Name: use of single molecule fluorescent in situ hybridization (sm-fish) to quantify and localize mrnas in murine oocytes
Uploaded: 2019-04-24T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Use of Single Molecule Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization SM-FISH to Quantify and Localize mRNAs in Murine Oocytes at JoVE.com

We thank Dr. Daniel R. Larson for his generous help with the installation and use of the Spot Finding and Tracking Program&#160;13&#160;and the technical support of the University of Nebraska Lincoln Microscopy Core for the confocal microscopy imaging. This study represents a contribution of the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research Division, Lincoln, Nebraska and was supported by UNL Hatch Funds (NEB-26-206/Accession number -232435 and NEB-26-231/Accession number -1013511).

Animal procedures were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and all methods were performed in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. For this study, CD-1 outbred mice had ad libitum access to normal rodent chow and water; they were maintained in a 12:12 dark: light cycle.
1. Preparation of required media
<ol>
	<li>For base media (OMM), add 100 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 0.5 mM KH2PO4, and 1....

<ol>
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A series of minor steps during the protocol will ensure successful fluorescence and accurate counts of mRNAs. First, the protocol must be performed immediately after collection and fixation of the oocytes. Note that PVP is added to the 4% paraformaldehyde fixation buffer to prevent oocytes from sticking to each other. We found that it is necessary to perform the experiment immediately after the collection and fixation of the oocytes. Any delay results in a much lower fluorescence signal that would result in undercounting...

Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been the gold standard for mRNA quantitation. Two assays, digital PCR (dPCR)1 and quantitative, real time PCR (qPCR)2 are currently used. Of the two PCR techniques, dPCR has greater sensitivity than qPCR suggesting that it could be used to measure mRNA abundance in single cells. However, in our hands, dPCR analysis of low abundance mRNAs in pools of 5 to 10 oocytes per each experimental sample has produced data with low reproducibility and high variation3. This is likely due to the experimental error associated with RNA extraction and reverse transcription efficiency. RNA sequencing has also been performed using a single mouse and human oocytes4,5. This technique requires cDNA amplification steps required for the library generation which likely increases variability within an experimental group. Furthermore, low abundance transcripts may not be detectable. Although sequencing prices have gone down&#160;the last few years, it can still be cost prohibitive due to the high cost of bioinformatics analyses. Finally, mRNA localization is a dynamic process with spatial changes contributing to protein function6. Therefore, we set out to adopt a technique that would produce accurate and reproducible quantitative measures and localization of individual mRNAs in single oocytes.
Branched DNA coupled to fluorescence in situ hybridization amplifies fluorescence signal rather than amplifying RNA/cDNA enabling detection of single mRNAs in individual cells 7,8,9. The assay is performed through a series of hybridization, amplification (using branched DNA), and fluorescence labeling steps in order to amplify the fluorescence signal7. The technique begins with binding of 18- to 25-base oligonucleotide probe pairs that are complementary to a specific mRNA3,8,10. Fifteen to twenty probe pairs are designed for each transcript ensuring specificity for the target transcript. The mRNA-specific hybridization is followed by pre-amplifier and amplifier probes that form a branched configuration. Approximately, 400 label fluorophores bind to each amplifier, resulting in an 8000-fold increase in fluorescence allowing detection of individual mRNAs (Figure 1)11.
<img alt="Figure 1" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/59414/59414fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1: Schematic of the SM-FISH protocol. Sequential hybridization of transcript specific probe, branched DNA amplifier and fluorophore to a target mRNA is shown. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/59414/59414fig1large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
Previous studies using single molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (SM-FISH) localized &#946;-actin mRNAs in individual neurons12 and human papillomavirus DNA in cervical cancer cell lines7. The computer software Spot Finding and Tracking Program identifies individual punctate fluorescent signal and has been successfully used to quantify the number of mRNAs in each cell3,13.
Based on the results of mRNA detection in neurons12, we hypothesized that SM-FISH would prove a useful tool to quantitate transcript levels in murine oocytes and embryos including low abundance mRNAs. However, the technique is optimized for the use with adherent fixed cells and formaldehyde fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue sections. Oocytes cannot adhere to a slide, even when they are coated with Poly-L-lysine. Furthermore, they are more fragile than somatic cells and tissue sections resulting in cell lysis when subjected to some of the proprietary buffers in commercially available kits3. To overcome these challenges, oocytes were fixed and manually transferred between drops of the buffers. Furthermore, permeabilization and wash buffers in the kits were replaced to reduce the cell lysis. Predesigned probes are purchased alongside the FISH kit or specific transcripts can be requested. Each proprietary probe set is available in one of three fluorescence channels (C1, C2, and C3) to allow for multiplexing. In the current experiment, murine oocytes were dual-stained and quantified using a C2 Nanog probe and a C3 Pou5f1 probe. These probes were selected based on the reported expression of Nanog and Pou5f1 in oocytes and embryos. At the conclusion of the hybridization steps, oocytes were placed in drops of anti-fade mounting media for application to histological slides. Confocal images were used to quantify the number of punctate fluorescent signals which represent individual mRNAs. In addition to quantifying the mRNAs, imaging also showed the spatial distribution of the specific mRNA in the cell, which other RNA quantification methods are unable to achieve. This technique proved to have low variability within an experimental group allowing the use of smaller numbers of oocytes in each experimental group to identify significant differences between experimental groups3.

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			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">(&#177;)-&#945;-Lipoic acid</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">T1395</td>
			<td style="width:172px;">Alpha Lipoic Acid</td>
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			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">Albumin, Bovine Serum, Low Fatty Acid</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">MP Biomedicals, LLC</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">199899</td>
			<td>FAF BSA</td>
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			<td height="83" style="height:83px;width:223px;">BD 10mL TB Syringe</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Becton, Dickinson and Company</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">309659</td>
			<td>10 mL syringe</td>
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		<tr height="83">
			<td height="83" style="height:83px;width:223px;">BD PrecisionGlide Needle</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Becton, Dickinson and Company</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">305109</td>
			<td>27 1/2 gauge needle</td>
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			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Calcium chloride dihydrate</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">C7902</td>
			<td>CaCl2-2H2O</td>
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			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Citric acid</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">C2404</td>
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			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">D-(+)-Glucose</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">G6152</td>
			<td>Glucose</td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Disodium phosphate</td>
			<td style="width:91px;"></td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
			<td>Na2HPO4</td>
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		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Easy Grip Petri Dish</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Falcon Corning</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">351008</td>
			<td>35 mm dish</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Edetate Disodium</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Avantor</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">8994-01</td>
			<td>EDTA</td>
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			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Extra Fine Bonn Scissors</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">14084-08</td>
			<td>Straight, Sharp/Sharp, non-serrated, 13mm cutting edge scissors</td>
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			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Fetal Bovine Serum</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Atlanta biologicals</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">S10250</td>
			<td>FBS</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Gentamicin Reagent Solution</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">gibco</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">15710-064</td>
			<td>Gentamicin</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">GlutaMAX-I (100X)</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">gibco</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">35050-061</td>
			<td>Glutamax</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Gold Seal Micro Slides</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Gold Seal</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">3039</td>
			<td>25 x 75mm slides</td>
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		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Gonadotropin, From Pregnant Mares&#39; Serum</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">G4877</td>
			<td>eCG</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">hCG recombinant</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">NHPP</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">AFP8456A</td>
			<td>hCG</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Hyaluronidase, Type IV-S: From Bovine Testes</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">H3884</td>
			<td>Hyaluronidase</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Jewelers Style Forceps</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Integra</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">17-305X</td>
			<td>Forceps 4-3/8&#34;, Style 5F, Straight, Micro Fine Jaw</td>
		</tr>
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			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">L-(+)-Lactic Acid, free acid&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">MP Biomedicals, LLC</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">190228</td>
			<td>L-Lactate</td>
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			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">M2773</td>
			<td>MgSO4-7H2O</td>
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			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">MEM Nonessential Amino Acids</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Corning&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">25-025-Cl</td>
			<td>NEAA</td>
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			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Microscope Cover Glass</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">12-542-C</td>
			<td>25 x 25x 0.15 mm cover slips</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">Mm-Nanog-O2-C2 RNAscope Probe</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Advanced Cell Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">501891-C2</td>
			<td>Nanog Probe</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">Mm-Pou5f1-O1-C3 RNAscope Probe</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Advanced Cell Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">501611-C3</td>
			<td>Pou5f1 Probe</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">MOPS</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">M3183</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">P6148</td>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">PES 0.22 um Membrane -sterile</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Millex-GP</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">SLGP033RS</td>
			<td>0.22 um filters</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Polyvinylpyrrolidone</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">P0930</td>
			<td>PVP</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Potassium chloride</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">60128</td>
			<td>KCl</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Potassium phosphate monobasic</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">60218</td>
			<td>KH2PO4</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Prolong Gold antifade reagent</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">P36934</td>
			<td>Antifade reagent without DAPI</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">RNAscope DAPI</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Advanced Cell Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">320858</td>
			<td>DAPI</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">RNAscope FL AMP 1</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Advanced Cell Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">320852</td>
			<td>Amplifier 1</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">RNAscope FL AMP 2</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Advanced Cell Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">320853</td>
			<td>Amplifier 2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">RNAscope FL AMP 3</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Advanced Cell Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">320854</td>
			<td>Amplifier 3</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">RNAscope FL AMP 4 ALT A</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Advanced Cell Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">320855</td>
			<td>Amplifier 4 ALT A</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">RNAscope FL AMP 4 ALT B</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Advanced Cell Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">320856</td>
			<td>Amplifier 4 ALT B</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">RNAscope FL AMP 4 ALT C</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Advanced Cell Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">320857</td>
			<td>Amplifier 4 ALT C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">RNAscope Fluorescent Multiplex Detection Reagents Kit</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Advanced Cell Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">320851</td>
			<td>FISH Reagent Kit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">RNAscope Probe 3-plex Negative Control Probe</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Advanced Cell Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">320871</td>
			<td>Negative Control</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">RNAscope Probe 3-plex Positive Control</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Advanced Cell Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">320881</td>
			<td>Positive Control</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">RNAscope Probe Diluent</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Advanced Cell Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">300041</td>
			<td>Probe Diluent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">RNAscope Protease III</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Advanced Cell Diagnositics</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">322337</td>
			<td>Protease III</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">RNAscope Protease III &#38; IV Reagent Kit</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Advanced Cell Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">322340</td>
			<td>FISH Protease Kit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:62px;width:223px;">RNAscope Protease IV</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Advanced Cell Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">322336</td>
			<td>Protease IV</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">S/S Needle with Luer Hub 30G</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Component Supply Co.</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">NE-301PL-50</td>
			<td>blunt 30 gauge needle</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Sodium bicarbonate</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">S6297</td>
			<td>NaHCO3</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Sodium chloride</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">S6191</td>
			<td>NaCl</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Sodium hydroxide</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">306576</td>
			<td>NaOH</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Sodium pyruvate, &#62;= 99%</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">P5280</td>
			<td>Pyruvate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Solution 6 Well Dish</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Agtechinc</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">D18</td>
			<td>6 well dish</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Taurine</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">T8691</td>
			<td>Taurine</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Tissue Culture Dish</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Falcon Corning</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">353002</td>
			<td>60 mm dish</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:223px;">Triton X-100</td>
			<td style="width:91px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">X100</td>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

use of single molecule fluorescent in situ hybridization (sm-fish) to quantify and localize mrnas in murine oocytes

Current methods routinely used to quantify mRNA in oocytes and embryos include digital reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (dPCR), quantitative, real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) and RNA sequencing. When these techniques are performed using a single oocyte or embryo, low-copy mRNAs are not reliably detected. To overcome this problem, oocytes or embryos can be pooled together for analysis; however, this often leads to high variability amongst samples. In this protocol, we describe the use of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using branched DNA chemistry. This technique identifies the spatial pattern of mRNAs in individual cells. When the technique is coupled with Spot Finding and Tracking&#160;computer software, the abundance of mRNAs in the cell can also be quantified. Using this technique, there is reduced variability within an experimental group and fewer oocytes and embryos are required to detect significant differences between experimental groups. Commercially available branched-DNA SM-FISH kits have been optimized to detect mRNAs in sectioned tissues or adherent cells on slides. However, oocytes do not effectively adhere to slides and some reagents in the kit were too harsh resulting in oocyte lysis. To prevent this lysis, several modifications were made to the FISH kit. Specifically, oocyte permeabilization and wash&#160;buffers designed for the immunofluorescence of oocytes and embryos replaced the proprietary buffers. The permeabilization, washes, and incubations with probes and amplifier were performed in 6-well plates and oocytes were placed on slides at the end of the protocol using mounting media. These modifications were able to overcome the limitations of the commercially available kit, in particular, the oocyte lysis. To accurately and reproducibly count the number of mRNAs in individual oocytes, computer software was used. Together, this protocol represents an alternative to PCR and sequencing to compare the expression of specific transcripts in single cells.

Upon the completion of the protocol, the result will be individual images from confocal z-series (Figure 4A and Figure 5), stitched images (Figure 4C), and mRNA counts (Figure 4B). When multiplexing is performed, there will also be merged images showing the label for two different mRNAs (Fig...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Use of Single Molecule Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization SM-FISH to Quantify and Localize mRNAs in Murine Oocytes at JoVE.com

Use of Single Molecule Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization SM-FISH to Quantify and Localize mRNAs in Murine Oocytes

To reproducibly count the numbers of mRNAs in individual oocytes, single molecule RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (RNA-FISH) was optimized for non-adherent cells. Oocytes were collected, hybridized with the transcript specific probes, and quantified using an image quantification software.

Use of Single Molecule Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (SM-FISH) to Quantify and Localize mRNAs in Murine Oocytes

Current methods routinely used to quantify mRNA in oocytes and embryos include digital reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (dPCR), ...

This technique allows for not only localization, but also quantitation of candidate mRNAs in the individual oocytes and embryos. Compared with other assays, including PCR, completion of the technique results in reproducible data with low variation. Demonstrating the procedure will be Kelsey Timme, a graduate student in my laboratory.Begin this procedure with the preparation of the required material and female mice at five to eight weeks of age as described in the text protocol. Clean the mouse using 70%ethanol. Expose the abdominal cavity and visualize the female reproductive tract.Hold the ovary with forceps and remove the uterine ligaments and excess adipose tissue from around the ovary. Cut the oviduct from the uterus. Then, place the ovary oviduct pair in warm holding medium in a 35 millimeter dish.Remove the ovary and any surrounding adipose tissue. Tear the swollen ampullae of the oviduct using a half inch 27 gauge needle. Push the oviduct at the site of the tear and cumulus cell oocyte complexes will be expelled.Using a mouth pipette to transfer the ovulated oocytes to the 100 microliter drop containing holding medium with hyaluronidase. To dislodge cumulus cells, pipette the metaphase two oocyte cumulus cell complexes up and down in the hyaluronidase containing holding medium with the mouth pipette. Once they are devoid of cumulus cells, use the mouth pipette to transfer each oocyte to a wash drop containing only holding medium.Repeat this for each wash droplet. Do not transfer fragmented or transparent oocytes. To perform SM-FISH staining, first fix oocytes in an individual well of a six well plate containing 500 microliters of fixation buffer.Submerge 20 oocytes or less in the well. Incubate the oocytes in fixation buffer for 20 minutes at room temperature. After washing the oocytes as described in the text protocol, incubate oocytes in permeablization buffer for 30 minutes at room temperature.Following another wash, transfer the oocytes to 80 microliters of pre-diluted protease three buffer for 30 minutes at room temperature. Dilute the warmed probed sets for Nanog, Pou5f1, and DapB one to 50 in probe diluent. Incubate oocytes in 80 microliters of the transcript specific probe for two hours at 40 degrees Celsius.When oocytes are in the probe and the AMP buffers, they tend to float. It is essential that you submerge the oocytes by gently pushing them into the buffer. Transfer the oocytes to 500 microliters of wash buffer and incubate for 10 minutes at room temperature.Now, incubate oocytes sequentially in amplification buffers. First, incubate oocytes in 80 microliters of AMP1 for 30 minutes at 40 degrees Celsius. Then transfer the oocytes to 500 microliters of wash buffer for 10 minutes at room temperature.Next, incubate oocytes in 80 microliters of AMP2 for 15 minutes at 40 degrees Celsius. After washing the oocytes as before, incubate the oocytes in 80 microliters of AMP3 for 30 minutes at 40 degrees Celsius followed by a final wash. Finally, add oocytes to 80 microliters of AMP4FL for 15 minutes at 40 degrees Celsius.Pipette 12 microliters of anti-fade mounting medium onto the center of a slide without adding bubbles to the reagent. Transfer oocytes with as little wash buffer as possible into the mounting medium. Finally, apply a cover slip.Image the three dimensional oocytes using Z-step confocal microscopy and save the images as described in the text protocol. Drag ND2 files into Fiji and choose Hyperstack. Click the Image tab, select Color, and click Split Channels to separate the fluorescent channels of the ND2 file.Generate individual TIFF files for each Z slice of the oocytes in each fluorescent channel. To do so, click the Image tab, select Stacks, and click Stack to Images. Then, click the Image tab, select Type, and click RGB Color to convert each Z slice to an individual RGB color image.Save each converted image as a TIFF file. Place images from a single oocyte for each fluorescent channel in a new folder to avoid confusion during stitching. After normalizing the files as described in the text protocol, click the Plugins tab, select Stitching, and click on Grid Collection.Select Sequential Images from the dropdown menu and click Okay. Browse the directory and select the folder containing all of the Z slice images for an individual oocyte at one wavelength. Click Okay.Move the slider at the bottom of the stitched image to the appropriate color channel for the wavelength used. Create the final RGB stitched image by clicking Image, selecting Type, and clicking RGB Color. Convert the stitched image to a 32-bit maximum projected picture.To do so, click Image, select Type, and click 32-bit. Save this image as a new TIFF file. Open the 32-bit stitched image in a spot finding and tracking program.Select the Localize dropdown and click Localize, which will calculate the number of spots found in the image. Shown here is the quantification of mRNAs using the spot finder and tracking. The blue arrow points to a positive signal above threshold.The white arrow shows a fluorescent spot below the threshold and therefore not counted. The mRNA counts were subsequently analyzed using a standard data analysis tool. Representative images of the middle Z series image are shown for Pouf51 and Nanog.DAPI staining of chromosomes aligned on the metaphase two spindle is shown in white. The data collected in this protocol showed 775 Pouf51 transcripts and 113 Nanog transcripts in metaphase two oocytes. Importantly, there were no spots detected in oocytes that are labeled with DapB probe, which served as the negative control.When using non-adherent cells, it is important to empirically identify the best dilution of protease buffer from the SM-FISH kit. mRNA detection was tested using a titration curve of undiluted and several diluted protease buffer concentrations in 1xPBS. Protease dilution used in this protocol was one to eight as it showed the lowest variation in the average fluorescent expression of Pouf51 mRNA in metaphase two oocytes.Concurrent immuno-fluorescence of a target protein can be performed in order to co-localize the mRNA with an RNA binding protein. Co-localization of the mRNAs with the RNA binding proteins allows investigators to determine mechanisms that regulate mRNA storage, translation, and degradation within an oocyte or embryo.

Research

JoVE Journal

Genetics

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