Somos gratos à facilidade zebrafish Universidade de Utah para criação de animais. RID foi financiado pelo NIH R56NS053897 e LKB era um estagiário predoctoral apoiado pela iniciativa HHMI Med-Into-Grad.

Peixe-zebra foram levantadas e produzido de acordo com processos padrão; experiências foram aprovadas pelo Comité de University Animal Care and Use Institucional Utah. 1. Preparação de Placas Cirurgia <ol><li> Faça placas de cirurgia usando 60 milímetros placas de Petri e Sylgard 184 Elastômero de Silicone Kit, seguindo as instruções do fabricante. Preencha pratos não mais do que meio cheio e permitir a polimerizar. Tapados à temperatura ambiente. </li></ol> 2. Preparação de Micropipetas <ol><li> Fabricar micropipetas aquecendo e puxando de parede fina tubo de borosilicato capilar em um extrator micropipeta usando as mesmas configurações para fazer agulhas microinjeção. </li><li> Sob um microscópio de dissecação, snap off ponta de micropipeta para cerca de 200 m de diâmetro com pinça. </li><li> Bisel borda quebrada com um microgrinder inicialmente a 35 °, seguida por uma segunda chanfradura a 25 °. Certifique-se de ponta é afiada e smooth. Loja terminou micropipeta chanfrado em uma placa de Petri com uma pequena quantidade de argila. </li></ol> 3. Preparação de Zebrafish Larvas <ol><li> 7 dias antes da cirurgia, montar tanques de acasalamento dos peixes-zebra macho e fêmea. </li><li> Coletar embriões na manhã seguinte, 3 horas após as luzes se acendem para garantir um rendimento máximo. Se estiver usando uma linha repórter transgênico como Tg (elevl3: eGFP) knu3, os embriões fertilizados tipo 100/100 mm Placa em 25 ml de E3 em 28,5 ° C. Se estiver usando o tipo selvagem, espécie fertilizado embriões placa 25/100 mm de 25 ml de E3 em 28,5 ° C. </li><li> Se estiver usando uma linha de repórter, tela embriões para expressão fluorescente em 48 hpf. Permitir embriões identificados para amadurecer a uma densidade de placa 25/100 mm de 25 ml de E3 a 28,5 ° C. </li><li> Quando as larvas são de 5 dpf, preparar placa cirurgia cobrindo Sylgard com E2 + 10 mg / L de Gentamicina Sulfato (GS) + tricaina. <ol><li> Prepare recuperação prato, adicionando 25 ml E2 + GS para um 100 milímetros dis Petrih. </li><li> Prepare bisturi gravando juntos três swabs. Isto vai formar uma ferramenta triangular com três ranhuras. </li><li> Montar uma micropipeta preparado sobre os cotonetes gravando-o em uma das ranhuras. </li></ol></li><li> Se reutilização de micropipetas, lave até claro com E2 + GS usando uma seringa de 1 ml e uma agulha de 27 G antes da montagem em swabs. </li></ol> 4. Cirurgia <ol><li> Anestesiar um prato de larvas de cada vez (25 peixes) com tricaina. Os peixes são suficientemente anestesiados quando eles já não apresentam resposta ao toque. É importante que os peixes são completamente anestesiado antes da cirurgia, caso contrário, eles vão se contrair quando o bisturi toca-los. A cirurgia é realizada sob um microscópio de dissecção. </li><li> Transferência das larvas para placa de cirurgia. <ol><li> Sob ampliação máxima, gire uma larva de cada vez para que ele fique de lado com as costas mais próximo da mão segurando o bisturi. </li><li> Posição pinça de modo que eles estejam sobre o Sylgard,angular ao longo da largura da larva. </li><li> Apoiando o bisturi de vidro contra um dos braços da pinça, corte na face dorsal lateral da lagarta no nível do poro anal, tendo a certeza de não corte para além da borda ventral da notocorda. Torça o bisturi para cortar a medula espinhal. </li><li> Repita com larvas restante. Nota: se uma larva sangra, ele não vai se recuperar da cirurgia. Remover imediatamente a larva da placa cirurgia e sacrificá-lo via tricaina overdose. </li></ol></li><li> Uma vez que a cirurgia no lote de larvas está completa, a transferência de animais feridos para a placa de recuperação. Este é apoiar a compensação da anestesia. <ol><li> Atenção: ao coletar larvas ferido para a transferência, certifique-se que sejam coletadas cabeça ou cauda em primeiro lugar: não se estresse do local da lesão, dobrando as larvas. Nota: Todos os dispositivos utilizados para a cirurgia pode ser reutilizado, incluindo as micropipetas. </li></ol></li></ol> 5. Recuperação <ol><li> Transfer ferido larvas a partir da placa de recuperação para placas de 100 mm cheias com 25 ml de E2 + GS, a uma densidade de 25/plate. Permitir a se recuperar em uma incubadora de 28,5 ° C. </li><li> Verifique placas diariamente, removendo animais doentes e mortas. Não altere a mídia até Coleps (protozoários de água doce) são visíveis na mídia. Ao trocar a mídia, não transferir o peixe para uma nova placa; em vez disso, remova o máximo de mídia como possível e inundar a mesma placa com as novas mídias. Repita conforme necessário para reduzir a população Coleps. </li><li> Alimente diariamente com uma pequena quantidade de alimento frito em pó. Nota: Alimento vivo (por exemplo, paramecia ou rotíferos) não podem ser alimentados com larvas ferido até depois de terem recuperado a locomoção. Caso contrário, o alimento vivo vai colonizar o local da lesão e matar as larvas. </li></ol>

<ol>
	<li>Houweling, D. A., B&#228;r, P. R., Gispen, W. H., Joosten, E. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spinal+cord+injury:+bridging+the+lesion+and+the+role+of+neurotrophic+factors+in+repair.">Spinal cord injury: bridging the lesion and the role of neurotrophic factors in repair.</a> Progress in brain research. 117, 455-471 (1998).</li><li>Mikami, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Implantation+of+dendritic+cells+in+injured+adult+spinal+cord+results+in+activation+of+endogenous+neural+stem/progenitor+cells+leading+to+de+novo+neurogenesis+and+functional+recovery.">Implantation of dendritic cells in injured adult spinal cord results in activation of endogenous neural stem/progenitor cells leading to de novo neurogenesis and functional recovery.</a> Journal of neuroscience research. 76 (4), 453-465 (2004).</li><li>Chernoff, E. A. G., Sato, K., Corn, A., Karcavich, R. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spinal+cord+regeneration:+intrinsic+properties+and+emerging+mechanisms.">Spinal cord regeneration: intrinsic properties and emerging mechanisms.</a> Seminars in Cell &amp; Developmental Biology. 13 (5), 361-368 (2002).</li><li>Kuscha, V., Barreiro-Iglesias, A., Becker, C. G., Becker, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Plasticity+of+tyrosine+hydroxylase+and+serotonergic+systems+in+the+regenerating+spinal+cord+of+adult+zebrafish.">Plasticity of tyrosine hydroxylase and serotonergic systems in the regenerating spinal cord of adult zebrafish.</a> The Journal of comparative neurology. 520 (5), 933-951 (2012).</li><li>Becker, C. G., Lieberoth, B. C., Morellini, F., Feldner, J., Becker, T., Schachner, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=L1.1+is+involved+in+spinal+cord+regeneration+in+adult+zebrafish.">L1.1 is involved in spinal cord regeneration in adult zebrafish.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience: The Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 24 (36), 7837-7842 (2004).</li><li>Hui, S. P., Dutta, A., Ghosh, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cellular+response+after+crush+injury+in+adult+zebrafish+spinal+cord.">Cellular response after crush injury in adult zebrafish spinal cord.</a> Developmental Dynamics: An Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists. 239 (11), 2962-2979 (2010).</li><li>Goldshmit, Y., Sztal, T. E., Jusuf, P. R., Hall, T. E., Nguyen-Chi, M., Currie, P. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fgf-dependent+glial+cell+bridges+facilitate+spinal+cord+regeneration+in+zebrafish.">Fgf-dependent glial cell bridges facilitate spinal cord regeneration in zebrafish.</a> The Journal of neuroscience: the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 32 (22), 7477-7492 (2012).</li><li>Reimer, M. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Motor+neuron+regeneration+in+adult+zebrafish.">Motor neuron regeneration in adult zebrafish.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience: The Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 28 (34), 8510-8516 (2008).</li><li>Hale, M. E., Ritter, D. A., Fetcho, J. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+confocal+study+of+spinal+interneurons+in+living+larval+zebrafish.">A confocal study of spinal interneurons in living larval zebrafish.</a> The Journal of comparative neurology. 437 (1), 1-16 (2001).</li><li>Bhatt, D. H., Otto, S. J., Depoister, B., Fetcho, J. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cyclic+AMP-induced+repair+of+zebrafish+spinal+circuits.">Cyclic AMP-induced repair of zebrafish spinal circuits.</a> Science. 305 (5681), 254-258 (2004).</li><li>McClenahan, P., Troup, M., Scott, E. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fin-tail+coordination+during+escape+and+predatory+behavior+in+larval+zebrafish.">Fin-tail coordination during escape and predatory behavior in larval zebrafish.</a> PloS one. 7 (2), (2012).</li><li>Kim, C. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Repressor+activity+of+Headless/Tcf3+is+essential+for+vertebrate+head+formation.">Repressor activity of Headless/Tcf3 is essential for vertebrate head formation.</a> Nature. 407 (6806), 913-916 (2000).</li></ol>

Os autores não têm nada a revelar.

Quando inicialmente aprender esta técnica, recomendamos tentar não mais de 50-100 transecções em uma única sessão. Depois de dominar essa técnica, somos capazes de transecto até 300 embriões por hora; no entanto, este nível de rendimento requer alguns meses de prática semanal. Recomenda-se também a prática com uma linha de repórter e verificando transsecção completa até a incidência de incompleto transecção da medula espinal é reduzida para menos de 1%. Transecção da m...

Grande trauma da medula espinal humana, muitas vezes resulta em paralisia permanente e perda de sensibilidade abaixo do nível da lesão, devido à incapacidade de crescerem axónios ou reiniciar neurogénese 1,2. Em contraste com os mamíferos, no entanto, anamniotes incluindo salamandras e peixes-zebra (Danio rerio) mostram recuperação robusta, mesmo depois de medula espinhal completa transecção 3,4. O peixe-zebra adulto é um modelo bem estabelecido para estudar o processo de recuperação após lesão medular 5-7. Na sequência completa transecção da medula espinal, restabelecimento da função sensorial e locomotiva é observado no peixe-zebra adultos de 6 semanas após a lesão 8. A fim de examinar o processo regenerativo in vivo, nós nos voltamos para o peixe-zebra larval transparente 9. Aqui apresentamos um método para transecto da medula espinhal de um 5 dias após a fertilização (dpf) larval usi zebrafishng de uma pipeta de microinjecção chanfrada como um bisturi, modificado a partir de Bhatt, et ai. 10 Este método oferece suporte de alto rendimento, baixa mortalidade, e reprodutibilidade. Com a prática, 300 larvas / hr pode ser seccionado, e mais de 6 meses de transecções, incluindo mais de 3.600 animais, 98,75% ± 0,72% sobreviveram até sete dias pós-lesão (dpi). Nossos dados mostram uma recuperação rápida de locomoção e sensorial, bem como: a 1 dpi, todos os movimentos pelos peixes feridos é impulsionado por peitoral apenas locomoção fin. No entanto, as larvas começam a responder ao tungstênio agulha toque caudal à transecção por 2 dpi, restabelecer o movimento C-curva por 3 dpi, e exibir natação predatória por 5 dpi 11. Usando coloração de anticorpos contra tubulina acetilada, que confirmaram que os axônios estão ausentes do local da lesão a um dpi, mas cruzaram o local da lesão por 5 dpi. Acreditamos que este protocolo irá proporcionar uma técnica valiosa para o estudo da rebrota axonal e neurogênese na medula espinhal após lesão. </p&gt;

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:733px;" width="733">
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		<col />
		<col />
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	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Name of Material/ Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">60mm petri dish</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">82050-544</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">100mm petri dish</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">89038-968</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Sylgard 184 Silicone Elastomer Kit</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">NC9644388</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:269px;">borosilicate capillary tubing: OD 1.00mm ID 0.78mm</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Warner Instruments Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">64-0778</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">forceps</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Fine Scientific Tools Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">11252-30</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">disssection microscope</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Nikon</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SMZ6454</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">microgrinder</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Narishige</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">EG-44</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Gentamycin Sulfate</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Amresco Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">0304-5G</td>
			<td>dissolve in water 10mg/ml, store at -20&#176;C</td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Tricaine</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Acros Organics</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">118000100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">cotton tipped applicator, wood, 6-inch</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">23-400-101</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">1ml syringe</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">BD</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">309625</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">27 ga. needle</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">BD</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">305109</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Fry food</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Argent Labs</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">F-ARGE-PTL-CN</td>
			<td>store at -20&#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">micropipette puller</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Sutter Instrument Co.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Model P-97</td>
			<td>Box Filament FB330B</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;"></td>
			<td style="width:179px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">20x E2 (1L)</td>
			<td style="width:179px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>store at RT</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">17.5g NaCl</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S671-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">0.75g KCl</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">P217-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:269px;">2.90g CaCl2&#183;2H2O</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Sigma&#160;&#160;&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">C7902-500G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:269px;">4.90g MgSO4&#183;7H2O</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Merck</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">MX0070-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:269px;">0.41g KH2PO4</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">P285-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:269px;">0.12g Na2HPO4</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Sigma&#160;&#160;&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S0876-500G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;"></td>
			<td style="width:179px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:269px;">500x NaCO3 (10ml)</td>
			<td style="width:179px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>make fresh, discard extra</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:269px;">0.35g NaCO3</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S5761</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;"></td>
			<td style="width:179px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">1x E2 (1L)</td>
			<td style="width:179px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>store at RT</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">50ml 20x E2</td>
			<td style="width:179px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:269px;">2ml fresh 500x NaCO3</td>
			<td style="width:179px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

spinal cord transection in the larval zebrafish

Mamíferos falhar na recuperação sensorial e motora após lesão medular, devido à falta de rebrota axonal abaixo do nível da lesão, bem como a incapacidade de reiniciar a neurogênese espinhal. No entanto, alguns anamniotes incluindo o peixe-zebra Danio rerio exposição tanto sensorial e recuperação funcional, mesmo após transecção completa da medula espinhal. O peixe-zebra adulto é um organismo modelo estabelecido para o estudo da regeneração após lesão medular, com recuperação motora e sensorial por seis semanas após a lesão. Para aproveitar in vivo análise do processo regenerativo disponível no zebrafish larval transparente, bem como ferramentas genéticas não acessível no adulto, usamos o peixe-zebra larval para estudar a regeneração após transecção medular espinhal. Aqui demonstramos um método para reprodutível e verificável seccionar a medula espinhal larval. Após transecção, nossos dados mostram recuperação sensorial início em 2 dias após a lesão (dpi), sagacidadeh o movimento C-bend detectável por 3 dpi e retomada da natação livre por 5 dpi. Assim, propõe-se o peixe-zebra larval como uma ferramenta complementar para o peixe-zebra adulto para o estudo de recuperação após a lesão medular.

Para reduzir a severidade dos danos no tecido em torno do local da lesão, chanfradura adequada da micropipeta é crítica. Figura 1A mostra uma ponta chanfrada correctamente. Usando uma dica que é muito grande (Figura 1B) tende a resultar em fatalidades mais elevados devido ao aumento da probabilidade de entalhar a aorta dorsal, enquanto uma dica que é muito estreito (Figura 1C) tende a olhar para fora da pele ao invés de tecido de corte. <p class="jove_content"...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Spinal Cord Transection in the Larval Zebrafish at JoVE.com

Spinal Cord Transection in the Larval Zebrafish

Após transecção espinhal, adulto zebrafish tem recuperação funcional por seis semanas após a lesão. Para tirar proveito da transparência larval e recuperação mais rápida, apresentamos um método para seccionar a medula espinhal larval. Após transecção, observamos recuperação sensorial começando em 2 dias após a lesão, e movimento C-curva por 3 dias após a lesão.

Transecção medular nos larval Zebrafish

Mammals fail in sensory and motor recovery following spinal cord injury due to lack of axonal regrowth below the level of injury as well as an inability ...

spinal-cord-transection-in-the-larval-zebrafish

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JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

11.8K visualizações.  University of Utah.  Após transecção espinhal, adulto zebrafish tem recuperação funcional por seis semanas após a lesão. Para tirar proveito da transparência larval e recuperação mais rápida, apresentamos um método para seccionar a medula espinhal larval. Após transecção, observamos recuperação sensorial começando em 2 dias após a lesão, e movimento C-curva por 3 dias após a lesão. 

Vídeo: Spinal Cord Transection in the Larval Zebrafish

Dissection and Culture of Commissural Neurons from Embryonic Spinal Cord

Commissural neurons have been widely used to investigate the mechanisms underlying axon guidance during embryonic spinal cord development. The cell bodies of these neurons are located in the dorsal spinal cord and their axons follow stereotyped trajectories during embryonic development. Commissural axons initially project ventrally towards the floorplate. After crossing the midline, these axons turn anteriorly and project towards the brain. Each of these steps is regulated by the action of several guidance cues. Cultures highly enriched in commissural neurons are ideally suited for many experiments addressing the mechanisms of axon pathfinding, including turning assays, immunochemistry and biochemistry. Here, we describe a method to dissect and culture commissural neurons from E13 rat dorsal spinal cord. First, the spinal cord is isolated and dorsal strips are dissected out. The dorsal tissue is then dissociated into a cell suspension by trypsinization and mechanical disruption. Neurons are plated onto poly-L-lysine-coated glass coverslips or tissue-culture dishes. After 30 hours in vitro, most neurons have extended an axon. The purity of the culture (Yam et al. 2009), typically over 90%, can be assessed by immunolabeling with the commissural neuron markers DCC, LH2 and TAG1 (Helms and Johnson, 1998). This neuronal preparation is a useful tool for in vitro studies of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of commissural axon growth and guidance during spinal cord development.

This video demonstrates a method to dissect and culture commissural neurons from E13 rat dorsal spinal cord. Dissociated commissural neurons are useful to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of axon growth and guidance.

Dissecção e Cultura de Neurônios da Medula Espinhal comissural embrionárias

Commissural neurons have been widely used to investigate the mechanisms underlying axon guidance during embryonic spinal cord development. The cell bodies ...

Neurociência

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

Spinal Cord Eletrofisiologia II: Fabricação Eletrodo de Sucção Extracelular

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

Forebrain Electrophysiological Recording in Larval Zebrafish

Epilepsy affects nearly 3 million people in the United States and up to 50 million people worldwide. Defined as the occurrence of spontaneous unprovoked seizures, epilepsy can be acquired as a result of an insult to the brain or a genetic mutation. Efforts to model seizures in animals have primarily utilized acquired insults (convulsant drugs, stimulation or brain injury) and genetic manipulations (antisense knockdown, homologous recombination or transgenesis) in rodents. Zebrafish are a vertebrate model system1-3 that could provide a valuable alternative to rodent-based epilepsy research. Zebrafish are used extensively in the study of vertebrate genetics or development, exhibit a high degree of genetic similarity to mammals and express homologs for ~85% of known human single-gene epilepsy mutations. Because of their small size (4-6 mm in length), zebrafish larvae can be maintained in fluid volumes as low as 100 &mu;l during early development and arrayed in multi-well plates. Reagents can be added directly to the solution in which embryos develop, simplifying drug administration and enabling rapid in vivo screening of test compounds4. Synthetic oligonucleotides (morpholinos), mutagenesis, zinc finger nuclease and transgenic approaches can be used to rapidly generate gene knockdown or mutation in zebrafish5-7. These properties afford zebrafish studies an unprecedented statistical power analysis advantage over rodents in the study of neurological disorders such as epilepsy. Because the "gold standard" for epilepsy research is to monitor and analyze the abnormal electrical discharges that originate in a central brain structure (i.e., seizures), a method to efficiently record brain activity in larval zebrafish is described here. This method is an adaptation of conventional extracellular recording techniques and allows for stable long-term monitoring of brain activity in intact zebrafish larvae. Sample recordings are shown for acute seizures induced by bath application of convulsant drugs and spontaneous seizures recorded in a genetically modified fish.

A simple method to record extracellular field potentials in the larval zebrafish forebrain is described. The method provides a robust in vivo read-out of seizure-like activity. This technique can be used with genetically modified zebrafish larvae carrying epilepsy-related genes or seizures evoked by administration of convulsant drugs.

Prosencéfalo gravação eletrofisiológico em larval Zebrafish

Epilepsy affects nearly 3 million people in the United States and up to 50 million people worldwide. Defined as the occurrence of spontaneous unprovoked ...

Dissection and Lateral Mounting of Zebrafish Embryos: Analysis of Spinal Cord Development

The zebrafish spinal cord is an effective investigative model for nervous system research for several reasons. First, genetic, transgenic and gene knockdown approaches can be utilized to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying nervous system development. Second, large clutches of developmentally synchronized embryos provide large experimental sample sizes. Third, the optical clarity of the zebrafish embryo permits researchers to visualize progenitor, glial, and neuronal populations. Although zebrafish embryos are transparent, specimen thickness can impede effective microscopic visualization. One reason for this is the tandem development of the spinal cord and overlying somite tissue. Another reason is the large yolk ball, which is still present during periods of early neurogenesis. In this article, we demonstrate microdissection and removal of the yolk in fixed embryos, which allows microscopic visualization while preserving surrounding somite tissue. We also demonstrate semipermanent mounting of zebrafish embryos. This permits observation of neurodevelopment in the dorso-ventral and anterior-posterior axes, as it preserves the three-dimensionality of the tissue.

Developmental processes such as proliferation, patterning, differentiation, and axon guidance can be readily modeled in the zebrafish spinal cord. In this article, we describe a mounting procedure for zebrafish embryos, which optimizes visualization of these events.

Dissecção e montagem lateral de embriões Zebrafish: Análise de Desenvolvimento da Medula Espinhal

The zebrafish spinal cord is an effective investigative model for nervous system research for several reasons. First, genetic, transgenic and gene ...

Complete Spinal Cord Injury and Brain Dissection Protocol for Subsequent Wholemount In Situ Hybridization in Larval Sea Lamprey

After a complete spinal cord injury, sea lampreys at first are paralyzed below the level of transection. However, they recover locomotion after several weeks, and this is accompanied by short distance regeneration (a few mm) of propriospinal axons and spinal-projecting axons from the brainstem. Among the 36 large identifiable spinal-projecting neurons, some are good regenerators and others are bad regenerators. These neurons can most easily be identified in wholemount CNS preparations. In order to understand the neuron-intrinsic mechanisms that favor or inhibit axon regeneration after injury in the vertebrates CNS, we determine differences in gene expression between the good and bad regenerators, and how expression is influenced by spinal cord transection. This paper illustrates the techniques for housing larval and recently transformed adult sea lampreys in fresh water tanks, producing complete spinal cord transections under microscopic vision, and preparing brain and spinal cord wholemounts for in situ hybridization. Briefly, animals are kept at 16&#160;&#176;C and anesthetized in 1% Benzocaine in lamprey Ringer. The spinal cord is transected with iridectomy scissors via a dorsal approach and the animal is allowed to recover in fresh water tanks at 23 &#176;C. For in situ hybridization, animals are reanesthetized and the brain and cord removed via a dorsal approach.

Complete Spinal Cord Injury and Brain Dissection Protocol for Subsequent Wholemount In Situ Hybridization in Larval Sea Lamprey

Lampreys recover locomotion after a complete spinal cord injury. However, some spinal-projecting neurons are good regenerators and others are not. This paper illustrates the techniques for housing sea lamprey larvae (and recently transformed adults), producing complete spinal cord transections and preparing wholemount brains and spinal cords for in situ hybridization.

Spinal Cord Injury completo e Cérebro Dissection Protocolo para Wholemount Subsequente<em&gt; In Situ</em&gt; Hibridização em larval da lampreia de mar

After a complete spinal cord injury, sea lampreys at first are paralyzed below the level of transection. However, they recover locomotion after several ...

Diffusion Imaging in the Rat Cervical Spinal Cord

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the state of the art approach for assessing the status of the spinal cord noninvasively, and can be used as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in cases of disease or injury. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), is sensitive to the thermal motion of water molecules and allows for inferences of tissue microstructure. This report describes a protocol to acquire and analyze DWI of the rat cervical spinal cord on a small-bore animal system. It demonstrates an imaging setup for the live anesthetized animal and recommends a DWI acquisition protocol for high-quality imaging, which includes stabilization of the cord and control of respiratory motion. Measurements with diffusion weighting along different directions and magnitudes (b-values) are used. Finally, several mathematical models of the resulting signal are used to derive maps of the diffusion processes within the spinal cord tissue that provide insight into the normal cord and can be used to monitor injury or disease processes noninvasively.

The goal of this protocol is to obtain high-quality diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) of the rat spinal cord for noninvasive characterization of tissue microstructure. This protocol describes optimizations of the MRI sequence, radiofrequency coil, and analysis methods to enable DWI images free from artifacts.

A seqüência de difusão na Medula Espinhal Rat Cervical

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the state of the art approach for assessing the status of the spinal cord noninvasively, and can be used as a ...

Zebrafish In Situ Spinal Cord Preparation for Electrophysiological Recordings from Spinal Sensory and Motor Neurons

Zebrafish, first introduced as a developmental model, have gained popularity in many other fields. The ease of rearing large numbers of rapidly developing organisms, combined with the embryonic optical clarity, served as initial compelling attributes of this model. Over the past two decades, the success of this model has been further propelled by its amenability to large-scale mutagenesis screens and by the ease of transgenesis. More recently, gene-editing approaches have extended the power of the model.
For neurodevelopmental studies, the zebrafish embryo and larva provide a model to which multiple methods can be applied. Here, we focus on methods that allow the study of an essential property of neurons, electrical excitability. Our preparation for the electrophysiological study of zebrafish spinal neurons involves the use of veterinarian suture glue to secure the preparation to a recording chamber. Alternative methods for recording from zebrafish embryos and larvae involve the attachment of the preparation to the chamber using a fine tungsten pin1,2,3,4,5. A tungsten pin is most often used to mount the preparation in a lateral orientation, although it has been used to mount larvae dorsal-side up4. The suture glue has been used to mount embryos and larvae in both orientations. Using the glue, a minimal dissection can be performed, allowing access to spinal neurons without the use of an enzymatic treatment, thereby avoiding any resultant damage. However, for larvae, it is necessary to apply a brief enzyme treatment to remove the muscle tissue surrounding the spinal cord. The methods described here have been used to study the intrinsic electrical properties of motor neurons, interneurons, and sensory neurons at several developmental stages6,7,8,9.

Zebrafish In Situ Spinal Cord Preparation for Electrophysiological Recordings from Spinal Sensory and Motor Neurons

This manuscript describes methods for electrophysiological recordings from spinal neurons of zebrafish embryos and larvae. The preparation maintains neurons in situ and often involves minimum dissection. These methods allow for the electrophysiological study of a variety of spinal neurons, from the initial electrical excitability acquisition through the early larval stages.

zebrafish<em&gt; In Situ</em&gt; Spinal Cord Preparação para gravações eletrofisiológicas da Spinal Sensorial e Motor Neurons

Zebrafish, first introduced as a developmental model, have gained popularity in many other fields. The ease of rearing large numbers of rapidly developing ...

Imaging Neural Activity in the Primary Somatosensory Cortex Using Thy1-GCaMP6s Transgenic Mice

The mammalian brain exhibits marked symmetry across the sagittal plane. However, detailed description of neural dynamics in symmetric brain regions in adult mammalian animals remains elusive. In this study, we describe an experimental procedure for measuring calcium dynamics through dual optical windows above bilateral primary somatosensory corticies (S1) in Thy1-GCaMP6s transgenic mice using 2-photon (2P) microscopy. This method enables recordings and quantifications of neural activity in bilateral mouse brain regions one at a time in the same experiment for a prolonged period in vivo. Key aspects of this method, which can be completed within an hour, include minimally invasive surgery procedures for creating dual optical windows, and the use of 2P imaging. Although we only demonstrate the technique in the S1 area, the method can be applied to other regions of the living brain facilitating the elucidation of structural and functional complexities of brain neural networks.

Imaging Neural Activity in the Primary Somatosensory Cortex Using Thy1-GCaMP6s Transgenic Mice

We describe an experimental procedure for measuring neuronal activity through dual optical windows above bilateral primary somatosensory corticies (S1) in Thy1-GCaMP6s transgenic mice using 2-photon (2P) microscopy in vivo.

Imagem de atividade Neural no córtex somatossensorial primário usando Thy1-GCaMP6s de ratos transgênicos

The mammalian brain exhibits marked symmetry across the sagittal plane. However, detailed description of neural dynamics in symmetric brain regions in ...

Laminectomy and Spinal Cord Window Implantation in the Mouse

This protocol describes a method for spinal cord laminectomy and glass window implantation for in vivo imaging of the mouse spinal cord. An integrated digital vaporizer is utilized to achieve a stable plane of anesthesia at a low-flow rate of isoflurane. A single vertebral spine is removed, and a commercially available cover-glass is overlaid on a thin agarose bed. A 3D-printed plastic backplate is then affixed to the adjacent vertebral spines using tissue adhesive and dental cement. A stabilization platform is used to reduce motion artifact from respiration and heartbeat. This rapid and clamp-free method is well-suited for acute multi-photon fluorescence microscopy. Representative data are included for an application of this technique to two-photon microscopy of the spinal cord vasculature in transgenic mice expressing eGFP:Claudin-5 &#8212; a tight junction protein.

This protocol describes implantation of a glass window onto the spinal cord of a mouse to facilitate visualization by intravital microscopy.

Implante de janela de laminectomia e medula espinhal no mouse

This protocol describes a method for spinal cord laminectomy and glass window implantation for in vivo imaging of the mouse spinal cord. An integrated ...

Intra-Arterial Delivery of Neural Stem Cells to the Rat and Mouse Brain: Application to Cerebral Ischemia

Neural stem cell (NSC) therapy is an emerging innovative treatment for stroke, traumatic brain injury and neurodegenerative disorders. As compared to intracranial delivery, intra-arterial administration of NSCs is less invasive and produces a more diffuse distribution of NSCs within the brain parenchyma. Further, intra-arterial delivery allows the first-pass effect in the brain circulation, lessening the potential for trapping of cells in peripheral organs, such as liver and spleen, a complication associated with peripheral injections. Here, we detail the methodology, in both mice and rats, for delivery of NSCs through the common carotid artery (mouse) or external carotid artery (rat) to the ipsilateral hemisphere after an ischemic stroke. Using GFP-labeled NSCs, we illustrate the widespread distribution achieved throughout the rodent ipsilateral hemisphere at 1 d, 1 week and 4 weeks after postischemic delivery, with a higher density in or near the ischemic injury site. In addition to long-term survival, we show evidence of differentiation of GFP-labeled cells at 4 weeks. The intra-arterial delivery approach described here for NSCs can also be used for administration of therapeutic compounds, and thus has broad applicability to varied CNS injury and disease models across multiple species.

A method for delivering neural stem cells, adaptable for injecting solutions or suspensions, through the common carotid artery (mouse) or external carotid artery (rat) after ischemic stroke is reported. Injected cells are distributed broadly throughout the brain parenchyma and can be detected up to 30 d after delivery.

Entrega intra-arterial de células-tronco neurais ao cérebro de ratos e ratos: aplicação à isquemia cerebral

Neural stem cell (NSC) therapy is an emerging innovative treatment for stroke, traumatic brain injury and neurodegenerative disorders. As compared to ...