Name: three-dimensional organotypic cultures of vestibular and auditory sensory organs
Uploaded: 2018-06-01T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Three-dimensional Organotypic Cultures of Vestibular and Auditory Sensory Organs at JoVE.com

We thank Dr. A. Jacobo, Dr. J. Salvi, and A. Petelski for their contributions to the original research on which this protocol is based. We also thank J. Llamas and W. Makmura for technical assistance and animal husbandry. We acknowledge NIDCD Training grant T32 DC009975, NIDCD grant R01DC015530, Robertson Therapeutic Development Fund, and the Caruso Family Foundation for funding. Finally, we acknowledge support from Howard Hughes Medical Institute, of which Dr. Hudspeth is an Investigator.

All methods described here have been approved by the Animal Care and Use Committees of Rockefeller University and of the University of Southern California.
1. (Optional) Preparation of Collagen I Solution from Mouse-tail Tendons
Note: Collagen I solutions are available commercially. Follow the manufacturer&#39;s instructions for gel preparation.
<ol>
	<li>Euthanize 5 - 10 young adult (3 - 5 weeks old) mice of any wild type strain with carbon dioxi...

<ol>
	<li>Oesterle, E. C., Tsue, T. T., Reh, T. A., Rubel, E. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hair-cell+regeneration+in+organ+cultures+of+the+postnatal+chicken+inner+ear.">Hair-cell regeneration in organ cultures of the postnatal chicken inner ear.</a> Hear Res. 70 (1), 85-108 (1993).</li><li>Meyers, J. R., Corwin, J. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Shape+change+controls+supporting+cell+proliferation+in+lesioned+mammalian+balance+epithelium.">Shape change controls supporting cell proliferation in lesioned mammalian balance epithelium.</a> J Neurosci Off J Soc Neurosci. 27 (16), 4313-4325 (2007).</li><li>Cunningham, L. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+adult+mouse+utricle+as+an+in+vitro+preparation+for+studies+of+ototoxic-drug-induced+sensory+hair+cell+death.">The adult mouse utricle as an in vitro preparation for studies of ototoxic-drug-induced sensory hair cell death.</a> Brain Res. 1091 (1), 277-281 (2006).</li><li>Warchol, M. E., Lambert, P. R., Goldstein, B. J., Forge, A., Corwin, J. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regenerative+proliferation+in+inner+ear+sensory+epithelia+from+adult+guinea+pigs+and+humans.">Regenerative proliferation in inner ear sensory epithelia from adult guinea pigs and humans.</a> Science. 259 (5101), 1619-1622 (1993).</li><li>Lin, V., Golub, J. S., Nguyen, T. B., Hume, C. R., Oesterle, E. C., Stone, J. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Inhibition+of+Notch+activity+promotes+nonmitotic+regeneration+of+hair+cells+in+the+adult+mouse+utricles.">Inhibition of Notch activity promotes nonmitotic regeneration of hair cells in the adult mouse utricles.</a> J Neurosci Off J Soc Neurosci. 31 (43), 15329-15339 (2011).</li><li>Wu, J., 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=Co-regulation+of+the+Notch+and+Wnt+signaling+pathways+promotes+supporting+cell+proliferation+and+hair+cell+regeneration+in+mouse+utricles.">Co-regulation of the Notch and Wnt signaling pathways promotes supporting cell proliferation and hair cell regeneration in mouse utricles.</a> Sci Rep. 6, 29418 (2016).</li><li>Chai, R., 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=Wnt+signaling+induces+proliferation+of+sensory+precursors+in+the+postnatal+mouse+cochlea.">Wnt signaling induces proliferation of sensory precursors in the postnatal mouse cochlea.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 109 (21), 8167-8172 (2012).</li><li>Wang, T., 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=Lgr5++cells+regenerate+hair+cells+via+proliferation+and+direct+transdifferentiation+in+damaged+neonatal+mouse+utricle.">Lgr5+ cells regenerate hair cells via proliferation and direct transdifferentiation in damaged neonatal mouse utricle.</a> Nat Commun. 6, 6613 (2015).</li><li>Doetzlhofer, A., White, P. M., Johnson, J. E., Segil, N., Groves, A. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vitro+growth+and+differentiation+of+mammalian+sensory+hair+cell+progenitors:+a+requirement+for+EGF+and+periotic+mesenchyme.">In vitro growth and differentiation of mammalian sensory hair cell progenitors: a requirement for EGF and periotic mesenchyme.</a> Dev Biol. 272 (2), 432-447 (2004).</li><li>White, P. M., Stone, J. S., Groves, A. K., Segil, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=EGFR+signaling+is+required+for+regenerative+proliferation+in+the+cochlea:+conservation+in+birds+and+mammals.">EGFR signaling is required for regenerative proliferation in the cochlea: conservation in birds and mammals.</a> Dev Biol. 363 (1), 191-200 (2012).</li><li>Gnedeva, K., Jacobo, A., Salvi, J. D., Petelski, A. A., Hudspeth, A. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Elastic+force+restricts+growth+of+the+murine+utricle.">Elastic force restricts growth of the murine utricle.</a> eLife. 6, (2017).</li><li>Aragona, 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=A+mechanical+checkpoint+controls+multicellular+growth+through+YAP/TAZ+regulation+by+actin-processing+factors.">A mechanical checkpoint controls multicellular growth through YAP/TAZ regulation by actin-processing factors.</a> Cell. 154 (5), 1047-1059 (2013).</li><li>Dong, J., 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=Elucidation+of+a+universal+size-control+mechanism+in+Drosophila+and+mammals.">Elucidation of a universal size-control mechanism in Drosophila and mammals.</a> Cell. 130 (6), 1120-1133 (2007).</li><li>Low, B. C., Pan, C. Q., Shivashankar, G. V., Bershadsky, A., Sudol, M., Sheetz, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=YAP/TAZ+as+mechanosensors+and+mechanotransducers+in+regulating+organ+size+and+tumor+growth.">YAP/TAZ as mechanosensors and mechanotransducers in regulating organ size and tumor growth.</a> FEBS Lett. 588 (16), 2663-2670 (2014).</li><li>Zhao, B., 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=Inactivation+of+YAP+oncoprotein+by+the+Hippo+pathway+is+involved+in+cell+contact+inhibition+and+tissue+growth+control.">Inactivation of YAP oncoprotein by the Hippo pathway is involved in cell contact inhibition and tissue growth control.</a> Genes Dev. 21 (21), 2747-2761 (2007).</li><li>. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2013 Edition. , (2013).</li><li>Semerci, F., 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=Lunatic+fringe-mediated+Notch+signaling+regulates+adult+hippocampal+neural+stem+cell+maintenance.">Lunatic fringe-mediated Notch signaling regulates adult hippocampal neural stem cell maintenance.</a> eLife. 6, (2017).</li><li>Tuan, R. S., Lo, C. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Developmental+biology+protocols.">Developmental biology protocols.</a> Methods in molecular biology. , 137 (2000).</li><li>Brandon, C. S., Voelkel-Johnson, C., May, L. A., Cunningham, L. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dissection+of+adult+mouse+utricle+and+adenovirus-mediated+supporting-cell+infection.">Dissection of adult mouse utricle and adenovirus-mediated supporting-cell infection.</a> J Vis Exp JoVE. (61), (2012).</li><li>Gosset, M., Berenbaum, F., Thirion, S., Jacques, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Primary+culture+and+phenotyping+of+murine+chondrocytes.">Primary culture and phenotyping of murine chondrocytes.</a> Nat Protoc. 3 (8), 1253-1260 (2008).</li><li>Landegger, L. D., 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=A+synthetic+AAV+vector+enables+safe+and+efficient+gene+transfer+to+the+mammalian+inner+ear.">A synthetic AAV vector enables safe and efficient gene transfer to the mammalian inner ear.</a> Nat Biotechnol. 35 (3), 280-284 (2017).</li><li>Burns, J. C., 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=Reinforcement+of+cell+junctions+correlates+with+the+absence+of+hair+cell+regeneration+in+mammals+and+its+occurrence+in+birds.">Reinforcement of cell junctions correlates with the absence of hair cell regeneration in mammals and its occurrence in birds.</a> J Comp Neurol. 511 (3), 396-414 (2008).</li><li>Wang, J., 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=Regulation+of+polarized+extension+and+planar+cell+polarity+in+the+cochlea+by+the+vertebrate+PCP+pathway.">Regulation of polarized extension and planar cell polarity in the cochlea by the vertebrate PCP pathway.</a> Nat Genet. 37 (9), 980-985 (2005).</li><li>Chacon-Heszele, M. F., Ren, D., Reynolds, A. B., Chi, F., Chen, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regulation+of+cochlear+convergent+extension+by+the+vertebrate+planar+cell+polarity+pathway+is+dependent+on+p120-catenin.">Regulation of cochlear convergent extension by the vertebrate planar cell polarity pathway is dependent on p120-catenin.</a> Dev Camb Engl. 139 (5), 968-978 (2012).</li><li>Yamamoto, N., Okano, T., Ma, X., Adelstein, R. S., Kelley, M. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Myosin+II+regulates+extension,+growth+and+patterning+in+the+mammalian+cochlear+duct.">Myosin II regulates extension, growth and patterning in the mammalian cochlear duct.</a> Dev Camb Engl. 136 (12), 1977-1986 (2009).</li><li>Tada, M., Heisenberg, C. -. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Convergent+extension:+using+collective+cell+migration+and+cell+intercalation+to+shape+embryos.">Convergent extension: using collective cell migration and cell intercalation to shape embryos.</a> Dev Camb Engl. 139 (21), 3897-3904 (2012).</li></ol>

The molecular signals that mediate growth and differentiation in the inner ear during development have been studied extensively5,6,7,8,9,10. However, evidence obtained from the utricular model system suggests that mechanical cues, sensed through cell junctions and the activation of Hippo signaling, also play an important role...

The study of most aspects of mammalian organ development has been facilitated by in vitro systems. Two principal methods are now used for the culture of vestibular sensory organs: free-floating1 and adherent2 preparations. Both methods permit the investigation of hair cell vulnerabilities3 and regeneration1,4&#160;in vitro. In addition, the developmental roles of the Notch5,6, Wnt7,8, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)9,10 signaling cascades in the inner ear have been established, in part, through the use of in vitro cultures of sensory epithelia. However, cell growth and differentiation are controlled, not only through signaling by morphogens, but also through physical and mechanical cues such as intercellular contacts, the stiffness of extracellular matrix, and mechanical stretching or constriction. The role of such mechanical stimuli is challenging to investigate in the developing inner ear in vivo. Moreover, existing free-floating and adherent culture methods are not suitable for such studies in vitro. Here we describe a method for three-dimensional organotypic culture in collagen I gels of varying stiffness. This method largely preserves the in vivo architecture of the vestibular and cochlear sensory organs and allows investigation of the effects of mechanical force on growth and differentiation11.
Because mechanical stimuli are known to activate downstream molecular events, such as the Hippo signaling pathway12,13,14,15, it is important to be able to combine mechanical stimulation with biochemical and genetic manipulations. The culture method described here permits virus-mediated gene delivery and can therefore be used to study both mechanical and molecular signaling during inner ear development11.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:749px;" width="750">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">#10 Surgical Blades</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Miltex</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">4-110</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">#5 Forceps</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Dumont</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">11252-20</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">100 mm Petri dish</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">P5856-500EA</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">250 uL large orifice pipette tips</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">USA Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1011-8406</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:252px;">30 mm glass-bottom Petri dish</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Matsunami Glass USA Corporation</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">D35-14-1.5-U</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">4 well plate</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">176740</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">4-Hydroxytamoxifen&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">H7904</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">60&#160;mm Petri dish</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">123TS1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Acetic acid&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">537020</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">Ad-GFP</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Vector Biolabs</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1060</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">Anti-GFP, chicken IgY fraction</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A10262&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">Anti-Myo7A</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Proteus Biosciences</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">25-6790</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">Anti-Sox2 Antibody (Y-17)</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Santa Cruz</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">sc-17320</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Bicinchoninic acid assay</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">23225</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:252px;">Click-iT EdU Alexa Fluor 647 Imaging Kit</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">C10340</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Collagenase I</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">17100017</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">D-glucose</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">G8270</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">DMEM/F12&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">11320033</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Epidermal growth factor</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">E9644</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">16140063</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Fibroblast growth factor</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">F5392</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Flaming/Brown Micropipette Puller</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sutter Instrument</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">P-97</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Glutamine</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">G8540</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">HBSS</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">14025092</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">Hemocytometer&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Daigger</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">EF16034F</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">HEPES</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">H4034</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">Insulin</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">I3536</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Iridectomy scissors&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Zepf Medical Instruments</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">08-1201-10&#160;&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">Microinjector</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Narishige</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">IM-6</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Nicotinamide</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">N0636</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">PBS (10X), pH 7.4</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">70011044</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">PBS (1X), pH 7.4</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">10010023</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">Phenol Red pH indicator&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">P4633&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">Pure Ethanol, 200 Proof</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Decon Labs&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">2716</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">RFP antibody</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">ChromoTek</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">&#160;5F8</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">Sodium bicarbonate</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S5761</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">Sodium hydroxide</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S8045</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium selenite</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S5261</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">Tabletop vortex&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">97043-562</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:252px;">Transferrin</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">T8158</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Trypan blue&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">T6146</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

three-dimensional organotypic cultures of vestibular and auditory sensory organs

The sensory organs of the inner ear are challenging to study in mammals due to their inaccessibility to experimental manipulation and optical observation. Moreover, although existing culture techniques allow biochemical perturbations, these methods do not provide a means to study the effects of mechanical force and tissue stiffness during development of the inner ear sensory organs. Here we describe a method for three-dimensional organotypic culture of the intact murine utricle and cochlea that overcomes these limitations. The technique for adjustment of a three-dimensional matrix stiffness described here permits manipulation of the elastic force opposing tissue growth. This method can therefore be used to study the role of mechanical forces during inner ear development. Additionally, the cultures permit virus-mediated gene delivery, which can be used for gain- and loss-of-function experiments. This culture method preserves innate hair cells and supporting cells and serves as a potentially superior alternative to the traditional two-dimensional culture of vestibular and auditory sensory organs.

Vestibular and auditory sensory organs from embryonic ears, cultured in 40-Pa collagen I gels mimicking low stiffness embryonic conditions11, retain relatively normal three-dimensional structures (Figure 1) and maintain hair cells and supporting cells (Figure 2 and Figure 3). Although supporting cell density decreases by over 30% (Student&#39;s t-test: n = 4, p</e...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Three-dimensional Organotypic Cultures of Vestibular and Auditory Sensory Organs at JoVE.com

Three-dimensional Organotypic Cultures of Vestibular and Auditory Sensory Organs

Three-dimensional organotypic cultures of the murine utricle and cochlea in optically clear collagen I gels preserve innate tissue morphology, allow for mechanical stimulation through adjustment of matrix stiffness, and permit virus-mediated gene delivery.

The sensory organs of the inner ear are challenging to study in mammals due to their inaccessibility to experimental manipulation and optical observation. ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

Organotypic Slice Cultures for Studies of Postnatal Neurogenesis

Here we describe a technique for studying hippocampal postnatal neurogenesis in the rodent brain using the organotypic slice culture technique. This ...

Differentiation of a Human Neural Stem Cell Line on Three Dimensional Cultures, Analysis of MicroRNA and Putative Target Genes

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are capable of self-renewal and differentiation into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes under specific local ...

Three-dimensional Quantification of Dendritic Spines from Pyramidal Neurons Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Dendritic spines are small protrusions that correspond to the post-synaptic compartments of excitatory synapses in the central nervous system. They are ...

Using Ex Vivo Upright Droplet Cultures of Whole Fetal Organs to Study Developmental Processes during Mouse Organogenesis

Using Ex Vivo Upright Droplet Cultures of Whole Fetal Organs to Study Developmental Processes during Mouse Organogenesis

Investigating organogenesis in utero is a technically challenging process in placental mammals due to inaccessibility of reagents to embryos that develop ...

Generation of Genetically Modified Organotypic Skin Cultures Using Devitalized Human Dermis

Organotypic cultures allow the reconstitution of a 3D environment critical for cell-cell contact and cell-matrix interactions which mimics the function ...

Gene Transfer into the Chicken Auditory Organ by In Ovo Micro-electroporation

Gene Transfer into the Chicken Auditory Organ by In Ovo Micro-electroporation

Chicken embryos are ideal model systems for studying embryonic development as manipulations of gene function can be conducted with relative ease in ovo. ...

Protocols for Visualizing Steroidogenic Organs and Their Interactive Organs with Immunostaining in the Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster

Protocols for Visualizing Steroidogenic Organs and Their Interactive Organs with Immunostaining in the Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster

In multicellular organisms, a small group of cells is endowed with a specialized function in their biogenic activity, inducing a systemic response ...

Analysis of Retinoic Acid-induced Neural Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells in Two and Three-dimensional Embryoid Bodies

Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) isolated from the inner mass of the blastocyst (typically at day E3.5), can be used as in vitro model system for ...

Horizontal Whole Mount: A Novel Processing and Imaging Protocol for Thick, Three-dimensional Tissue Cross-sections of Skin

Processing a tissue of interest to generate a microscopic image that supports a scientific argument can be challenging. The acquisition of high-quality ...

A Novel Use of Three-dimensional High-frequency Ultrasonography for Early Pregnancy Characterization in the Mouse

High-frequency ultrasonography (HFUS) is a common method to non-invasively monitor the real-time development of the human fetus in utero. The mouse is ...