegar a laetapa respuesta muscular. Estos datos sugieren que ambos métodos apoyan una tasa de desarrollo razonable. Hasta ahora hemos obtenido 10 ranas vivas de control de mRNA inyectado y control antisentido ovocitos oligo-inyectado utilizando esta técnica, lo que indica que este enfoque apoya el desarrollo a través de la metamorfosis. Nuestro método de manipulación-ICSI de ovocitos ofrece la oportunidad de probar el papel de los factores maternos durante el desarrollo embrionario temprano, poco después de la fertilización. Además, la sobreexpresión de factores de modificación de la cromatina antes de la fertilización puede hacer posible para remodelar la cromatina materna antes de la fertilización para la comprensión de los estados de la cromatina materna necesario para el desarrollo. Esta estrategia también puede trabajar bien con los sistemas de edición gen de actualidad como la transcripción del tipo activador de efector nucleasa (TALEN) 18,19 y CRISPR / CAS9 20,21 ya que éstos pueden expresarse incluso antes de la fertilización. Por lo tanto, nuestro nuevo enfoque tiene un potential que debe utilizarse para muchas aplicaciones en el futuro.

Xenopus laevis es un ampliamente utilizado, poderoso organismo modelo para estudiar el desarrollo 1. Esto es porque los huevos de Xenopus son inusualmente grande (aproximadamente 1.2 a 1.4 mm, en comparación con sus homólogos de mamíferos ser aproximadamente 0,1 mm) y abundante. Los huevos contienen maternalmente sintetizadas y almacenadas componentes, que son suficientes para impulsar el desarrollo embrionario hasta la transición a mediados de blástula (MBT, que se producen en la etapa de 8-8,5 con 4.000-8.000 células). MBT es acompañada por la activación del genoma cigóticos, que entonces produce productos de genes embrionarios que dirigen el desarrollo adicional. Numerosos estudios dirigidos a identificar los factores maternos importantes para el desarrollo. Muchos estudios se basan en la inyección de oligonucleótidos antisentido (oligos) incluyendo oligonucleótidos morfolino en embriones fertilizados, en los que la degradación caso de las proteínas maternas se puede observar en la etapa de gástrula 2-4. Alternativamente, los ARNm se inyectan a em fertilizadobryos que perturban las funciones de genes o para rastrear destinos de proteínas sobreexpresados. Sin embargo, la inyección en los embriones en estadio de una célula que normalmente no afecta a los niveles de expresión de proteínas materna en las primeras etapas embrionarias antes de MBT. Heasman y Wylie establecieron el método de transferencia de acogida para superar este problema 5. En su método, los ovocitos desfolicularon manualmente son inyectados con oligonucleótidos antisentido y se transfirieron a hembras de acogida 6. Las proteínas están regulados a la baja antes de la fertilización para que funciones de las proteínas downregulated en el desarrollo embrionario temprano pueden ser examinados. Este método agotamiento de la madre llevó a la identificación de varias funciones de desarrollo únicas de proteínas maternas, tal como fue revisado en 7. En este informe, detallamos nuestro método recientemente desarrollado, en el que se alcanza el agotamiento materno o sobreexpresión de ARNm antes de la fertilización sin defolliculation manual y transferencia de acogida8. Defolliculation manual requiere una gran cantidad de tiempo y de transferencia de acogida a menudo necesita técnicas de expertos y la licencia específica para la cirugía animal, lo que dificulta el uso frecuente de método de agotamiento de la madre. Defolliculation y transferencia de acogida son sustituidos por defolliculation enzimática 9,10 y la inyección intracitoplasmática de espermatozoides (ICSI) 11-13, respectivamente. ICSI a los huevos se utilizó originalmente para producir ranas transgénicos 12. Esperma y embriones de núcleos también fueron trasplantadas en in vitro de ovocitos de anfibios madurado 11,14,15. Aquí, mostramos nuestro método paso a paso para inyectar espermatozoides ovocitos madurados in vitro que fueron pre-inyectados con oligonucleótidos antisentido o ARNm.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="589">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Name of Reagent/ Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin (PMSG)&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">MSD Animal Health</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Vm 01708/4309</td>
			<td>PMSG-Intervet 5000iu powder and solvent for solution for injection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Ethyl 3-aminobenzoate methanesulfonate salt (MS222)</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A5040</td>
			<td>For anesthesia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="24">
			<td height="24" style="height:24px;width:216px;">Liberase TM Research Grade</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Roche</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">05 401 127 001</td>
			<td>For oocyte defolliculation. Store at -20oC</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="72">
			<td height="72" style="height:72px;width:216px;">Drummond Nanoject</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Drummond Scientific Company</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">3-000-205/206</td>
			<td>For microinjection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">glass capillary&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Alpha laboratories</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">7&#8221; Drummond #3-000-203-G/XL</td>
			<td>For microinjection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Micropipette Puller&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">SUTTER Instrument</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Model D-97</td>
			<td>For microinjection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">UltraPure Agarose</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">16500-500</td>
			<td>For invitro maturation and ICSI</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:216px;">14 ml ultra-clear centrifuge tube&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Beckman Coulter United Kingdom Ltd</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">344060</td>
			<td>For sperm purification</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">OptiPrep Density Gradient Medium (Iodixanol)</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">D1556</td>
			<td>For sperm purification</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Digitonin</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">D141</td>
			<td>Cell permeabilization reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Shaker</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Hybaid&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">HB-SHK-1</td>
			<td>For oocyte defolliculation.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Dissecting microscope (Stereo zoom microscope)</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">ZEISS</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Semi SV6</td>
			<td>For oocyte collection and microinjection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">50 &#956;m pore filter</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">CellTrics</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">04-0042-2317</td>
			<td>For sperm purification</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;">Ultracentrifuge</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Optima L-100XP</td>
			<td>For sperm purification</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:216px;">50 ml centrifuge tube</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Cellstar Greiner Bio-One</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">227261 or 210261</td>
			<td>Oocyte collection and defolliculation reaction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">15 ml centrifuge tube</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">FALCON</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">352097</td>
			<td>For sperm purification</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">90 mm Petri dish&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">101VR20/C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Easy-Grip Cell Culture Dish, 60x15 mm</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">FALCON</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">353004</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Easy-Grip Cell Culture Dish, 35x15 mm</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">FALCON</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">351008</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

manipulation and in vitro maturation of xenopus laevis oocytes, followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection, to study embryonic development

Amphibian eggs have been widely used to study embryonic development. Early embryonic development is driven by maternally stored factors accumulated during oogenesis. In order to study roles of such maternal factors in early embryonic development, it is desirable to manipulate their functions from the very beginning of embryonic development. Conventional ways of gene interference are achieved by injection of antisense oligonucleotides (oligos) or mRNA into fertilized eggs, enabling under- or over-expression of specific proteins, respectively. However, these methods normally require more than several hours until protein expression is affected, and, hence, the interference of gene functions is not effective during early embryonic stages. Here, we introduce an experimental system in which expression levels of maternal proteins can be altered before fertilization. Xenopus laevis oocytes obtained from ovaries are defolliculated by incubating with enzymes. Antisense oligos or mRNAs are injected into defolliculated oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage. These oocytes are in vitro matured to eggs at the metaphase II (MII) stage, followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). By this way, up to 10% of ICSI embryos can reach the swimming tadpole stage, thus allowing functional tests of specific gene knockdown or overexpression. This approach can be a useful way to study roles of maternally stored factors in early embryonic development.

El desarrollo embrionario de embriones ICSI utilizando en ovocitos madurados in vitro fue examinado (Figura 3A). Tasas de maduración de ovocitos GV a la etapa MII son variables y dependen en gran medida de la calidad de los ovocitos. En los buenos experimentos, casi el 100% de los ovocitos GV responder a la progesterona y muestran signos de maduración de ovocitos, finalmente convertirse huevos en la etapa MII. Todos los ovocitos madurados fueron sometidos a ICSI y aproximadamente 25% de los huevos inyectados escindidos (Figura 3A, n = 13 para el control revueltos ovocitos oligo-inyectado y n = 7 para no ovocitos oligo-inyectada). Aproximadamente el 60% o 80% de los embriones escindidos, producidos a partir de ovocitos inyectados con oligo de control o de ovocitos no inyectada, respectivamente, alcanzaron la etapa de blástula / gástrula. Entre los embriones blástula / gástrula, aproximadamente la mitad de los embriones en las muestras de oligo-inyectado eran de buena calidad (casi no hay signos de división anormal y apoptosis), mientras que el 82% de los embriones blástula / gástrula eran de buena calidad nmuestras inyectadas en (Figura 3A). Finalmente, 41% y 11% de los embriones escindidos en muestras de oligo-inyectada llegaron a la respuesta muscular y las etapas de natación renacuajo, respectivamente, mientras que el 60% y el 29% de los embriones escindidos en muestras no inyectados hicieron (Figura 3A). Estos embriones ICSI son la mezcla de los embriones normales y anormales (Figura 3B). Algunos de ellos sufren metamorfosis y desarrollar a madurar ranas 8. Estos resultados sugieren que la inyección de oligonucleótidos antisentido en oocitos GV, seguido de IVM y ICSI, permite el desarrollo embrionario temprano eficiente. Aunque la inyección de sí mismo oligos antisentido disminuye el desarrollo embrionario, todavía somos capaces de obtener suficientes embriones para muchos propósitos experimentales como la comprobación de las tasas de desarrollo, RT-PCR, western blot y así sucesivamente. <img alt="Figura 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/52496/52496fig1highres.jpg" /> Higo<html> Ure 1: Ejemplos típicos de Xenopus laevis ovocitos de buena calidad o mala calidad de los experimentos in vitro de maduración. (A) Un ejemplo de ovocitos de mala calidad. Por ejemplo, los ovocitos que muestran la pigmentación irregular no se utilizan para experimentos posteriores. Cada oocito de Xenopus laevis es de aproximadamente 1/2 a 1/4 mm de diámetro. (B) un ovocito parcialmente desfolicularon. La mitad derecha del ovocito está cubierto por las células del folículo, que se pueden discernir por la presencia de vasos sanguíneos. Una flecha muestra un área libre de células del folículo y en la que se inyecta la aguja de inyección. (C) Un ejemplo de ovocitos de buena calidad, que son de igual tamaño y muestran hemisferios animales uniformemente pigmentados con un claro contraste entre el hemisferio animal y el hemisferio vegetal. 2496 / 52496fig2highres.jpg &quot;/&gt; Figura 2:. Oocitos de Xenopus laevis antes y después de la maduración Después de la maduración de ovocitos, manchas blancas claros aparecen en la parte superior de los hemisferios animales y las células del folículo se pelan. Cada oocito de Xenopus laevis es de aproximadamente 1 mm de diámetro. <img alt="Figura 3" src="/files/ftp_upload/52496/52496fig3highres.jpg" /> Figura 3: Desarrollo de embriones ICSI, producidos a partir de ovocitos madurados in vitro. (A) Desarrollo de embriones ICSI a cada etapa se resume. Los oocitos fueron inyectados con control mezclado oligonucleótidos antisentido (oligo de inyección de control) o sin inyección (no inyección), seguido de IVM y ICSI. El número correspondiente de embriones en cada etapa se muestra por encima de las barras. Media ± SEM se muestra. N = 4-13 experimentos independientes / diferente females. (B) Ejemplos de sobrevivir embriones ICSI. Estos embriones tailbud etapa fueron producidos en un experimento, en el que se utilizaron aproximadamente 200 ovocitos como material de partida.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Manipulation and In Vitro Maturation of Xenopus laevis Oocytes, Followed by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, to Study Embryonic Development at JoVE.com

Manipulation and In Vitro Maturation of Xenopus laevis Oocytes, Followed by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, to Study Embryonic Development

We describe methods of manipulating Xenopus laevis immature oocytes, in vitro maturation of oocytes to eggs, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. This protocol allows degradation of some maternal proteins and overexpression of genes of interest at fertilization, and hence is valuable to study roles of specific factors in early embryonic development.

La manipulación y<em&gt; In Vitro</em&gt; La maduración de<em&gt; Xenopus laevis</em&gt; Los ovocitos, seguido de inyección intracitoplasmática de espermatozoides, para estudiar el desarrollo embrionario

Amphibian eggs have been widely used to study embryonic development. Early embryonic development is driven by maternally stored factors accumulated during ...

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Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

Manipulation and In Vitro Maturation of Xenopus laevis Oocytes, Followed by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, to Study Embryonic Development

22.1K vistas.  University of Cambridge. We describe methods of manipulating Xenopus laevis immature oocytes, in vitro maturation of oocytes to eggs, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. This protocol allows degradation of some maternal proteins and overexpression of genes of interest at fertilization, and hence is valuable to study roles of specific factors in early embryonic development.

Video: Manipulation and In Vitro Maturation of Xenopus laevis Oocytes, Followed by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, to Study Embryonic Development

Expression of Fluorescent Proteins in Branchiostoma lanceolatum by mRNA Injection into Unfertilized Oocytes

We report here a robust and efficient protocol for the expression of fluorescent proteins after mRNA injection into unfertilized oocytes of the cephalochordate amphioxus, Branchiostoma lanceolatum. We use constructs for membrane and nuclear targeted mCherry and eGFP that have been modified to accommodate amphioxus codon usage and Kozak consensus sequences. We describe the type of injection needles to be used, the immobilization protocol for the unfertilized oocytes, and the overall injection set-up. This technique generates fluorescently labeled embryos, in which the dynamics of cell behaviors during early development can be analyzed using the latest in vivo imaging strategies. The development of a microinjection technique in this amphioxus species will allow live imaging analyses of cell behaviors in the embryo as well as gene-specific manipulations, including gene overexpression and knockdown. Altogether, this protocol will further consolidate the basal chordate amphioxus as an animal model for addressing questions related to the mechanisms of embryonic development and, more importantly, to their evolution.

Expression of Fluorescent Proteins in Branchiostoma lanceolatum by mRNA Injection into Unfertilized Oocytes

We report here the robust and efficient expression of fluorescent proteins after mRNA injection into unfertilized oocytes of Branchiostoma lanceolatum. The development of the microinjection technique in this basal chordate will pave the way for far-reaching technical innovations in this emerging model system, including in vivo imaging and gene-specific manipulations.

Expresión de proteínas fluorescentes en<em&gt; Lanceolatum Branchiostoma</em&gt; Por mRNA La inyección en ovocitos no fecundados

We report here a robust and efficient protocol for the expression of fluorescent proteins after mRNA injection into unfertilized oocytes of the ...

Investigación

Biología del Desarrollo

Culture of Embryonic Mouse Cochlear Explants and Gene Transfer by Electroporation

Auditory hair cells located within the mouse organ of Corti detect and transmit sound information to the central nervous system. The mechanosensory hair cells are aligned in one row of inner hair cells and three rows of outer hair cells that extend along the basal to apical axis of the cochlea. The explant culture technique described here provides an efficient method to isolate and maintain cochlear explants from the embryonic mouse inner ear. Also, the morphology and molecular characteristics of sensory hair cells and nonsensory supporting cells within the cochlear explant cultures resemble those observed in vivo and can be studied within its intrinsic cellular environment. The cochlear explants can serve as important experimental tools for the identification and characterization of molecular and genetic pathways that are involved in cellular specification and patterning. Although transgenic mouse models provide an effective approach for gene expression studies, a considerable number of mouse mutants die during embryonic development thereby hindering the analysis and interpretation of developmental phenotypes. The organ of Corti from mutant mice that die before birth can be cultured so that their in vitro development and responses to different factors can be analyzed. Additionally, we describe a technique for electroporating embryonic cochlear explants ex vivo which can be used to downregulate or overexpress specific gene(s) and analyze their potential endogenous function and test whether specific gene product is necessary or sufficient in a given context to influence mammalian cochlear development1-8.

We present a method that describes isolation and culture of cochlear explants from embryonic mouse inner ear. We also demonstrate a method for gene transfer into cochlear explants via square-wave electroporation. The in vitro explant culture coupled with gene transfer technique enables researchers to study the effects of altering gene expression during development.

Cultura de embriones de ratón explantes cocleares y Gene Transfer por electroporación

Auditory hair cells located within the mouse organ of Corti detect and transmit sound information to the central nervous system. The mechanosensory hair ...

Using Confocal Analysis of Xenopus laevis to Investigate Modulators of Wnt and Shh Morphogen Gradients

This protocol describes a method to visualise ligands distributed across a field of cells. The ease of expressing exogenous proteins, together with the large size of their cells in early embryos, make Xenopus laevis a useful model for visualising GFP-tagged ligands. Synthetic mRNAs are efficiently translated after injection into early stage Xenopus embryos, and injections can be targeted to a single cell. When combined with a lineage tracer such as membrane tethered RFP, the injected cell (and its descendants) that are producing the overexpressed protein can easily be followed. This protocol describes a method for the production of fluorescently tagged Wnt and Shh ligands from injected mRNA. The methods involve the micro dissection of ectodermal explants (animal caps) and the analysis of ligand diffusion in multiple samples. By using confocal imaging, information about ligand secretion and diffusion over a field of cells can be obtained. Statistical analyses of confocal images provide quantitative data on the shape of ligand gradients. These methods may be useful to researchers who want to test the effects of factors that may regulate the shape of morphogen gradients.

Using Confocal Analysis of Xenopus laevis to Investigate Modulators of Wnt and Shh Morphogen Gradients

The manuscript here provides a simple set of methods for analysing the secretion and diffusion of fluorescently tagged ligands in Xenopus. This provides a context for testing the ability of other proteins to modify ligand distribution and allowing experiments that may give insight into mechanisms regulating morphogen gradients.

Uso del análisis confocal de<em&gt; Xenopus laevis</em&gt; Encargado de investigar moduladores de Wnt y Shh morfógeno Degradados

This protocol describes a method to visualise ligands distributed across a field of cells. The ease of expressing exogenous proteins, together with the ...

Stem cell-like Xenopus Embryonic Explants to Study Early Neural Developmental Features In Vitro and In Vivo

Understanding the genetic programs underlying neural development is an important goal of developmental and stem cell biology. In the amphibian blastula, cells from the roof of the blastocoel are pluripotent. These cells can be isolated, and programmed to generate various tissues through manipulation of genes expression or induction by morphogens. In this manuscript protocols are described for the use of Xenopus laevis blastocoel roof explants as an assay system to investigate key in vivo and in vitro features of early neural development. These protocols allow the investigation of fate acquisition, cell migration behaviors, and cell autonomous and non-autonomous properties. The blastocoel roof explants can be cultured in a serum-free defined medium and grafted into host embryos. This transplantation into an embryo allows the investigation of the long-term lineage commitment, the inductive properties, and the behavior of transplanted cells in vivo. These assays can be exploited to investigate molecular mechanisms, cellular processes and gene regulatory networks underlying neural development. In the context of regenerative medicine, these assays provide a means to generate neural-derived cell types in vitro that could be used in drug screening.

Stem cell-like Xenopus Embryonic Explants to Study Early Neural Developmental Features In Vitro and In Vivo

In Xenopus embryos, cells from the roof of the blastocoel are pluripotent and can be programmed to generate various tissues. Here, we describe protocols to use amphibian blastocoel roof explants as an assay system to investigate key in vivo and in vitro features of early neural development.

Celular-como Stem<em&gt; Xenopus</em&gt; Embrionarias explantes para Estudiar Características Temprana del Desarrollo Neural<em&gt; In Vitro</em&gt; Y<em&gt; En Vivo</em

Understanding the genetic programs underlying neural development is an important goal of developmental and stem cell biology. In the amphibian blastula, ...

Technique to Target Microinjection to the Developing Xenopus Kidney

The embryonic kidney of Xenopus&#160;laevis (frog), the pronephros, consists of a single nephron, and can be used as a model for kidney disease. Xenopus embryos are large, develop externally, and can be easily manipulated by microinjection or surgical procedures. In addition, fate maps have been established for early Xenopus embryos. Targeted microinjection into the individual blastomere that will eventually give rise to an organ or tissue of interest can be used to selectively overexpress or knock down gene expression within this restricted region, decreasing secondary effects in the rest of the developing embryo. In this protocol, we describe how to utilize established Xenopus fate maps to target the developing Xenopus kidney (the pronephros), through microinjection into specific blastomere of 4- and 8-cell embryos. Injection of lineage tracers allows verification of the specific targeting of the injection. After embryos have developed to stage 38 - 40, whole-mount immunostaining is used to visualize pronephric development, and the contribution by targeted cells to the pronephros can be assessed. The same technique can be adapted to target other tissue types in addition to the pronephros.

Technique to Target Microinjection to the Developing Xenopus Kidney

Here, we present a protocol to use fate maps and lineage tracers to target injections into individual blastomeres that give rise to the kidney of Xenopus laevis embryos.

Técnica de microinyección a Target a los países en desarrollo<em&gt; Xenopus</em&gt; riñón

The embryonic kidney of Xenopus&#160;laevis (frog), the pronephros, consists of a single nephron, and can be used as a model for kidney disease. Xenopus ...

Functional Manipulation of Maternal Gene Products Using In Vitro Oocyte Maturation in Zebrafish

Cellular events that take place during the earliest stages of animal embryonic development are driven by maternally derived gene products deposited into the developing oocyte. Because these events rely on maternal products which typically act very soon after fertilization-that preexist inside the egg, standard approaches for expression and functional reduction involving the injection of reagents into the fertilized egg are typically ineffective. Instead, such manipulations must be performed during oogenesis, prior to or during the accumulation of maternal products. This article describes in detail a protocol for the in vitro maturation of immature zebrafish oocytes and their subsequent in vitro fertilization, yielding viable embryos that survive to adulthood. This method allows the functional manipulation of maternal products during oogenesis, such as the expression of products for phenotypic rescue and tagged construct visualization, as well as the reduction of gene function through reverse-genetics agents.

Functional Manipulation of Maternal Gene Products Using In Vitro Oocyte Maturation in Zebrafish

An optimized protocol for the in vitro maturation of zebrafish oocytes used for the manipulation of maternal gene products is presented here.

La manipulación de genes maternos funcional de Productos que utilizan<em&gt; In Vitro</em&gt; La maduración de ovocitos en el pez cebra

Cellular events that take place during the earliest stages of animal embryonic development are driven by maternally derived gene products deposited into ...

Visualization and Quantitative Analysis of Embryonic Angiogenesis in Xenopus tropicalis

Blood vessels supply oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, and the formation of the vascular network is under tight developmental control. The efficient in vivo visualization of blood vessels and the reliable quantification of their complexity are key to understanding the biology and disease of the vascular network. Here, we provide a detailed method to visualize blood vessels with a commercially available fluorescent dye, human plasma acetylated low density lipoprotein DiI complex (DiI-AcLDL), and to quantify their complexity in Xenopus tropicalis. Blood vessels can be labeled by a simple injection of DiI-AcLDL into the beating heart of an embryo, and blood vessels in the entire embryo can be imaged in live or fixed embryos. Combined with gene perturbation by the targeted microinjection of nucleic acids and/or the bath application of pharmacological reagents, the roles of a gene or of a signaling pathway on vascular development can be investigated within one week without resorting to sophisticated genetically engineered animals. Because of the well-defined venous system of Xenopus and its stereotypic angiogenesis, the sprouting of pre-existing vessels, vessel complexity can be quantified efficiently after perturbation experiments. This relatively simple protocol should serve as an easily accessible tool in diverse fields of cardiovascular research.

Visualization and Quantitative Analysis of Embryonic Angiogenesis in Xenopus tropicalis

This protocol demonstrates a fluorescence-based method to visualize the vasculature and to quantify its complexity in Xenopus tropicalis. Blood vessels can be imaged minutes after the injection of a fluorescent dye into the beating heart of an embryo after genetic and/or pharmacological manipulations to study cardiovascular development in vivo.

Visualización y análisis cuantitativo de la angiogénesis embrionaria<em&gt; Xenopus tropicalis</em

Blood vessels supply oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, and the formation of the vascular network is under tight developmental control. The ...

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.

Cultura Organotypic método para estudiar el desarrollo de tejidos de embrión de pollo

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

Microinjection of DNA into Eyebuds in Xenopus laevis Embryos and Imaging of GFP Expressing Optic Axonal Arbors in Intact, Living Xenopus Tadpoles

The primary visual projection of tadpoles of the aquatic frog Xenopus laevis serves as an excellent model system for studying mechanisms that regulate the development of neuronal connectivity. During establishment of the retino-tectal projection, optic axons extend from the eye and navigate through distinct regions of the brain to reach their target tissue, the optic tectum. Once optic axons enter the tectum, they elaborate terminal arbors that function to increase the number of synaptic connections they can make with target interneurons in the tectum. Here, we describe a method to express DNA encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP), and gain- and loss-of-function gene constructs, in optic neurons (retinal ganglion cells) in Xenopus embryos. We explain how to microinject a combined DNA/lipofection reagent into eyebuds of one day old embryos such that exogenous genes are expressed in single or small numbers of optic neurons. By tagging genes with GFP or co-injecting with a GFP plasmid, terminal axonal arbors of individual optic neurons with altered molecular signaling can be imaged directly in brains of intact, living Xenopus tadpoles several days later, and their morphology can be quantified. This protocol allows for determination of cell-autonomous molecular mechanisms that underlie the development of optic axon arborization in vivo.

Microinjection of DNA into Eyebuds in Xenopus laevis Embryos and Imaging of GFP Expressing Optic Axonal Arbors in Intact, Living Xenopus Tadpoles

This protocol aims to demonstrate how to microinject a DNA/DOTAP mixture into eyebuds of one day old Xenopus laevis embryos, and how to image and reconstruct individual green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing optic axonal arbors in tectal midbrains of intact, living Xenopus tadpoles.

Microinyección de ADN en los oculares en embriones de Xenopus laevis e imágenes de gFP que expresan los árboles axonales ópticos en los renacuajos de Xenopus vivos

The primary visual projection of tadpoles of the aquatic frog Xenopus laevis serves as an excellent model system for studying mechanisms that regulate the ...

Fluorescent Calcium Imaging and Subsequent In Situ Hybridization for Neuronal Precursor Characterization in Xenopus laevis

Spontaneous intracellular calcium activity can be observed in a variety of cell types and is proposed to play critical roles in a variety of physiological processes. In particular, appropriate regulation of calcium activity patterns during embryogenesis is necessary for many aspects of vertebrate neural development, including proper neural tube closure, synaptogenesis, and neurotransmitter phenotype specification. While the observation that calcium activity patterns can differ in both frequency and amplitude suggests a compelling mechanism by which these fluxes might transmit encoded signals to downstream effectors and regulate gene expression, existing population-level approaches have lacked the precision necessary to further explore this possibility. Furthermore, these approaches limit studies of the role of cell-cell interactions by precluding the ability to assay the state of neuronal determination in the absence of cell-cell contact. Therefore, we have established an experimental workflow that pairs time-lapse calcium imaging of dissociated neuronal explants with a fluorescence in situ hybridization assay, allowing the unambiguous correlation of calcium activity pattern with molecular phenotype on a single-cell level. We were successfully able to use this approach to distinguish and characterize specific calcium activity patterns associated with differentiating neural cells and neural progenitor cells, respectively; beyond this, however, the experimental framework described in this article could be readily adapted to investigate correlations between any time-series activity profile and expression of a gene or genes of interest.

Fluorescent Calcium Imaging and Subsequent In Situ Hybridization for Neuronal Precursor Characterization in Xenopus laevis

We present a two-part protocol that combines fluorescent calcium imaging with in situ hybridization, allowing the experimenter to correlate patterns of calcium activity with gene expression profiles on a single-cell level.

Imágenes fluorescentes de calcio y posterior hibridación in situ para la caracterización de precursores neuronales en Xenopus laevis

Spontaneous intracellular calcium activity can be observed in a variety of cell types and is proposed to play critical roles in a variety of physiological ...