Name: electroporation of plasmid dna into mouse skeletal muscle
Uploaded: 2022-04-06T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Electroporation of Plasmid DNA into Mouse Skeletal Muscle at JoVE.com

All experiments using animals were performed at the Penn State College of Medicine, approved by Penn State University&#39;s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. 12-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were used for this procedure. All surgical tools were autoclaved for sterility prior to experimentation.
1. TA and EDL injection/electroporation preparation</strong...

<ol>
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A., 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=REDD1+deletion+attenuates+cancer+cachexia+in+mice.">REDD1 deletion attenuates cancer cachexia in mice.</a> Journal of Applied Physiology. 131 (6), 1718-1730 (2021).</li><li>Hain, B. A., Xu, H., Wilcox, J. R., Mutua, D., Waning, D. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chemotherapy-induced+loss+of+bone+and+muscle+mass+in+a+mouse+model+of+breast+cancer+bone+metastases+and+cachexia.">Chemotherapy-induced loss of bone and muscle mass in a mouse model of breast cancer bone metastases and cachexia.</a> Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle Rapid Communications. 2 (1), (2019).</li><li>Waning, D. L., 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=Excess+TGF-beta+mediates+muscle+weakness+associated+with+bone+metastases+in+mice.">Excess TGF-beta mediates muscle weakness associated with bone metastases in mice.</a> Nature Medicine. 21, 1262-1271 (2015).</li><li>Bonetto, A., Andersson, D. C., Waning, D. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Assessment+of+muscle+mass+and+strength+in+mice.">Assessment of muscle mass and strength in mice.</a> Bonekey Reports. 4, 732 (2015).</li><li>Senf, S. M., Dodd, S. L., Judge, A. 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In vivo gene transfer in skeletal muscle enhanced by electroporation is a useful and relatively simple tool for modulating protein expression in muscle. We have shown the steps required to achieve efficient gene transfer in the EDL and TA muscles and demonstrated that contractility measurement of the EDL is viable following the procedure. This technique does not require more complicated viral vectors and allows for the comparison of transfected and non-transfected muscle fiber cross-sectional area in a single mu...

Plasmid DNA electroporation into skeletal muscle in vivo is an important tool for assessing changes in skeletal muscle physiology and molecular signaling by modulating gene expression in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological conditions1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. Experimental gene transfer into skeletal muscle was demonstrated as early as 1990 by Wolff et al., where both RNA and DNA were successfully transferred without electroporation, and luciferase expression was maintained for at least 2 months10. The relatively low transfection efficiency with injection only is problematic, and Aihara and Miyazaki demonstrated increased gene transfer with electroporation in 1998 by electroporating a pCAGGS-IL-5 construct into the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle and measuring serum IL-5 expression11. Since that time, many studies have investigated the efficacy of different DNA concentrations, volumes, and electroporation parameters to ensure maximal gene transfer efficiency. Mir et al. tested different electroporation parameters, including voltage, pulse number, pulse duration, and frequency, as well as DNA concentration, and determined that greater voltage, pulse number, and DNA concentration all contributed to increased electroporation efficiency12. A major caveat to high electroporation voltage is that, while it facilitates increased DNA uptake into myofibers, it also causes muscle damage, which can confound results. Schertzer et al. showed that electroporation at 200 V caused damage in around 50% of myofibers 3 days after electroporation, whereas only 10% of myofibers were damaged at 50 V13. We have taken into consideration the variables affecting efficient DNA transfer versus muscle damage and found that a voltage of 125 V per centimeter of caliper width is sufficient to accomplish effective gene transfer.
Analysis of muscle fiber cross-sectional area and whole muscle contractility after electroporation are important aspects of the method for measuring changes in muscle size and function due to gene modulation. We and others have previously demonstrated that electroporation of control vectors alone does not cause a decrease in myofiber area. The green fluorescent protein (EGFP) construct was a useful fluorescent indicator of DNA transfection in these studies13,14. A number of studies have investigated in situ contractility of the TA after electroporation and found varying results. One study showed that 75 V/cm electroporation caused about a 30% reduction in tetanic force 3 days post-electroporation, and by 7 days post-electroporation, tetanic force was back to the control level, while 50 V/cm electroporation did not compromise force13,15. Another study showed that there was a 30% loss of tetanic force 3 h after 180 V/cm electroporation, which recovered to the sham force levels after 7 days16.
In the following detailed procedure, we demonstrate injection and electroporation of a pcDNA3-EGFP plasmid in the TA and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of mice. We also demonstrate that this method does not affect EDL whole-muscle contractility. The aim is to demonstrate efficient plasmid uptake into myofibers without causing loss of function.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>4-0 Nylon suture (non-absorbable)</td>
			<td>Ethicon</td>
			<td>662G</td>
			<td>Suture to close skin incision</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50&#181;l Hamilton syringe</td>
			<td>Hamilton</td>
			<td>80501</td>
			<td>microsyringe</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>C57BLl/6NHsd mice</td>
			<td>Envigo</td>
			<td>044</td>
			<td>12 week-old female mice used for experimentation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Caliper Electrode</td>
			<td>BTX</td>
			<td>45-0102</td>
			<td>1.0cm x 1.0cm stainless steel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dynamic Muscle Control Data Acquisition/analysis</td>
			<td>Aurora Scientific</td>
			<td>605A</td>
			<td>Software used for muscle contractility measurement and analysis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ECM 830 Electroporation System</td>
			<td>BTX</td>
			<td>45-0662</td>
			<td>electroporator</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EndoFree Plasmid Maxi Kit</td>
			<td>Qiagen</td>
			<td>12362</td>
			<td>Plasmid purification kit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Extra Narrow Scissors</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>14088-10</td>
			<td>Scissors for blunt dissection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Force Transducer</td>
			<td>Aurora Scientific</td>
			<td>407A</td>
			<td>To measure force from EDL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micro-Masquito Hemastats</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>13010-12</td>
			<td>Hemastats for surturing</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pcDNA3.1 mammalian expression vector</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>V79020</td>
			<td>Control Vector</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pcDNA3-EGFP expression plasmid</td>
			<td>Addgene</td>
			<td>13031</td>
			<td>Plasmid for GFP expression</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Semken curved forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11009-13</td>
			<td>Forceps for surgery</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surgical blades stainless steel no. 10</td>
			<td>Becton Dickinson</td>
			<td>37 1210</td>
			<td>Scalpel blades</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue-Tek O.C.T. media</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>25608-930</td>
			<td>Freezing media for histology</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Wheat Germ Agglutinin- Texas Red</td>
			<td>Thermo-Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>W21405</td>
			<td>Membrane staining for muscle cross section</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

electroporation of plasmid dna into mouse skeletal muscle

Transient gene expression modulation in murine skeletal muscle by plasmid electroporation is a useful tool for assessing normal and pathological physiology. Overexpression or knockdown of target genes enables investigators to manipulate individual molecular events and, thus, better understand the mechanisms that impact muscle mass, muscle metabolism, and contractility. In addition, electroporation of DNA plasmids that encode fluorescent tags allows investigators to measure changes in subcellular localization of proteins in skeletal muscle in vivo. A key functional assessment of skeletal muscle includes the measurement of muscle contractility. In this protocol, we demonstrate that whole muscle contractility studies are still possible after plasmid DNA injection, electroporation, and gene expression modulation. The goal of this instructional procedure is to demonstrate the step-by-step method of DNA plasmid electroporation into mouse skeletal muscle to facilitate uptake and expression in the myofibers of the tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus muscles, as well as to demonstrate that skeletal muscle contractility is not compromised by injection and electroporation.

Electroporation to facilitate gene transfer in skeletal muscle is a useful technique used to evaluate changes in muscle physiology. We have demonstrated a detailed, step-by-step procedure to accomplish efficient gene transfer in both the TA and EDL muscles. Differences in transfection efficiency occur due to a number of variables. Among these variables are electroporation parameters (pulses, voltage, pulse duration, etc.), gene construct size, and concentration/volume of DNA injected. We have previously shown that electr...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Electroporation of Plasmid DNA into Mouse Skeletal Muscle at JoVE.com

Electroporation of Plasmid DNA into Mouse Skeletal Muscle

Electroporation of plasmid DNA into skeletal muscle is a viable method to modulate gene expression without compromising muscle contractility in mice.

Transient gene expression modulation in murine skeletal muscle by plasmid electroporation is a useful tool for assessing normal and pathological ...

Electroporation-mediated gene transfer in muscle is an easy and efficient technique to investigate changes in muscle physiology. We found that electroporation does not compromise muscle contractility. Electroporation of gene constructs into muscle in vivo is a simple and efficient procedure that does not require more extensive packaging of gene constructs into viral vectors.It is difficult to visualize, isolate, and inject the EDL due to its location and small size. Practicing on a mouse carcass and injection of biological ink such as India ink may assist in providing evidence of sufficient injection. Demonstrating the procedure will be Brian Hain, a post doc from my laboratory.Before injecting the mouse, confirm the surgical plane of anesthesia using forceps with the absence of the toe pinch reflex, then transfer the mouse to a nose cone resting on a circulating water plate at 37 degrees Celsius for the rest of the procedure. Once the mouse is placed in a supine position, remove hair from both hind limbs using small hair clippers, then sanitize the injection area with alternating 70%ethanol and betadine. For the injection locate the tibialis anterior or TA tendon visible through the skin on the lateral side of the lower leg and mark the superior end of the TA muscle.Then insert a 30-gauge needle mounted on a 50-microliter micro syringe into the muscle at a shallow five-degree angle one to two millimeters superior to the myotendinous junction until the needle reaches the superior end of the muscle. Depress the plunger while slowly retracting the needle along the injection path to deliver 50 microliters of the plasmid solution into the muscle. The muscle should swell.Set the timer for one minute and measure the thickness of the leg at the TA muscle, then set the caliper electrodes to the measured thickness. Then set the electroporator voltage to 12.5 volts per millimeter. After one minute, place the caliper electrodes closely around the lower limb without being overly tight to deliver five square wave pulses with 20-millisecond duration and 200-millisecond intervals.The muscle should twitch with each pulse. Repeat the procedure with the other limb using the control plasmid vector. When done, remove the mouse from the nose cone and allow the mouse to recover on a heating pad set to 37 degrees Celsius.Once recovered, return the mouse to its cage. With the mouse in a supine position, locate the tibia bone anterior crest visually and through gentle palpitation. Use a scalpel to make a shallow incision through the skin on the lateral side of the tibia anterior crest five millimeters inferior to the knee to two millimeters superior to the TA myotendinous junction.With the help of small scissors bluntly dissect the fascia, exposing the TA muscle, and then separate the TA muscle from the tibia gently by pulling the muscle to reveal the extensor digitorum longus or EDL. Keep the TA clear from the EDL during the procedure using small curved forceps. Insert the 30-gauge needle into the EDL longitudinally until the needle reaches the superior end of the muscle and inject 10 microliters of the plasmid solution as demonstrated before.The EDL muscle should swell. Measure the thickness of the leg at the EDL and set the caliper electrodes to the measured thickness to deliver five square wave pulses as explained earlier. When done, close the incision using disposable 4-0 non-absorbable nylon sutures.Later remove the mouse from the nose cone and allow it to recover on a heating pad set to 37 degrees Celsius. Administer an appropriate subcutaneous analgesic immediately after the surgery and 12 to 24 hours following the surgery. Once recovered return the mouse to the home cage.After the injection and electroporation of the pcDNA3-EGFP plasmid in the TA and EDL muscles, the GFP expression was observed indicating DNA uptake in the muscle fibers. When imaged at a lower magnification, the EDL muscle transfection efficiency could be visualized through the appearance of green fibers versus black fibers. The injected and electroporated EDLs had similar tetanic responses at 100 Hertz compared to the control non-injected or electroporated muscles.The injected and electroporated EDL, the tetanic muscle force, specific tetanic muscle force, time to peak tension, and half relaxation time were not compromised compared to the untouched control. It is important to accurately identify the muscle to be injected and to efficiently deliver the plasmid solution. A number of histological and biochemical measurements can be made using this protocol.Target protein cellular localization, target gene knockdown, transcriptional reporters, and an array of tissue staining can be conducted. This technique has been used to identify a vast array of changes in molecular signaling in muscle during physiological and pathophysiological conditions. The investigation of the muscle contractility following gene transfer is feasible using this technique.

Research

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Biology

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Primary Culture and Plasmid Electroporation of the Murine Organ of Corti. 

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Adult and Embryonic Skeletal Muscle Microexplant Culture and Isolation of Skeletal Muscle Stem Cells

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Mitochondrial Isolation from Skeletal Muscle

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Purification of Progenitors from Skeletal Muscle

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Laser-inflicted Injury of Zebrafish Embryonic Skeletal Muscle

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Detection and Analysis of DNA Damage in Mouse Skeletal Muscle In Situ Using the TUNEL Method

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Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labeling (TUNEL) is the method of using the TdT enzyme to covalently ...

Novel Method of Plasmid DNA Delivery to Mouse Bladder Urothelium by Electroporation

Genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) are extremely valuable in revealing novel biological insights into the initiation and progression mechanisms ...