We thank Ms. Paula Roy for excellent fish husbandry, and Steve Ekker for the kind gift of the pDB600 plasmid. These studies were funded by a grant to S.F. from NHGRI.

1. Selection and cloning of conserved sequences for testing
<ol>
 <li> One must first identify potential regulatory sequences for functional testing. We rely on evolutionary sequence conservation as a criterion to select sequences, and most often use the algorithm PhastCons, which is accessible as a track on the UCSC Genome browser (http://genome.ucsc.edu/cgi-bin/hgGateway). However, there are many other algorithms available to evaluate sequence conservation across species.</li>
 <li> Once we have selected our sequences, we design primers to amplify each sequence from genomic DNA. Primers should be selected to amplify the conserved region plus 30 or more base pairs on either side.</li>
 <li> For amplification of the selected sequences we use the Takara LA TaqTM system. Other polymerases will work, but it is important to use a mix that includes an enzyme with proofreading capability, to minimize the chances of errors introduced during amplification. We verify the amplicon size by agarose gel electrophoresis.</li>
 <li> We use the pCR 8/GW/TOPO TA Cloning Kit (Invitrogen) to clone the PCR product into an entry vector containing attL recombination sites, to generate the Gateway entry clone. The cloning reaction is more efficient with fresh PCR product, so it is best to perform the cloning within a day of the PCR. Transformation in DH5&alpha; strains is performed followed by spectinomycin resistance selection.</li>
 <li> We verify the product of the TA cloning by digestion of ~500ng of plasmid with EcoRI to release the insert, and confirm the size of the insert by agarose gel electrophoresis. We recommended sequencing to verify the insert sequence and orientation; primers used for amplification may also be used for sequencing.</li>
 <li> From the entry clone, the non-coding conserved sequence is shuttled by LR recombination to our Gateway ready destination vector, pGW_cfosGFP1, using Gateway LR Clonase II enzyme Mix (Invitrogen). Transformation in DH5&alpha; strains is performed followed by ampicillin resistance selection.</li>
 <li> We verify the product of the LR recombination by digestion of ~500ng of plasmid with EcoRV to release the insert, and confirm the size of the insert by agarose gel electrophoresis. Once an accurate clone has been identified, we prepare plasmid DNA using the Qiagen HiSpeed&reg; Plasmid Midi Kit. We further purify the plasmid using the QIAquick PCR Purification Kit, according to manufacturer's protocols, and elute the DNA with 30 &mu;L RNase free water. The plasmid is diluted to a concentration of 125 ng/&mu;L and stored at 4&deg;C prior to injections.</li>
 <li> RNA encoding functional Tol2 transposase enzyme is transcribed in vitro from the pDB600 plasmid2. We purify the plasmid using the Qiagen Midi-Prep kit, then linearize 10-20 &mu;g with XbaI. The mRNA synthesis is carried out following the mMESSAGE mMACHINE Kit protocol (Ambion).</li>
 <li> We purify and precipitate the RNA according to kit instructions. We resuspend RNA to a final concentration of ~1&mu;g/&mu;l, or 20 &mu;l for a single reaction, in RNase free water, and quantify by UV spectrophotometry. We also analyze ~1&mu;g of RNA by agarose gel electrophoresis to verify full length transcription. Although a standard TAE or TBE gel is adequate for this analysis, the denaturing sample buffer included with the transcription kit should be used according to kit instructions.</li>
 <li> We test each new batch of transposase RNA for efficacy by performing injections with a known plasmid (Figure 1). After verification, the RNA is divided into small aliquots and stored at -80&deg;C, to avoid repeated thawing and refreezing of individual aliquots. <img src="/files/ftp_upload/1722/1722fig1.jpg" alt="Figure 1" /> Figure 1. Zebrafish embryo injected with the mouse Sox10 enhancer as a control.(Top) Brightfield image (Bottom) GFP fluorescence image. Each new batch of transposase RNA is tested for efficacy.</li>
</ol>
2. Microinjection of zebrafish embryos for mosaic transgenic analysis
<ol>
 <li> We pull the needles for microinjection from 1.2 mm O.D. filament capillary glass on a Sutter P-97 Micropipette Puller, with a program designed to yield a strong tip with a fairly sharp taper to penetrate intact chorions. We break the tips by hand under a stereomicroscope to an outer diameter of approximately 15 &mu;m, using a clean razor blade and a micrometer slide. The needles can be made the day before injections, and stored in a covered holding dish to keep clean.</li>
 <li> We maintain our zebrafish on a regular light dark cycle, with 14 hours of light, under standard conditions3. The day prior to performing microinjections, we set up fish for timed matings in small breeding tanks, each consisting of a base tank, a slotted insert, and a plastic lid. We place three females or two males per tank in parallel rows.</li>
 <li> On the morning of the microinjections, shortly after the light cycle begins, we start combining males and females in clean system-treated water for egg production. It is important to check on the fish frequently, and collect the eggs within a few minutes of laying, to get well synchronized batches. Egg production can be maintained for two to three hours, by continuing to combine fresh groups of fish throughout the morning.</li>
 <li> With a wide bore, 5 1/4" glass Pasteur pipette fitted with a latex bulb, we sort the collected embryos into 60 x 15 mm Petri dishes, partially filled with Embryo Medium2, in groups of 50 embryos, and mark the time collected on the lid of each dish.</li>
 <li> Once the fish have begun laying, we prepare fresh injection solution by mixing the following in a microfuge tube on ice:
 <table border="1">
 <tbody>
 <tr>
 <td>Component</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Transposon plasmid stock (125ng/&mu;l)</td>
 <td>1&mu;l</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Transposase RNA stock (175ng/&mu;l)</td>
 <td>1&mu;l</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Phenol red stock (2% in H2O)</td>
 <td>0.5&mu;l</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>RNase free water</td>
 <td>2.5&mu;l</td>
 </tr>
 </tbody>
 </table>
 
 The injection needles are laid in holding dishes and filled by pipetting 500 nl drops of injection solution onto the wide end of each needle. After the liquid is drawn to the tip through capillary action, additional solution can be added to a total of 1.5-2 &mu;l. We prepare at least two needles for each injection solution.</li>
 <li> The filled needle is loaded into the hand held needle holder of a Pneumatic Pico-Pump or similar pressure injector, configured and connected to a N2 tank per manufacturer's instructions. We calibrate injection volumes by measuring the diameter of droplets expelled into mineral oil on a micrometer slide. Typically, an injection time of 120 ms with a pressure of 20 p.s.i. will yield a droplet of approximately 1 nl, but slight variations in needle diameter will affect these parameters and recalibration may be required between needles.</li>
 <li> The injections are performed under a stereomicroscope at 6-10X magnification. We use a pair of fine forceps to hold the embryo in place, push the injection needle with steady pressure through the chorion and into the yolk of an embryo at the one cell or early two cell stage. Ideally, we position the needle tip in the yolk just below the blastomeres. Approximately 1 nl of injection solution is expelled and the needle withdrawn. For each construct we inject &ge; 200 embryos. It is also very important, for each clutch of embryos collected, to save a dish of uninjected control embryos.</li>
 <li> After injections are completed we sort the embryos by removing unfertilized eggs, damaged embryos, and failed injections (embryos with no phenol red in blastomeres). We then incubate the embryos in embryo medium at 28.5&deg;C until the appropriate time for observations.</li>
</ol>
3. Analysis of mosaic expression patterns
<ol>
 <li> Following an appropriate incubation time, we examine the injected embryos for fluorescence. The timing depends on the normal expression pattern of the endogenous zebrafish gene, but we usually look daily through the first 5 days post fertilization.</li>
 <li> We examine the embryos for fluorescence on an Olympus MVX10 macroscope fitted for epifluorescence, but any similar microscope capable of low power imaging will work. If there are a large number of embryos that died or developed abnormally in the first day, look at the uninjected controls for that clutch to see if they look normal. If the controls look normal, the most common problem is insufficient purity of the injected DNA. Also, the embryos at early stages are sensitive to the total amount of injected plasmid, so it is possible that the quantification was inaccurate and too much DNA was injected.</li>
 <li> When examining the embryos, keep in mind that they will all be mosaic for the injected construct. It will be necessary to look carefully at all of the embryos, especially if the expected domain of expression is small. Also remember that the expression could be dynamic; strong fluorescence on day 1 might disappear by day 2, and embryos negative for expression the first 3 days might show something on day 4.</li>
 <li> We choose some embryos with more extensive expression, and use these to document the pattern of fluorescence by photomicroscopy. After 5 days of observations, the embryos should be returned to the facility and raised as a stock. In several months, the adults can be screened for germline transmission of the transgenes.</li>
</ol>
4. Results
We see a wide variety of patterns and levels of expression, depending on the enhancer element being analyzed. We are usually interested in very tissue specific expression patterns, and are often focusing on genes expressed in the skeleton. and are often focusing on genes expressed in the skeleton. Figure 2 shows examples of mosaic expression patterns we have observed in our injected embryos, with enhancers regulating expression in cartilage and bone. Finally, a substantial portion of tested sequences do not regulate tissue specific expression. For these, we most often see very little fluorescence, perhaps a few scattered cells per embryo. Less often, we might see fluorescence, but only in two common sites for ectopic expression, the epidermis and the skeletal muscle (Figure 3). <img src="/files/ftp_upload/1722/1722fig2.jpg" alt="Figure 2" /> Figure 2. Example of cartilage and bone expression patterns observed in injected embryos. <img src="/files/ftp_upload/1722/1722fig3.jpg" alt="Figure 3" /> Figure 3. There is little correlation between location of the enhancer relative to the gene and regulation of expression.A substantial portion of tested sequences do not regulate tissue specific expression. These often have very little fluorescence, or may have two common sites for ectopic expression: the epidermis and skeletal muscle. (Top) Brightfield image (Bottom) GFP fluorescence image.

<ol>
	<li>Fisher, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluating+the+biological+relevance+of+putative+enhancers+using+Tol2+transposon-mediated+transgenesis+in+zebrafish.">Evaluating the biological relevance of putative enhancers using Tol2 transposon-mediated transgenesis in zebrafish.</a> Nat Protoc. 1 (3), 1297-12 (2006).</li><li>Balciunas, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Harnessing+a+high+cargo-capacity+transposon+for+genetic+applications+in+vertebrates.">Harnessing a high cargo-capacity transposon for genetic applications in vertebrates.</a> PLoS Genet. 2 (11), e169-169 (2006).</li><li>Westerfield, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> The Zebrafish Book. , (1995).</li></ol>

We have demonstrated the approach used in our laboratory for the efficient analysis of potential enhancers using zebrafish transgenesis. Most often, we use this approach to look for tissue-specific enhancers associated with human genes. Despite the lack of obvious sequence homology most of the time between human and fish non-coding sequences, we find that this approach is usually successful in identifying enhancers for the genes of interest to us. The critical factors for success are taking care in the preparation of the...

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		<div>
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		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
		</tr>
		</thead>
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<tr>
<td>Takara LA Taq</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Takara Bio Inc</td>
<td>RR02M</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>pCR8/GW/TOPO TA Cloning Kit</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Invitrogen</td>
<td>K2500-20</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>Gateway LR Clonase II enzyme Mix</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Invitrogen</td>
<td>11791-100</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>Library efficiency competent cells DH5&alpha;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Invitrogen</td>
<td>12535-019</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Library efficiency competent cells DB3.1</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Invitrogen</td>
<td>11782-018</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>mMESSAGE mMACHINE Kit</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Ambion</td>
<td>AM1340</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>HiSpeed Plasmid Midi Kit</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Qiagen</td>
<td>12643</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>QIAquick PCR Purification Kit </td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Qiagen</td>
<td>28104</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Flaming/Brown Micropipette Puller</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sutter Instrument</td>
<td>P-97</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Pneumatic PicoPump</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>World Precision Instruments</td>
<td>SYS-PV820</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>		</tbody>
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mosaic zebrafish transgenesis for evaluating enhancer sequences

The completion of the human genome sequence, along with that of many other species, has highlighted the challenge of ascribing specific function to non coding sequences. One prominent function carried out by the non coding fraction of the genome is to regulate gene transcription; however, there are no effective methods to broadly predict cis-regulatory elements from primary DNA sequence. We have developed an efficient protocol to functionally evaluate potential cis-regulatory elements through zebrafish transgenesis. Our approach offers significant advantages over cell-culture based techniques for developmentally important genes, since it provides information on spatial and temporal gene regulation. Conversely, it is faster and less expensive than similar experiments in transgenic mice, and we routinely apply it to sequences isolated from the human genome. Here we demonstrate our approach to selecting elements for testing based on sequence conservation and our protocol for cloning sequences and microinjecting them into zebrafish embryos.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Mosaic Zebrafish Transgenesis for Evaluating Enhancer Sequences at JoVE.com

Mosaic Zebrafish Transgenesis for Evaluating Enhancer Sequences

We demonstrate our approach to finding potential enhancer elements from developmentally regulated genes and evaluating their function through mosaic zebrafish transgenesis.

The completion of the human genome sequence, along with that of many other species, has highlighted the challenge of ascribing specific function to non ...

mosaic-zebrafish-transgenesis-for-evaluating-enhancer-sequences

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JoVE Journal

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13.9K Views.  University of Pennsylvania. We demonstrate our approach to finding potential enhancer elements from developmentally regulated genes and evaluating their function through mosaic zebrafish transgenesis.

Video: Mosaic Zebrafish Transgenesis for Evaluating Enhancer Sequences

Zebrafish Brain Ventricle Injection

Proper brain ventricle formation during embryonic brain development is required for normal brain function.  Brain ventricles are the highly conserved cavities within the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid.  In zebrafish, after neural tube formation, the neuroepithelium undergoes a series of constrictions and folds while it fills with fluid resulting in brain ventricle formation.  In order to understand the process of ventricle formation, and the neuroepithelial shape changes that occur at the same time, we needed a way to visualize the ventricle space in comparison to the brain tissue.  However, the nature of transparent zebrafish embryos makes it difficult to differentiate the tissue from the ventricle space.  Therefore, we developed a brain ventricle injection technique where the ventricle space is filled with a fluorescent dye and imaged by brightfield and fluorescent microscopy.  The brightfield and the fluorescent images are then processed and superimposed in Photoshop.  This technique allows for visualization of the ventricle space with the fluorescent dye, in comparison to the shape of the neuroepithelium in the brightfield image.  Brain ventricle injection in zebrafish can be employed from 18 hours post fertilization through early larval stages.  We have used this technique extensively in our studies of brain ventricle formation and morphogenesis as well as in characterizing brain morphogenesis mutants (1-3).

After neural tube formation, the neuroepithelium constricts and folds while the tube fills with embryonic cerebrospinal fluid (eCSF) to form the embryonic brain ventricles. We developed this ventricle injection technique to better visualize the fluid filled space in contrast to the neuroepithelial shape in a live embryo.

Proper brain ventricle formation during embryonic brain development is required for normal brain function.  Brain ventricles are the highly conserved ...

RNAi Mediated Gene Knockdown and Transgenesis by Microinjection in the Necromenic Nematode Pristionchus pacificus

Although it is increasingly affordable for emerging model organisms to obtain completely sequenced genomes, further in-depth gene function and expression analyses by RNA interference and stable transgenesis remain limited in many species due to the particular anatomy and molecular cellular biology of the organism. For example, outside of the crown group Caenorhabditis that includes Caenorhabditis elegans3, stably transmitted transgenic lines in non-Caenorhabditis species have not been reported in this specious phylum (Nematoda), with the exception of Strongyloides stercoralis4 and Pristionchus pacificus5. To facilitate the expanding role of P. pacificus in the study of development, evolution, and behavior6-7, we describe here the current methods to use microinjection for making transgenic animals and gene knock down by RNAi. Like the gonads of C. elegans and most other nematodes, the gonads of P. pacificus is syncitial and capable of incorporating DNA and RNA into the oocytes when delivered by direct microinjection. Unlike C. elegans however, stable transgene inheritance and somatic expression in P. pacificus requires the addition of self genomic DNA digested with endonucleases complementary to the ends of target transgenes and coinjection markers5. The addition of carrier genomic DNA is similar to the requirement for transgene expression in Strongyloides stercoralis4 and in the germ cells of C. elegans. However, it is not clear if the specific requirement for the animals' own genomic DNA is because P. pacificus soma is very efficient at silencing non-complex multi-copy genes or that extrachromosomal arrays in P. pacificus require genomic sequences for proper kinetochore assembly during mitosis. The ventral migration of the two-armed (didelphic) gonads in hermaphrodites further complicates the ability to inject both gonads in individual worms8. We also demonstrate the use of microinjection to knockdown a dominant mutant (roller,tu92) by injecting double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into the gonads to obtain non-rolling F1 progeny. Unlike C. elegans, but like most other nematodes, P. pacificus PS312 is not receptive to systemic RNAi via feeding and soaking and therefore dsRNA must be administered by microinjection into the syncitial gonads. In this current study, we hope to describe the microinjection process needed to transform a Ppa-egl-4 promoter::GFP fusion reporter and knockdown a dominant roller prl-1 (tu92) mutant in a visually informative protocol.

RNAi Mediated Gene Knockdown and Transgenesis by Microinjection in the Necromenic Nematode Pristionchus pacificus

In model organisms, transgenesis can manipulate gene functions while RNAi can knockdown specific mRNA transcripts 1-2. This protocol aims to illustrate the techniques needed to introduce stably transmitted DNA and transient double stranded RNA into the necromenic nematode Pristionchus pacificus for studies in evolutionary, developmental, and behavioral biology.

Although it is increasingly affordable for emerging model organisms to obtain completely sequenced genomes, further in-depth gene function and expression ...

In vivo Electroporation of Morpholinos into the Adult Zebrafish Retina

Many devastating inherited eye diseases result in progressive and irreversible blindness because humans cannot regenerate dying or diseased retinal neurons. In contrast, the adult zebrafish retina possesses the robust ability to spontaneously regenerate any neuronal class that is lost in a variety of different retinal damage models, including retinal puncture, chemical ablation, concentrated high temperature, and intense light treatment 1-8. Our lab extensively characterized regeneration of photoreceptors following constant intense light treatment and inner retinal neurons after intravitreal ouabain injection 2, 5, 9. In all cases, resident M&uuml;ller glia re-enter the cell cycle to produce neuronal progenitors, which continue to proliferate and migrate to the proper retinal layer, where they differentiate into the deficient neurons. 
	We characterized five different stages during regeneration of the light-damaged retina that were highlighted by specific cellular responses. We identified several differentially expressed genes at each stage of retinal regeneration by mRNA microarray analysis 10. Many of these genes are also critical for ocular development. To test the role of each candidate gene/protein during retinal regeneration, we needed to develop a method to conditionally limit the expression of a candidate protein only at times during regeneration of the adult retina. 
	Morpholino oligos are widely used to study loss of function of specific proteins during the development of zebrafish, Xenopus, chick, mouse, and tumors in human xenografts 11-14. These modified oligos basepair with complementary RNA sequence to either block the splicing or translation of the target RNA. Morpholinos are stable in the cell and can eliminate or "knockdown" protein expression for three to five days 12. 
	Here, we describe a method to efficiently knockdown target protein expression in the adult zebrafish retina. This method employs lissamine-tagged antisense morpholinos that are injected into the vitreous of the adult zebrafish eye. Using electrode forceps, the morpholino is then electroporated into all the cell types of the dorsal and central retina. Lissamine provides the charge on the morpholino for electroporation and can be visualized to assess the presence of the morpholino in the retinal cells. 
	Conditional knockdown in the retina can be used to examine the role of specific proteins at different times during regeneration. Additionally, this approach can be used to study the role of specific proteins in the undamaged retina, in such processes as visual transduction and visual processing in second order neurons.

In vivo Electroporation of Morpholinos into the Adult Zebrafish Retina

A method to conditionally knockdown a target protein&#x2019;s expression in the adult zebrafish retina is described, which involves intravitreally injecting antisense morpholinos and electroporating them into the retina. The resulting protein is knocked down for several days, which allows testing the protein&#x2019;s role in the regenerating or intact retina.

Many devastating inherited eye diseases result in progressive and irreversible blindness because humans cannot regenerate dying or diseased retinal ...

In vivo Electroporation of Morpholinos into the Regenerating Adult Zebrafish Tail Fin

Certain species of urodeles and teleost fish can regenerate their tissues. Zebrafish have become a widely used model to study the spontaneous regeneration of adult tissues, such as the heart1, retina2, spinal cord3, optic nerve4, sensory hair cells5, and fins6.
The zebrafish fin is a relatively simple appendage that is easily manipulated to study multiple stages in epimorphic regeneration. Classically, fin regeneration was characterized by three distinct stages: wound healing, blastema formation, and fin outgrowth. After amputating part of the fin, the surrounding epithelium proliferates and migrates over the wound. At 33 &deg;C, this process occurs within six hours post-amputation (hpa, Figure 1B)6,7. Next, underlying cells from different lineages (ex. bone, blood, glia, fibroblast) re-enter the cell cycle to form a proliferative blastema, while the overlying epidermis continues to proliferate (Figure 1D)8. Outgrowth occurs as cells proximal to the blastema re-differentiate into their respective lineages to form new tissue (Figure 1E)8. Depending on the level of the amputation, full regeneration is completed in a week to a month.
The expression of a large number of gene families, including wnt, hox, fgf, msx, retinoic acid, shh, notch, bmp, and activin-betaA genes, is up-regulated during specific stages of fin regeneration9-16. However, the roles of these genes and their encoded proteins during regeneration have been difficult to assess, unless a specific inhibitor for the protein exists13, a temperature-sensitive mutant exists or a transgenic animal (either overexpressing the wild-type protein or a dominant-negative protein) was generated7,12. We developed a reverse genetic technique to quickly and easily test the function of any gene during fin regeneration.
Morpholino oligonucleotides are widely used to study loss of specific proteins during zebrafish, Xenopus, chick, and mouse development17-19. Morpholinos basepair with a complementary RNA sequence to either block pre-mRNA splicing or mRNA translation. We describe a method to efficiently introduce fluorescein-tagged antisense morpholinos into regenerating zebrafish fins to knockdown expression of the target protein. The morpholino is micro-injected into each blastema of the regenerating zebrafish tail fin and electroporated into the surrounding cells. Fluorescein provides the charge to electroporate the morpholino and to visualize the morpholino in the fin tissue.
This protocol permits conditional protein knockdown to examine the role of specific proteins during regenerative fin outgrowth. In the Discussion, we describe how this approach can be adapted to study the role of specific proteins during wound healing or blastema formation, as well as a potential marker of cell migration during blastema formation.

In vivo Electroporation of Morpholinos into the Regenerating Adult Zebrafish Tail Fin

We describe a method to conditionally knockdown the expression of a target protein during adult zebrafish fin regeneration. This technique involves micro-injecting and electroporating antisense oligonucleotide morpholinos into fin tissue, which allows testing the protein&#x2019;s role in various stages of fin regeneration, including wound healing, blastema formation, and regenerative outgrowth.

Certain species of urodeles and teleost fish can regenerate their tissues. Zebrafish have become a widely used model to study the spontaneous regeneration ...

Laser-inflicted Injury of Zebrafish Embryonic Skeletal Muscle

Various experimental approaches have been used in mouse to induce muscle injury with the aim to study muscle regeneration, including myotoxin injections (bupivacaine, cardiotoxin or notexin), muscle transplantations (denervation-devascularization induced regeneration), intensive exercise, but also murine muscular dystrophy models such as the mdx mouse (for a review of these approaches see 1). In zebrafish, genetic approaches include mutants that exhibit muscular dystrophy phenotypes (such as runzel2 or sapje3) and antisense oligonucleotide morpholinos that block the expression of dystrophy-associated genes4. Besides, chemical approaches are also possible, e.g. with Galanthamine, a chemical compound inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, thereby resulting in hypercontraction, which eventually leads to muscular dystrophy5. However, genetic and pharmacological approaches generally affect all muscles within an individual, whereas the extent of physically inflicted injuries are more easily controlled spatially and temporally1. Localized physical injury allows the assessment of contralateral muscle as an internal control. Indeed, we recently used laser-mediated cell ablation to study skeletal muscle regeneration in the zebrafish embryo6, while another group recently reported the use of a two-photon laser (822 nm) to damage very locally the plasma membrane of individual embryonic zebrafish muscle cells7.
Here, we report a method for using the micropoint laser (Andor Technology) for skeletal muscle cell injury in the zebrafish embryo. The micropoint laser is a high energy laser which is suitable for targeted cell ablation at a wavelength of 435 nm. The laser is connected to a microscope (in our setup, an optical microscope from Zeiss) in such a way that the microscope can be used at the same time for focusing the laser light onto the sample and for visualizing the effects of the wounding (brightfield or fluorescence). The parameters for controlling laser pulses include wavelength, intensity, and number of pulses.
Due to its transparency and external embryonic development, the zebrafish embryo is highly amenable for both laser-induced injury and for studying the subsequent recovery. Between 1 and 2 days post-fertilization, somitic skeletal muscle cells progressively undergo maturation from anterior to posterior due to the progression of somitogenesis from the trunk to the tail8, 9. At these stages, embryos spontaneously twitch and initiate swimming. The zebrafish has recently been recognized as an important vertebrate model organism for the study of tissue regeneration, as many types of tissues (cardiac, neuronal, vascular etc.) can be regenerated after injury in the adult zebrafish10, 11.

The method presented here comprises the precise injury of live zebrafish embryos with high-energy laser pulses and the subsequent analysis of these injuries and their recovery with time. We also show how genetically labeled single or groups of skeletal muscle cells can be tracked during and after laser light induced damage.

Various experimental approaches have been used in mouse to induce muscle injury with the aim to study muscle regeneration, including myotoxin injections ...

The Tomato/GFP-FLP/FRT Method for Live Imaging of Mosaic Adult Drosophila Photoreceptor Cells

The Drosophila eye is widely used as a model for studies of development and neuronal degeneration. With the powerful mitotic recombination technique, elegant genetic screens based on clonal analysis have led to the identification of signaling pathways involved in eye development and photoreceptor (PR) differentiation at larval stages. We describe here the Tomato/GFP-FLP/FRT method, which can be used for rapid clonal analysis in the eye of living adult Drosophila. Fluorescent photoreceptor cells are imaged with the cornea neutralization technique, on retinas with mosaic clones generated by flipase-mediated recombination. This method has several major advantages over classical histological sectioning of the retina: it can be used for high-throughput screening and has proved an effective method for identifying the factors regulating PR survival and function. It can be used for kinetic analyses of PR degeneration in the same living animal over several weeks, to demonstrate the requirement for specific genes for PR survival or function in the adult fly. This method is also useful for addressing cell autonomy issues in developmental mutants, such as those in which the establishment of planar cell polarity is affected.

The Tomato/GFP-FLP/FRT Method for Live Imaging of Mosaic Adult Drosophila Photoreceptor Cells

The Tomato/GFP-FLP/FRT method involves visualizing mosaic photoreceptor cells in living Drosophila. It can be used to follow individual photoreceptor cell fates in the retina for days or weeks. This method is ideal for studies of retinal degeneration and neurodegenerative diseases or photoreceptor cell development.

The Drosophila eye is widely used as a model  for studies of development and neuronal degeneration. With the powerful mitotic  recombination technique, ...

Separation of Spermatogenic Cell Types Using STA-PUT Velocity Sedimentation

Mammalian spermatogenesis is a complex differentiation process that occurs in several stages in the seminiferous tubules of the testes. Currently, there is no reliable cell culture system allowing for spermatogenic differentiation in vitro, and most biological studies of spermatogenic cells require tissue harvest from animal models like the mouse and rat. Because the testis contains numerous cell types - both non-spermatogenic (Leydig, Sertoli, myeloid, and epithelial cells) and spermatogenic (spermatogonia, spermatocytes, round spermatids, condensing spermatids and spermatozoa) - studies of the biological mechanisms involved in spermatogenesis require the isolation and enrichment of these different cell types. The STA-PUT method allows for the separation of a heterogeneous population of cells - in this case, from the testes - through a linear BSA gradient. Individual cell types sediment with different sedimentation velocity according to cell size, and fractions enriched for different cell types can be collected and utilized in further analyses. While the STA-PUT method does not result in highly pure fractions of cell types, e.g. as can be obtained with certain cell sorting methods, it does provide a much higher yield of total cells in each fraction (~1 x 108 cells/spermatogenic cell type from a starting population of 7-8 x 108 cells). This high yield method requires only specialized glassware and can be performed in any cold room or large refrigerator, making it an ideal method for labs that have limited access to specialized equipment like a fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) or elutriator.

The STA-PUT method allows for the separation of different populations of spermatogenic cells based on size and density.

Mammalian spermatogenesis is a complex  differentiation process that occurs in several stages in the seminiferous  tubules of the testes. Currently, there ...

Automated Analysis of Dynamic Ca2+ Signals in Image Sequences

Intracellular Ca2+ signals are commonly studied with fluorescent Ca2+ indicator dyes and microscopy techniques. However, quantitative analysis of Ca2+ imaging data is time consuming and subject to bias. Automated signal analysis algorithms based on region of interest (ROI) detection have been implemented for one-dimensional line scan measurements, but there is no current algorithm which integrates optimized identification and analysis of ROIs in two-dimensional image sequences. Here an algorithm for rapid acquisition and analysis of ROIs in image sequences is described. It utilizes ellipses fit to noise filtered signals in order to determine optimal ROI placement, and computes Ca2+ signal parameters of amplitude, duration and spatial spread. This algorithm was implemented as a freely available plugin for ImageJ (NIH) software. Together with analysis scripts written for the open source statistical processing software R, this approach provides a high-capacity pipeline for performing quick statistical analysis of experimental output. The authors suggest that use of this analysis protocol will lead to a more complete and unbiased characterization of physiologic Ca2+ signaling.

Automated Analysis of Dynamic Ca2+ Signals in Image Sequences

Here a novel region of interest analysis protocol based on sorting best-fit ellipses assigned to regions of positive signal within two-dimensional time lapse image sequences is demonstrated. This algorithm may enable investigators to comprehensively analyze physiological Ca2+ signals with minimal user input and bias.

Intracellular Ca2+ signals are commonly studied with fluorescent Ca2+ indicator dyes and microscopy techniques. However, quantitative analysis of Ca2+ ...

A Simplified System for Evaluating Cell Mechanosensing and Durotaxis In Vitro

The composition and mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix are highly variable between tissue types. This connective tissue stroma diversity greatly impacts cell behavior to regulate normal and pathologic processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion signaling and directional migration. In this regard, the innate ability of certain cell types to migrate towards a stiffer, or less compliant matrix substrate is referred to as durotaxis. This phenomenon plays an important role during embryonic development, wound repair and cancer cell invasion. Here, we describe a straightforward assay to study durotaxis, in vitro, using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates. Preparation of the described durotaxis chambers creates a rigidity interface between the relatively soft PDMS gel and a rigid glass coverslip. In the example provided, we have used these durotaxis chambers to demonstrate a role for the cdc42/Rac1 GTPase activating protein, cdGAP, in mechanosensing and durotaxis regulation in human U2OS osteosarcoma cells. This assay is readily adaptable to other cell types and/or knockdown of other proteins of interests to explore their respective roles in mechanosignaling and durotaxis.

A Simplified System for Evaluating Cell Mechanosensing and Durotaxis In Vitro

Many mammalian cells preferentially migrate towards a more rigid matrix or substrate through durotaxis. The goal of this protocol is to provide a simple in vitro system that can be used to study and manipulate cell durotaxis behaviors by incorporating polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates of defined rigidity, interfacing with glass coverslips.

The composition and mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix are highly variable between tissue types. This connective tissue stroma diversity ...

Nephrotoxin Microinjection in Zebrafish to Model Acute Kidney Injury

The kidneys are susceptible to harm from exposure to chemicals they filter from the bloodstream. This can lead to organ injury associated with a rapid decline in renal function and development of the clinical syndrome known as acute kidney injury (AKI). Pharmacological agents used to treat medical circumstances ranging from bacterial infection to cancer, when administered individually or in combination with other drugs, can initiate AKI. Zebrafish are a useful animal model to study the chemical effects on renal function in vivo, as they form an embryonic kidney comprised of nephron functional units that are conserved with higher vertebrates, including humans. Further, zebrafish can be utilized to perform genetic and chemical screens, which provide opportunities to elucidate the cellular and molecular facets of AKI and develop therapeutic strategies such as the identification of nephroprotective molecules. Here, we demonstrate how microinjection into the zebrafish embryo can be utilized as a paradigm for nephrotoxin studies.

Renal injuries incurred from nephrotoxins, which include drugs ranging from antibiotics to chemotherapeutics, can result in complex disorders whose pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. This protocol demonstrates how zebrafish can be used for disease modeling of these conditions, which can be applied to the identification of renoprotective measures.

The kidneys are susceptible to harm from exposure to chemicals they filter from the bloodstream. This can lead to organ injury associated with a rapid ...