University of Miami School of Medicine

3 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Neuroscience

Ratiometric Calcium Imaging of Individual Neurons in Behaving Caenorhabditis Elegans

Bhavya Ravi^*1, Layla M. Nassar^*1,2, Richard J. Kopchock III^*2, Pravat Dhakal^*2, Michael Scheetz², Kevin M. Collins^1,2

¹Neuroscience Program, University of Miami School of Medicine, ²Department of Biology, University of Miami

This protocol describes the use of genetically encoded Ca²⁺ reporters to record changes in neural activity in behaving Caenorhabditis elegans worms.

Cancer Research

A Novel Stromal Fibroblast-Modulated 3D Tumor Spheroid Model for Studying Tumor-Stroma Interaction and Drug Discovery

Hongwei Shao¹, Mecker Moller¹, Dazhi Wang¹, Albert Ting¹, Marcia Boulina², Zhao-Jun Liu¹

¹Department of Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, ²Analytical Imaging Core Facility, University of Miami School of Medicine

A novel three-dimensional spheroid model based on the heterotypic interaction of tumor cells and stromal fibroblasts is established. Here, we present coculture of tumor cells and stromal fibroblasts, time-lapse imaging, and confocal microscopy to visualize the formation of spheroids. This three-dimensional model offers a pertinent platform to study tumor-stroma interactions and test cancer therapeutics.

Medicine

High-Resolution Three-Dimensional Imaging of the Footpad Vasculature in a Murine Hindlimb Gangrene Model

Antoine J. Ribieras¹, Yulexi Y. Ortiz^1,2, Sophie Shrestha³, C. Theodore Huerta¹, Hongwei Shao^1,2, Maria E. Boulina⁴, Roberto I. Vazquez-Padron^1,2, Zhao-Jun Liu^1,2, Omaida C. Velazquez^1,2

¹Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, ²Vascular Biology Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, ³University of Miami, ⁴Analytical Imaging Core Facility, University of Miami

The present protocol describes a unique, clinically relevant model of peripheral arterial disease that combines femoral artery and vein electrocoagulation with the administration of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor to induce hindlimb gangrene in FVB mice. Intracardiac DiI perfusion is then used for high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging of the footpad vasculature.