この作品は、精神医学のマックスプランク研究所と欧州連合（EU）のマリー·キュリー初期研修ネットワーク（NINA契約238665）によって資金を供給された。

<ol>
	<li>Jirtle, R. L., Skinner, M. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Environmental+epigenomics+and+disease+susceptibility.">Environmental epigenomics and disease susceptibility.</a> Nat. Rev. Genet. 8, 253-262 (2007).</li><li>Murgatroyd, C., Spengler, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Epigenetic+programming+of+the+HPA+axis:+Early+life+decides.">Epigenetic programming of the HPA axis: Early life decides.</a> Stress (Amsterdam, Netherlands). , (2011).</li><li>Gluckman, P. D., Hanson, M. A., Buklijas, T., Low, F. M., Beedle, A. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Epigenetic+mechanisms+that+underpin+metabolic+and+cardiovascular+diseases.">Epigenetic mechanisms that underpin metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.</a> Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. 5, 401-408 (2009).</li><li>Murgatroyd, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dynamic+DNA+methylation+programs+persistent+adverse+effects+of+early-life+stress.">Dynamic DNA methylation programs persistent adverse effects of early-life stress.</a> Nat. Neurosci. 12, 1559-1566 (2009).</li><li>Murgatroyd, C., Wu, Y., Bockm&#252;hl, Y., Spengler, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genes+learn+from+stress:+How+infantile+trauma+programs+us+for+depression.">Genes learn from stress: How infantile trauma programs us for depression.</a> Epigenetics. 5, (2010).</li><li>Paxinos, G., Franklin, K. B. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> The Mouse Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates, Compact: The Coronal Plates and Diagrams: Compact. The Coronal Plates and Diagrams. , (2008).</li><li>Bettscheider, M., Murgatroyd, C., Spengler, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Simultaneous+DNA+and+RNA+isolation+from+brain+punches+for+epigenetics.">Simultaneous DNA and RNA isolation from brain punches for epigenetics.</a> BMC research notes. 4, 314 (2011).</li><li>Clark, S. J., Harrison, J., Paul, C. L., Frommer, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High+sensitivity+mapping+of+methylated+cytosines.">High sensitivity mapping of methylated cytosines.</a> Nucleic Acids Res. 22, 2990-2997 (1994).</li><li>Reed, K., Poulin, M. L., Yan, L., Parissenti, A. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparison+of+bisulfite+sequencing+PCR+with+pyrosequencing+for+measuring+differences+in+DNA+methylation.">Comparison of bisulfite sequencing PCR with pyrosequencing for measuring differences in DNA methylation.</a> Anal. Biochem. 397, 96-106 (2010).</li></ol>

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エピジェネティックなプログラミングがますます重要なメカニズムの基礎となる健康と病気として認識されています。ここでは、micropunchesと亜硫酸塩シークエンシングによってDNAメチル化プロファイルを取得するために後続の手順からDNAとRNAの同時分離のための洗練された手法を提案する。最適化されたワークフローは、環境刺激に応答して、脳内のエピジェネティックなプログラミングの便利な分析を行うことができます。また、このアプローチは、両方が同じサンプルから分析されるDNAメチル化と遺伝子発現との間の関数関係の調査を容易にします。最後に、実験に必要な動物数を大幅に削減できます。 提示したワークフローを実行中に特定の注意事項およびガイドラインに従う必要があります。メチル化と発現パターンは細胞および組織特異的に変わることがありますので、特別な複雑さと脳の異質性を考慮し、それが最高のものですmicropunchingが標準化された方法で行われることの重要性。ポイントのケースとして、AVPのエピジェネティックなプログラミングがparavaventriuclarではなく、視索上核（ 図4b-d）は、視床下部4の2 AVP発現している地域で検出されます。この点では、同じ組織のパンチからDNAとRNAの可用性は、RNAの特定の組織特異的なマーカー遺伝子の発現を正しい領域がパンチされたことを証明するいくつかのケースで使用することができるように有利である。 micropunchingは、細胞の不均質性を減らすことができますが、このアプローチは、単一の細胞型または集団の分離につながるものではないことを覚えなければなりません。追加の精製工程は、このトピックに対処するために考えられるかもしれません。 亜硫酸塩は亜硫酸水素塩処理後のPCR増幅のための最適なプライマー設計をシークエンシングのために不可欠です。長さは400 bpを超えるPCR産物はbでDNAの分解に起因する問題が発生することができisulfite処理。また、わずかそのままテンプレートには、増幅過程に寄与する場合は、入れ子になったPCRは、偏った結果を与えることができることに留意すべきである。変更されたアンプリコンに特異的なプライマーペアを設計する必要があります。その配列はメチル化バイアスの増幅を避けるために、CpGジヌクレオチドを​​含むべきではありません。さらに、プライマーは修飾されていない、または不完全に変換されたDNAの増幅を防ぐために、非CpGのシトシンを含める必要があります。いくつかのテンプレートの増幅にはホットスタートPCRを実施して恩恵を受ける可能性があります。貴重な実験試料の損傷を防止するためにどのような場合には、プライマーペアの適合性は、パイロット実験で検証する必要があります。 それが確実かつ正確にアレル特異的に8つのCpGの残基のメチル化を検出することができるように亜硫酸シークエンシングは、サイト固有のメチル化解析のための標準的な方法を表しています。 PCR産物のダイレクトシークエンシングは、混合メチル化Oとしてお勧めできませんFA化CpG残基は、当該サイトでのメチル化の定量化を防ぐことができる電気泳動におけるC / T、ダブルピークとして表示されます。この理由のために中間のクローニングステップが行われ、いくつかのクローンを配列決定されている（〜20から30）メチル化の程度を決定する。パイロシーケンシングではDNAメチル化を定量化するための代替メソッドを表します。また、亜硫酸水素塩変換と亜硫酸PCRではなく、クローニングおよびアンプリコンは、CpGの残基のメチル化状態を容易に定量化することができるC / Tの一塩基多型として読まれ、直接パイロシークエンシング反応に供されているシーケンスを利用しています。どちらの方法でも、メチル化9の類似のレベルを検出するがクローニングステップを省略することができるので、パイロシーケンシングでは、より多くの時間が効率的です。ただし、テンプレートに応じてのみ40から100ヌクレオチドが異なるシークエンスプライマーを用いてパイロシーケンシングのいくつかのラウンドが必要であるように一度配列を決定することができます。これは、股関節を考えると、重要な制限事項です。DNAのtより高い量（反応当たり約1μg）を小さな脳組織のパンチから利用可能額を超える予見され、必要とされています。したがって、パイロシーケンシングで数キロの範囲内の領域の最初のスキャンは、単一のクローンの読みとしてはあまり適して表示されます。それにもかかわらず、金利のパイロシーケンシングの小さな領域の識別に以下を考慮する必要があります。 総称して、上記のプロトコルは、エピジェネティックな変化の脳micropunchesの迅速かつ費用対効果分析のために、正確に効率的かつ合理的なアプローチを提供します。複数の標本は、単一の実行で処理し、中間サイズの実験からのサンプルを実行するときの方法が適していることができます。

<table border="1"><tbody><tr><td> 試薬の名前 </td><td> 会社 </td><td> カタログ番号 </td></tr><tr><td> DNeasy血液·組織キット</td><td>キアゲン</td><td> 69506 </td></tr><tr><td> Nucleospin RNA II </td><td>マシュレ·ナーゲル</td><td> 740955.50 </td></tr><tr><td>亜硫酸キットのプロトコールとトラブルシューティング</td><td>キアゲン</td><td> 59104 </td></tr><tr><td> Nucleospinエキス</td><td>マシュレ·ナーゲル</td><td> 740609.50 </td></tr><tr><td> pGEM-Tベクタークローニングキット</td><td>プロメガ</td><td> A3600 </td></tr><tr><td> Nucleofast 96 </td><td>マシュレ·ナーゲル</td><td> 743100.50 </td></tr><tr><td>モンタージュ96シーケンスのクリーンアップ</td><td>ミリポア</td><td> LSK09624 </td></tr><tr><td> Hotstar Taqポリメラーゼ</td><td>キアゲン</td><td> 203203 </td></tr><tr><td> Taqポリメラーゼ</td><td> Fermentas </td><td> EP0401 </td></tr></tbody></table>

optimized analysis of dna methylation and gene expression from small, anatomically-defined areas of the brain

食事療法への曝露は、人生の1,2の敏感な窓の間に薬剤および初期生活逆境は、生理学的および行動表現型のディスプレイに寄与する遺伝子発現の持続的な変化につながる可能性があります。そのような環境のプログラミングは、代謝、心血管疾患および精神疾患3,4に対する感受性を増加させる可能性があります。 DNAメチル化とヒストン修飾は、遺伝子と環境の対話の仲介に主要なプロセスを考慮し、環境のプログラミング5アンダーレイにも表示されています。哺乳類では、DNAメチル化は通常CpGジヌクレオチドのコンテキスト内でのシトシンの5位のメチル基の共有結合的付加を有する。 CpGメチル化は細胞の不均質性が高く、組織の量が制限され、脳の離散的な、小さな領域を研究するために挑戦すること非常に組織および細胞特異的に発生します。また、Because遺伝子発現とメチル化が密接にリンクされているイベントは、増加値は、同じサンプルで両方のパラメータを比較することによって得ることができる。 ここでは、脳内のエピジェネティックなプログラミングの調査のためのステップバイステップのプロトコル（ 図1）は 、例示目的のために初期生活逆境の&quot;母子分離&quot;パラダイムを使用して提示されます。プロトコルは、このように、同じサンプル中のDNAメチル化と遺伝子発現解析を可能にする、DNAおよびRNAを同時に分離することができ、そこから差動高齢マウスの脳からmicropunchesの準備について説明します。

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Optimized Analysis of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression from Small, Anatomically-defined Areas of the Brain at JoVE.com

Optimized Analysis of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression from Small, Anatomically-defined Areas of the Brain

初期生活ストレスにDNAメチル化と遺伝子発現の変化を研究するために合理化されたワークフローが表示されます。新生児マウスと離散の脳組織の分離の母子分離から始めて、我々は同時に、その後の重亜硫酸塩シークエンシングおよびRT-PCR解析のための脳組織のパンチからDNAとRNAを単離するためのプロトコルを表します。

脳の小、解剖学的に定義された領域からのDNAメチル化と遺伝子発現の最適化分析

Exposure to diet, drugs and early life adversity during sensitive windows of life 1,2 can lead to lasting changes in gene expression that contribute to ...

optimized-analysis-dna-methylation-gene-expression-from-small

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

18.7K ビュー.  Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry. 初期生活ストレスにDNAメチル化と遺伝子発現の変化を研究するために合理化されたワークフローが表示されます。新生児マウスと離散の脳組織の分離の母子分離から始めて、我々は同時に、その後の重亜硫酸塩シークエンシングおよびRT-PCR解析のための脳組織のパンチからDNAとRNAを単離するためのプロトコルを表します。

ビデオ: Optimized Analysis of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression from Small, Anatomically-defined Areas of the Brain

Spinal Cord Electrophysiology II: Extracellular Suction Electrode Fabrication

Development of neural circuitries and locomotion can be studied using neonatal rodent spinal cord central pattern generator (CPG) behavior. We demonstrate a method to fabricate suction electrodes that are used to examine CPG activity, or fictive locomotion, in dissected rodent spinal cords. The rodent spinal cords are placed in artificial cerebrospinal fluid and the ventral roots are drawn into the suction electrode. The electrode is constructed by modifying a commercially available suction electrode. A heavier silver wire is used instead of the standard wire given by the commercially available electrode. The glass tip on the commercial electrode is replaced with a plastic tip for increased durability. We prepare hand drawn electrodes and electrodes made from specific sizes of tubing, allowing consistency and reproducibility. Data is collected using an amplifier and neurogram acquisition software. Recordings are performed on an air table within a Faraday cage to prevent mechanical and electrical interference, respectively.

A demonstration of the fabrication and use of an extracellular suction electrode used to measure electrophysiological recordings of neonatal rodent spinal cords in vitro

脊髄電気生理学II：細胞外吸引電極の作製

Development of neural circuitries and locomotion can be studied using neonatal rodent spinal cord central pattern generator (CPG) behavior. We demonstrate ...

神経科学

Isolating Nasal Olfactory Stem Cells from Rodents or Humans

The olfactory mucosa, located in the nasal cavity, is in charge of detecting odours. It is also the only nervous tissue that is exposed to the external environment and easily accessible in every living individual. As a result, this tissue is unique for anyone aiming to identify molecular anomalies in the pathological brain or isolate adult stem cells for cell therapy. 
Molecular abnormalities in brain diseases are often studied using nervous tissue samples collected post-mortem. However, this material has numerous limitations. In contrast, the olfactory mucosa is readily accessible and can be biopsied safely without any loss of sense of smell1. Accordingly, the olfactory mucosa provides an "open window" in the adult human through which one can study developmental (e.g. autism, schizophrenia)2-4 or neurodegenerative (e.g. Parkinson, Alzheimer) diseases4,5. Olfactory mucosa can be used for either comparative molecular studies4,6 or in vitro experiments on neurogenesis3,7.
The olfactory epithelium is also a nervous tissue that produces new neurons every day to replace those that are damaged by pollution, bacterial of viral infections. This permanent neurogenesis is sustained by progenitors but also stem cells residing within both compartments of the mucosa, namely the neuroepithelium and the underlying lamina propria8-10. We recently developed a method to purify the adult stem cells located in the lamina propria and, after having demonstrated that they are closely related to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC), we named them olfactory ecto-mesenchymal stem cells (OE-MSC)11.
Interestingly, when compared to BM-MSCs, OE-MSCs display a high proliferation rate, an elevated clonogenicity and an inclination to differentiate into neural cells. We took advantage of these characteristics to perform studies dedicated to unveil new candidate genes in schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease4. We and others have also shown that OE-MSCs are promising candidates for cell therapy, after a spinal cord trauma12,13, a cochlear damage14 or in an animal models of Parkinson's disease15 or amnesia16.
In this study, we present methods to biopsy olfactory mucosa in rats and humans. After collection, the lamina propria is enzymatically separated from the epithelium and stem cells are purified using an enzymatic or a non-enzymatic method. Purified olfactory stem cells can then be either grown in large numbers and banked in liquid nitrogen or induced to form spheres or differentiated into neural cells. These stem cells can also be used for comparative omics (genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, proteomic) studies.

We describe here a method for biopsying olfactory mucosa from rat and human nasal cavities. These biopsies can be used for either identifying molecular anomalies in brain diseases or isolating multipotent adult stem cells that can be utilized for cell transplantation in animal models of brain trauma/disease.

げっ歯類やヒトから鼻嗅覚幹細胞を単離する

The olfactory mucosa, located in the nasal cavity, is in charge of detecting odours. It is also the only nervous tissue that is exposed to the external ...

High-resolution Live Imaging of Cell Behavior in the Developing Neuroepithelium

The embryonic spinal cord consists of cycling neural progenitor cells that give rise to a large percentage of the neuronal and glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Although much is known about the molecular mechanisms that pattern the spinal cord and elicit neuronal differentiation1, 2, we lack a deep understanding of these early events at the level of cell behavior. It is thus critical to study the behavior of neural progenitors in real time as they undergo neurogenesis.
In the past, real-time imaging of early embryonic tissue has been limited by cell/tissue viability in culture as well as the phototoxic effects of fluorescent imaging. Here we present a novel assay for imaging such tissue for long periods of time, utilizing a novel ex vivo slice culture protocol and wide-field fluorescence microscopy (Fig. 1). This approach achieves long-term time-lapse monitoring of chick embryonic spinal cord progenitor cells with high spatial and temporal resolution.
This assay may be modified to image a range of embryonic tissues3, 4 In addition to the observation of cellular and sub-cellular behaviors, the development of novel and highly sensitive reporters for gene activity (for example, Notch signaling5) makes this assay a powerful tool with which to understand how signaling regulates cell behavior during embryonic development.

Imaging embryonic tissue in real-time is challenging over long periods of time. Here we present an assay for monitoring cellular and sub-cellular changes in chick spinal cord for long periods with high spatial and temporal resolution. This technique can be adapted for other regions of the nervous system and developing embryo.

開発神​​経上皮における細胞挙動の高解像度のライブイメージング

The embryonic spinal cord consists of cycling neural progenitor cells that give rise to a large percentage of the neuronal and glial cells of the central ...

Stereotaxic Surgery for Excitotoxic Lesion of Specific Brain Areas in the Adult Rat

Many behavioral functions in mammals, including rodents and humans, are mediated principally by discrete brain regions. A common method for discerning the function of various brain regions for behavior or other experimental outcomes is to implement a localized ablation of function. In humans, patient populations with localized brain lesions are often studied for deficits, in hopes of revealing the underlying function of the damaged area. In rodents, one can experimentally induce lesions of specific brain regions.
Lesion can be accomplished in several ways. Electrolytic lesions can cause localized damage but will damage a variety of cell types as well as traversing fibers from other brain regions that happen to be near the lesion site. Inducible genetic techniques using cell-type specific promoters may also enable site-specific targeting. These techniques are complex and not always practical depending on the target brain area. Excitotoxic lesion using stereotaxic surgery, by contrast, is one of the most reliable and practical methods of lesioning excitatory neurons without damaging local glial cells or traversing fibers.
Here, we present a protocol for stereotaxic infusion of the excitotoxin, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), into the basolateral amygdala complex. Using anatomical indications, we apply stereotaxic coordinates to determine the location of our target brain region and lower an injection needle in place just above the target. We then infuse our excitotoxin into the brain, resulting in excitotoxic death of nearby neurons. While our experimental subject of choice is a rat, the same methods can be applied to other mammals, with the appropriate adjustments in equipment and coordinates.
This method can be used on a variety of brain regions, including the basolateral amygdala1-6, other amygdala nuclei6, 7, hippocampus8, entorhinal cortex9 and prefrontal cortex10. It can also be used to infuse biological compounds such as viral vectors1, 11. The basic stereotaxic technique could also be adapted for implantation of more permanent osmotic pumps, allowing more prolonged exposure to a compound of interest.

Targeted ablation of specific brain region(s) by infusion of an excitotoxin using stereotaxic coordinates is described. This technique could also be adapted for infusion of other chemicals into the rat brain.

大人のラットの特定の脳領域の興奮毒性病変に対する定位手術

Many behavioral functions in mammals, including rodents and humans, are mediated principally by discrete brain regions. A common method for discerning the ...

Laser Capture Microdissection of Enriched Populations of Neurons or Single Neurons for Gene Expression Analysis After Traumatic Brain Injury

Long-term cognitive disability after TBI is associated with injury-induced neurodegeneration in the hippocampus-a region in the medial temporal lobe that is critical for learning, memory and executive function.1,2 Hence our studies focus on gene expression analysis of specific neuronal populations in distinct subregions of the hippocampus. The technique of laser capture microdissection (LCM), introduced in 1996 by Emmert-Buck, et al.,3 has allowed for significant advances in gene expression analysis of single cells and enriched populations of cells from heterogeneous tissues such as the mammalian brain that contains thousands of functional cell types.4 We use LCM and a well established rat model of traumatic brain injury (TBI) to investigate the molecular mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis of TBI. Following fluid-percussion TBI, brains are removed at pre-determined times post-injury, immediately frozen on dry ice, and prepared for sectioning in a cryostat. The rat brains can be embedded in OCT and sectioned immediately, or stored several months at -80 &deg;C before sectioning for laser capture microdissection. Additionally, we use LCM to study the effects of TBI on circadian rhythms. For this, we capture neurons from the suprachiasmatic nuclei that contain the master clock of the mammalian brain. Here, we demonstrate the use of LCM to obtain single identified neurons (injured and degenerating, Fluoro-Jade-positive, or uninjured, Fluoro-Jade-negative) and enriched populations of hippocampal neurons for subsequent gene expression analysis by real time PCR and/or whole-genome microarrays. These LCM-enabled studies have revealed that the selective vulnerability of anatomically distinct regions of the rat hippocampus are reflected in the different gene expression profiles of different populations of neurons obtained by LCM from these distinct regions. The results from our single-cell studies, where we compare the transcriptional profiles of dying and adjacent surviving hippocampal neurons, suggest the existence of a cell survival rheostat that regulates cell death and survival after TBI.

We describe how to use laser capture microdissection (LCM) to obtain enriched populations of hippocampal neurons or single neurons from frozen sections of the injured rat brain for subsequent gene expression analysis using quantitative real time PCR and/or whole-genome microarrays.

外傷性脳損傷後の神経細胞や遺伝子発現解析のための単一ニューロンの濃縮された集団のレーザーキャプチャーマイクロダイセクション

Long-term cognitive disability after TBI is associated with injury-induced neurodegeneration in the hippocampus-a region in the medial temporal lobe that ...

Micromanipulation of Gene Expression in the Adult Zebrafish Brain Using Cerebroventricular Microinjection of Morpholino Oligonucleotides

Manipulation of gene expression in tissues is required to perform functional studies. In this paper, we demonstrate the cerebroventricular microinjection (CVMI) technique as a means to modulate gene expression in the adult zebrafish brain. By using CVMI, substances can be administered into the cerebroventricular fluid and be thoroughly distributed along the rostrocaudal axis of the brain. We particularly focus on the use of antisense morpholino oligonucleotides, which are potent tools for knocking down gene expression in vivo. In our method, when applied, morpholino molecules are taken up by the cells lining the ventricular surface. These cells include the radial glial cells, which act as neurogenic progenitors. Therefore, knocking down gene expression in the radial glial cells is of utmost importance to analyze the widespread neurogenesis response in zebrafish, and also would provide insight into how vertebrates could sustain adult neurogenesis response. Such an understanding would also help the efforts for clinical applications in human neurodegenerative disorders and central nervous system regeneration. Thus, we present the cerebroventricular microinjection method as a quick and efficient way to alter gene expression and neurogenesis response in the adult zebrafish forebrain. We also provide troubleshooting tips and other useful information on how to carry out the CVMI procedure.

In this article, we demonstrate a method for manipulation of gene expression in the ventricular cells of the adult zebrafish telencephalon using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides. We present this method as an efficient and quick protocol that can be used for functional studies in the adult vertebrate brain.

モルホリノオリゴヌクレオチドの脳室マイクロインジェクションを使用した大人のゼブラフィッシュ脳における遺伝子発現のマイクロマニピュレーション

Manipulation of gene expression in tissues is  required to perform functional studies. In this paper, we demonstrate the  cerebroventricular ...

Analysis of Gene Expression Changes in the Rat Hippocampus After Deep Brain Stimulation of the Anterior Thalamic Nucleus

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery, targeting various regions of the brain such as the basal ganglia, thalamus, and subthalamic regions, is an effective treatment for several movement disorders that have failed to respond to medication. Recent progress in the field of DBS surgery has begun to extend the application of this surgical technique to other conditions as diverse as morbid obesity, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. Despite these expanding indications, little is known about the underlying physiological mechanisms that facilitate the beneficial effects of DBS surgery. One approach to this question is to perform gene expression analysis in neurons that receive the electrical stimulation. Previous studies have shown that neurogenesis in the rat dentate gyrus is elicited in DBS targeting of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus1. DBS surgery targeting the ATN is used widely for treatment refractory epilepsy. It is thus of much interest for us to explore the transcriptional changes induced by electrically stimulating the ATN. In this manuscript, we describe our methodologies for stereotactically-guided DBS surgery targeting the ATN in adult male Wistar rats. We also discuss the subsequent steps for tissue dissection, RNA isolation, cDNA preparation and quantitative RT-PCR for measuring gene expression changes. This method could be applied and modified for stimulating the basal ganglia and other regions of the brain commonly clinically targeted. The gene expression study described here assumes a candidate target gene approach for discovering molecular players that could be directing the mechanism for DBS.

The mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery needs investigation. The methods presented in this manuscript describe an experimental approach to examine the cellular events triggered by DBS by analyzing the gene expression profile of candidate genes that can facilitate neurogenesis post DBS surgery.

視床前核の脳深部刺激後のラット海馬における遺伝子発現の変化の解析

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery, targeting various regions of the brain such as the basal ganglia, thalamus, and subthalamic regions, is an effective ...

Using Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting to Examine Cell-Type-Specific Gene Expression in Rat Brain Tissue

The brain is comprised of four primary cell types including neurons, astrocytes, microglia and oligodendrocytes. Though they are not the most abundant cell type in the brain, neurons are the most widely studied of these cell types given their direct role in impacting behaviors. Other cell types in the brain also impact neuronal function and behavior via the signaling molecules they produce. Neuroscientists must understand the interactions between the cell types in the brain to better understand how these interactions impact neural function and disease. To date, the most common method of analyzing protein or gene expression utilizes the homogenization of whole tissue samples, usually with blood, and without regard for cell type. This approach is an informative approach for examining general changes in gene or protein expression that may influence neural function and behavior; however, this method of analysis does not lend itself to a greater understanding of cell-type-specific gene expression and the effect of cell-to-cell communication on neural function. Analysis of behavioral epigenetics has been an area of growing focus which examines how modifications of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) structure impact long-term gene expression and behavior; however, this information may only be relevant if analyzed in a cell-type-specific manner given the differential lineage and thus epigenetic markers that may be present on certain genes of individual neural cell types. The Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) technique described below provides a simple and effective way to isolate individual neural cells for the subsequent analysis of gene expression, protein expression, or epigenetic modifications of DNA. This technique can also be modified to isolate more specific neural cell types in the brain for subsequent cell-type-specific analysis.

The goal of this protocol is to use the fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) technique to sort specific types of neural cells for subsequent analysis of cell-type-specific gene expression, epigenetic markers, and or protein expression.

The brain is comprised of four primary cell types including neurons, astrocytes, microglia and oligodendrocytes. Though they are not the most abundant ...

Preparation of Acute Brain Slices Using an Optimized N-Methyl-D-glucamine Protective Recovery Method

This protocol is a practical guide to the N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG) protective recovery method of brain slice preparation. Numerous recent studies have validated the utility of this method for enhancing neuronal preservation and overall brain slice viability. The implementation of this technique by early adopters has facilitated detailed investigations into brain function using diverse experimental applications and spanning a wide range of animal ages, brain regions, and cell types. Steps are outlined for carrying out the protective recovery brain slice technique using an optimized NMDG artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) media formulation and enhanced procedure to reliably obtain healthy brain slices for patch clamp electrophysiology. With this updated approach, a substantial improvement is observed in the speed and reliability of gigaohm seal formation during targeted patch clamp recording experiments while maintaining excellent neuronal preservation, thereby facilitating challenging experimental applications. Representative results are provided from multi-neuron patch clamp recording experiments to assay synaptic connectivity in neocortical brain slices prepared from young adult transgenic mice and mature adult human neurosurgical specimens. Furthermore, the optimized NMDG protective recovery method of brain slicing is compatible with both juvenile and adult animals, thus resolving a limitation of the original methodology. In summary, a single media formulation and brain slicing procedure can be implemented across various species and ages to achieve excellent viability and tissue preservation.

Preparation of Acute Brain Slices Using an Optimized N-Methyl-D-glucamine Protective Recovery Method

This protocol demonstrates the implementation of an optimized N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG) protective recovery method of brain slice preparation. A single media formulation is used to reliably obtain healthy brain slices from animals of any age and for diverse experimental applications.

最適化されたNを使用して急性脳スライスの準備-メチル-D-glucamine 保護回復法

This protocol is a practical guide to the N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG) protective recovery method of brain slice preparation. Numerous recent studies have ...

Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) and Gene Expression Analysis of Fos-expressing Neurons from Fresh and Frozen Rat Brain Tissue

The study of neuroplasticity and molecular alterations in learned behaviors is switching from the study of whole brain regions to the study of specific sets of sparsely distributed activated neurons called neuronal ensembles that mediate learned associations. Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) has recently been optimized for adult rat brain tissue and allowed isolation of activated neurons using antibodies against the neuronal marker NeuN and Fos protein, a marker of strongly activated neurons. Until now, Fos-expressing neurons and other cell types were isolated from fresh tissue, which entailed long processing days and allowed very limited numbers of brain samples to be assessed after lengthy and complex behavioral procedures. Here we found that yields of Fos-expressing neurons and Fos mRNA from dorsal striatum were similar between freshly dissected tissue and tissue frozen at -80 &#186;C for 3 - 21 days. In addition, we confirmed the phenotype of the NeuN-positive and NeuN-negative sorted cells by assessing gene expression of neuronal (NeuN), astrocytic (GFAP), oligodendrocytic (Oligo2) and microgial (Iba1) markers, which indicates that frozen tissue can also be used for FACS isolation of glial cell types. Overall, it is possible to collect, dissect and freeze brain tissue for multiple FACS sessions. This maximizes the amount of data obtained from valuable animal subjects that have often undergone long and complex behavioral procedures.

Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting FACS and Gene Expression Analysis of Fos-expressing Neurons from Fresh and Frozen Rat Brain Tissue

Here we present a Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) protocol to study molecular alterations in Fos-expressing neuronal ensembles from both fresh and frozen brain tissue. The use of frozen tissue allows FACS isolation of many brain areas over multiple sessions to maximize the use of valuable animal subjects.

蛍光活性化細胞ソーティング（FACS）と生鮮・冷凍ラット脳組織からのFos発現ニューロンの遺伝子発現解析

The study of neuroplasticity and molecular alterations in learned behaviors is switching from the study of whole brain regions to the study of specific ...